Originally published July 12 2005
High price for beauty
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Routine beauty products like makeup, perfumes, and hair products are not always safe; they can contain chemicals that can cause adverse reactions like itching, rash, hair loss, allergies, nausea or even cancer or sterility if exposure is great enough.
After a virulent case of acne erupted on Lisa Tolnai's face in the late 1990s, she couldn't find a single makeup -- from Mary Kay to Estee Lauder -- that didn't irritate her skin, despite the "hypoallergenic," "botanical" or "sensitive skin" labels.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says most cosmetics are safe if used correctly, dermatologists and allergists report minor skin, scalp and lung irritations abound.
The most notorious culprit arises from a group of petrochemicals called phthalates that make the scent of perfume linger longer or hold the color in hair dye after weeks of washing.
Some phthalates have been banned by the European Union and held under scrutiny by legislatures in Massachusetts, New York and California because of known or suspected toxic reactions.
Any of the 10,500 chemical ingredients in the $35 billion cosmetics industry could cause an adverse reaction, prompting consumers to pay closer attention to what they buy and how it applies.
Here in Michigan, the biggest concerns dermatologists report come from contact dermatitis and allergic reactions to the skin and scalp, says Dana Sachs, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Instead of reporting the problem to a doctor, "You put on a product, it makes your face break out, you throw it out and get something else."
Meanwhile, dermatologists face the challenge of identifying what caused the reaction and then choosing a course of treatment, particularly in three main areas: fragrance, hair and skin care products.
Last fall, the European Union signed into law an amendment that requires the beauty industry to ban certain phthalates and other chemicals from products.
The FDA removed numerous dye products from the market and required manufacturers to print labels warning of skin irritation.
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