Beauty Products and Pregnancy
May 11, 2008
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW CONVENTIONAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS MAY AFFECT YOUR PREGNANCY? Read More Here…
Our skin is the largest organ in the body, plus it is porous and absorbs what we put on it. So, just like what we put in our body counts, what we put on our body is almost as important.
The challenge here is that almost every major brand of cosmetics (i.e. skin products, hair products, cosmetics, deodorant, sunscreen etc.) contains an ingredient called parabens. The FDA defines parabens as:
‘Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetic products. Chemically, parabens are esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The most common parabens used in cosmetic products are methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Typically, more than one paraben is used in a product, and they are often used in combination with other types of preservatives to provide preservation against a broad range of microorganisms. The use of mixtures of parabens allows the use of lower levels while increasing preservative activity.’
That sounds harmless enough, but what exactly are these parabens and what is the concern surrounding them?
As stated above, parabens are put into cosmetics to preserve them. Parabens have been around since the 1920’s and research indicates that in low doses parabens are safe. The problem is that as stated above there are parabens in everything…sunscreen, hair products, facial products, body creams, fragrances, shaving products, lipsticks, body washes basically unless it’s labeled paraben free, 99% of the time it’s got parabens.
Parabens are xenoestrogens, which essentially means that they chemically mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen. As time has gone on and medical studies have progressed studies have linked the following health concerns to parabens:
* In lab tests, fish and frogs began to change sex from male to female when they were given sunscreen containing parabens. Other studies have linked products containing parabens to various hormone disturbances, including underdeveloped testes in infant boys, testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders.
* Studies have indicated that parabens are present in breast cancer tumors. In a 2004 study in the “Journal of Toxicology” researchers noted “a cause for concern” when they found parabens present in the tumors of 20 women with breast cancer* Parabens have been associated with cancer in lab animals time and time again.
Here is a link to some articles that the EWG (Environmental Working Group) has on Parabens.
Because so many products we use everyday contain these parabens, the possibility of diseases such as breast cancer, the over-feminizing of our boys and the early maturation of our girls is alarming. Although the FDA claims they are “safe” in low doses, the problem is that since 99% of the products we use have parabens those small doses can add up to a large one especially in our small babies body.
Why is this so important during pregnancy and lactation? There are a couple of reasons. First of all pound for pound before the age of about 5, children are more susceptible to the effects of chemicals because their body can’t distribute and process them as well as an older child or adult. This is especially true in the fetal stage and the first years of life.
The second issue is that because the largest concern with parabens is the “long-wear” products that we women often wear such as moisturizers, make-up etc. that are keeping exposure levels high.
I know that this information can be overwhelming, in fact I found out about parabens when my daughter was 5 months old. Once I started reading the labels I found that they were not only in my products, but in hers as well. I was alarmed, but found it very simple to make the changes and I love the new products!
The good news is that parabens are metabolized and leave the body rather quickly, so it’s never too late to start ridding the products on our shelves of paraben containing products. Furthermore, there are so many wonderful organic products out there, but that being said it is still important to read the labels. Some products labeled “natural” still have parabens or “fragrance”, which we will discuss in a minute. There is a fantastic website and while it does not contain every product in its database, you get a pretty good idea of which lines of products are safe and which are not. Check out cosmetics database. When in doubt, just ask. At your local health-food store, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, or online there are many fantastic companies out there and the products (in my opinion) are even better than conventional drugstore products. Truly my skin and hair have never looked better!
As I briefly mentioned there is another culprit in our healthcare products called “fragrance.” If you turn over your (insert cosmetic here) you will most likely see an ingredient “fragrance.” But what exactly is “fragrance”?
Essentially “fragrance” can be any chemical or additive that the product manufacturer would like. By law companies are supposed to list all ingredients on their product, but because that would be disclosing trade secrets “fragrance” is a loophole that allows manufacturers to put almost any ingredient in their formula without disclosing it. Unfortunately “fragrance” just like parabens are linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity and asthma complications. Often times “fragrance” contain another preserving chemical (also found in children’s soft plastic toys) called “Phthalates”.
Phthalates, like parabens, also mimic the hormone estrogen. Phthalates are added to plastics such as PVC (or #3 plastic) to make it softer and more flexible. They are also added to your beauty products under the trade name “fragrance”. Click HERE to see where Phthalates may be secretly lurking in your home.
These phthalates can affect the male reproductive system, and can be found in the presence of breast milk. “Fragrance” is also found in many of the household items we use everyday such as laundry detergent, household cleaning supplies, candles (look for 100% soy and/or beeswax with a non-metal wick), air fresheners etc. Don’t be fooled by labels either, if it says “unscented” that does not necessarily mean that it is free of “fragrance” it often means there is just another additive in the formulation to mask the fragrant smell.
Cosmetics database has a great video, which is short but gives a detailed look on the topic of fragrance titles “What is Fragrance”?
So again, what do we do? We want to smell good and create a clean home for ourselves, and our new baby don’t we? Have no fear, there are many ways to avoid conventional scented products and cut out the “fragrance.”
We talked about the products listed above which are organic and in some instances biodynamic (Dr. Hauschka and Weleda) so they are free of parabens, phthalates, amongst other ingredients of concern. Even still, be a label reader. Make sure that the products you put in your basket do not contain,” Parabens” (think methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl followed by “paraben”), “fragrance”, “parfum” and are ideally labeled phthalate free as well.
What’s more, baby and children’s products contain these ingredients as well. Click HERE to see our complete list of recommendations for baby skincare products.
In the meantime, if you want to check a product you are currently using check out Skin Deep part of the EWG’s database for safe cosmetics. Here you can find out what’s in your cosmetics and how they rank in terms of safety.
When it comes to our homes there are some awesome products out there to keep us clean and smelling fresh. Everything from countertop cleaner to hand soap, to stainless steel to mopping, etc. supplies are available, and can be very affordable.
If you are looking for the dirt on conventional vs. natural (alternative) cleaning supplies click here to view more in depth information, product recommendations and do-it-yourself recipes by clicking HERE.
In conclusion, my intention is not to be an alarmist, or to use scare tactics, but simply to share what I have learned as a parent in the hopes that I can create more awareness. If you have gotten this far, its always better to be safe and I have to say it’s like a makeover and can be a lot of fun making these changes for the health of your family.
If you are interested in these topics and would like to delve even further please visit our online bookstore for more recommendations. 10% of all of the profits from www.pregnancyandbabyinformation.com go to various charities to improve children’s health and to protect the environment. Please support our site by visiting our online retail store, or by visiting our advertisers. We thank you for your support!
Good luck and I hope the resources above help.
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