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Toxins in your skin care products and nail polish that could endanger your health

If you use conventional  skin care products and other health and beauty supplies, chances are you are exposing your body to chemical toxins that can build up in your body, creating toxic overload, inflammation, weight gain and hormonal disruptions. They lower your thyroid functioning and can contribute to cancer growth and other health issues.


 A MAJOR misconception or myth that I hear all the time is that the amounts of chemical in these products are minimal and will not cause any harm 

But, that is not true, while they may not cause immediate harm, they build up and over time does result in different illnesses. In the meantime, a lot of them cause hormonal disruption that contributes to symptoms such as weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings, lack of energy, etc.



Toxins in skin care

There are many different chemicals that are included in skin care products, but one of the most popular chemicals found in many skin care products is parabens

  • Parabens are synthetic chemicals, used as preservatives in a wide variety of skincare, shaving goods, deodorants, hair care, makeup and pharmaceutical products to fight fungus and bacteria. 

  • They are difficult to avoid as they are in many popular brands of skin care.

  • Parabens are xenoestrogens or endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in your body and can trigger estrogen receptors on cancer cells located in the breast just in the same way that natural estrogen produced in the body can. 

  • Parabens can cause disruption in the endocrine system which can significantly influence hormonal changes in a woman’s body that are wreaking havoc during perimenopause and menopause.

  • If it is your intention to reduce the amount of toxins that enter your body so you can live a healthy life, then you may want to start paying attention to the ingredients that are in all your beauty products while also being mindful of the other toxins i have been writing about.

Toxins in nail polish

Most of us either go to the nail salon or you do your nails at home, whatever you do, if you are using conventional nail polish and not paying attention to the brands you are using, chances are you are exposing yourself to several toxic chemicals. 




The Big 5 are toxic chemicals that are found in most conventional nail polish:

  1. Dibutyl Phthalate

  2. Toluene

  3. Formaldehyde

  4. Formaldehyde resin

  5. Camphor


Dibutyl Phthalate 

  • a member of the phthalate family of chemicals,

  •  is used in nail polish to minimize chipping. 

  • Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors and mimic the hormone estrogen in your body causing hormonal imbalance.  

Toluene 

  •  used to create a smooth application and finish. 

  • It has a sweet, pungent smell and is also found in most conventional nail polish removers. 

  • Fumes are highly toxic; studies have shown that exposure to toluene can cause neurological damage, decreased brain function, impaired breathing, hearing loss, and nausea. 

Formaldehyde 

  • used to harden and strengthen nail polishes, 

  • It is a preservative that protects against bacterial growth. 

  • Formaldehyde is naturally produced by the body in incredibly small amounts—similar to the concentration found in some vaccines. At this low level, formaldehyde is not dangerous. 

  • High levels becomes dangerous

Formaldehyde resin

  • a by-product of formaldehyde that makes its way into many nail polish formulas that include formaldehyde. 

Camphor 

  • used to give conventional nail polishes their glossy, shiny appearance. 

  • It is less toxic than the first three ingredients listed above, 

  • and is sometimes used in cold remedies such as vapor rubs and nasal sprays.

What can you do?


When choosing nail polish, look for a brand that is at least free of the “Big Three” (DBP, formaldehyde, and toluene), but aim for one free of all five. Look for 3-free or 5-free polishes 

Some suggested brands include

Using the Environmental Working Group (EWG) skin Deep which is a not for profit organization that researches different products and assigns a rating based on the chemicals that are used in the products. 


PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS WAS HELPFUL AND WHAT ACTION YOU WILL TAKE AS AFTER READING THIS BLOG


In Good Health,

deon

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