Are Toxic Chemicals In Skin Products Absorbing Into Your Bloodstream?

Did you know that the body absorbs 60 percent of what we apply to our skin? That’s right – whatever you are putting on your skin, your body absorbs. Where is it going? Into your blood stream.

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health looked into the skin’s absorption rates of chemicals found in drinking water. It showed that the skin absorbed an average of 64% of total contaminant dosage.

Our skin is the largest organ in our body and most people assume that skin products on the market are tested to ensure their safety. Unfortunately out of the 80,000 synthetic chemicals in the marketplace, only 5 percent have ever been tested.

Medical research indicates that many cosmetic ingredients include carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances and that they do indeed penetrate the skin and wind up in our blood.

Lots of these ingredients don’t cause immediate reactions but can slowly build up in us through repeated use over time. Two common ingredients that are known to cause health issues are parabens and phthalates.

Parabens are used to preserve cosmetics and body care products. They are used to prevent bacterial growth and have been used since the 1950s. Unfortunately, parabens are linked with breast cancer and reproductive issues.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that disrupt our endocrine system. Our endocrine system is responsible for producing the hormones that regulate growth, development, metabolism and sexual and reproductive function. They have been linked with behavioural problems such as reduced social skills, increased anger and depression and ADHD. There are a wide range of chemicals that are not listed in your cosmetics. If the label says “fragrance” or “perfume,” it probably contains phthalates.

Just another reason you should be sticking to natural products…