Shampoos are used daily. Whether you have one for your oily hair or you need dandruff preventing shampoo, you’ll likely have something that is full of chemicals. It seems there’s no way to avoid them. Of course, they can’t be that bad, right. Surely something that is put into hair care products isn’t going to be that bad for the body.
This is where you’re wrong. Hair product manufacturers don’t care about what they’re doing to your body. They’re not bothered about the health risks of the chemicals they use. It’s not like many of the toxins are even watched by organizations around the world. And while the EU may ban some, the rest of the world allow them!
So, you need to know what is put in your shampoo. You need to know about the dangerous toxins and how they affect your body. Here are 10 harmful toxins that are put in most of shampoos to help you protect your health.
Watch Out for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
It’s hard. Sometimes the toxins are put in to offer benefits to the hair or the skin. What you won’t realize is that these toxins end up doing a lot of long-term damage.
In some cases, the chemicals are the reason some people suffer from skin complaints. Let’s just look at sodium lauryl sulfate as one of the problematic toxins. This is used in most of cleaning products and insecticides. It’s designed to clean dirty and grimy surfaces while making products and flowers bad for insects.
It shouldn’t be that surprising that the toxin is also harmful and drying to the skin. It has been linked to various irritations, especially skin rashes. Most people believe their allergic to a brand of shampoo, but that’s not the case. It’s the toxin within the shampoos that they’re allergic to. If this toxinwas removed, you might not have such an issue.
You’re drying out the skin, making it difficult for the natural oils to release from the pores. This means the skin feels rough and irritated. You’re more likely to suffer from itchy skin, which can cause more rashes to appear.
Another major issue is the carcinogenic complication of the toxin. This is one of those that are linked to liver complications and damage. The liver can’t get rid of the toxins in the body, so they make the reactions much worse than ever before.
So, why do companies put this toxin into the shampoos? They help to create the foamy, lathery element within the shampoos. You may feel like your hair is being cleaned, but you don’t need this foamy element.
Check for Fragrance or Parfum
If you see either of these two chemicals, you’ll want to watch out. It’s not the actual scent that’s a problem, but the mix of ingredients combined to create the “fragrance” or “perfume” that causes a problem.
Mostly, they’re a mix of “secret recipes” that companies get away with stating. You won’t find the exact list of chemicals and toxins added in! That’s right; there’s no need for a company to tell you about the products that they put into their fragrances and perfumes. These are considered “trade secrets,” and it could affect the competition and sales if they do!
Any fragrance or perfume is bad for you. You can get 3,000 chemicals in just one! And they are all irritants on the skin, leaving the scalp feeling itchy with a burning sensation. Most of the toxins also cause major issues for the organs inside the body! You can end up with liver damage and asthma from them. Is it worth risking your health?
When it does come to the skin, it’s not just irritation that you need to suffer from. Parfums hasbeen linked to dermatitis, allergies, and rashes. They can lead to abnormalities of the skin, due to the skin cells being directly affected. No matter how many antioxidants you get into your body, you can’t repair the damage to your cells that these toxins cause!
We wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly what is added to the shampoos if you see “fragrance” listed as one of the ingredients. It’s not a romantic smell. It’s downright dangerous for you.
Avoid Toxicity from Triclosan
This is another highly common toxin that is used for antibacterial effects within hair care products. No, the chemicals don’t offer you antibacterial benefits. The aim is to prevent bacteria from growing in your shampoo over time.
That sounds like a good thing, but it’s not. The toxin is extremely damaging to the body. It already has a moderate hazard rating but isn’t considered too dangerous to be banned in most of the world. There are reports of skin, lung, and eye irritation because of it. In fact, the toxin keeps your body in a constant state of toxicity, which prevents the body’s ability to heal and get over various irritation issues.
So why is it still used? Well, the studies on it on the human body and skin are inconclusive. There are some that state it is good but others that show major warning signs.
It has been linked to uncontrolled cellular reproduction. This is a major issue throughout the body, and not just on the skin. Our bodies don’t need extra cells, especially cells that are abnormal and harmful to our bodies. There are some cancer dangers due to this uncontrolled cellular reproduction, especially when the body is constantly working against itself and the immune system is compromised.
The best thing to do is just stay away from anything with triclosan in the ingredients.
Avoid Polyethylene Glycol or PEG
You may see this toxin written down with its full name polyethylene glycol, with its initials PEG, or even as polyoxyethylene. Whichever way you see it, you want to avoid it. PEG has extremely high levels of dioxin, which is a by-product of the manufacturing process. It’s the dioxins that are the most dangerous to the body, causing organ toxicity and cancer.
PEG is also extremely dry. It will strip the oils out of the skin, meaning there is no natural moisture at all. You need to add the moisture back in, but that may not be enough, especially on the skin on the scalp.This can lead to various skin complaints, including irritation, dry skin, and roughness.
Why is it “required” in shampoos? It helps to thicken the liquid in the shampoo bottle. It apparently makes the shampoo more user-friendly, but you must sacrifice your health for that.
You won’t just find these in your shampoos. They are extremely common in infant and children products! It’s no wonder that children’s skin becomes irritated and dry extremely quickly.
Despite not being completely banned, the state of California has designated PEG as a “developmental toxicant.” This indicates that It is bad and may interfere with the normal human development. Surely that should be a warning sign to stay away from it.
If you want to get away from PEG completely, you’ll want to look at certified natural products and herbal remedies instead.
Avoid Dryness from Dimethicone
Dimethicone is a silicone oil. The idea is that it works to avoid dry skin and hair conditions when it is used. The silicone creates a layer of the skin, which is supposed to lock in the moisture.
However, it has the complete opposite effect on the skin! It’s one of the worst toxins out there for drying out the skin.
Your skin will get a barrier that’s almost like plastic. Bacteria are trapped underneath this barrier, along with the impurities from the day. You can also trap the natural oil production, so it doesn’t spread across the skin like it needs to. Your body is left as a breeding ground for more bacteria and fungi, meaning you’re at a high risk of acne, skin conditions, and health problems.
Some patients have noticed rashes, irritation, and chapped skin after using anything with this toxin in it. Burning and itching are also extremely common, both on the scalp and across the neck, face, and anywhere else that the silicon touches. Cystic acne is highly likely due to the products. This is harder to get rid of, as the bacterial issue is within the layers of the skin.
There are some questions about the carcinogenic properties of dimethicone. This is being researched as you read this, but the jury is still out right now. There are some studies that show genes can mutate and cells are affected, but there is no concrete evidence just yet. Despite this, it’s still a toxin that you will want to look out for on shampoos so you can avoid it for your skin health’s sake.
Avoid Parabens Due to Hormonal Imbalances
If you suffer from hormonal imbalances already, you will want to avoid parabens like the plague. Even if you don’t, parabens aren’t something that you want to both with when it comes to shampoos. They’re not necessary and not good for you.
Manufacturers want to make shampoos to last if possible. After all, this encourages people to buy in bulk, so they make more money. Parabens do just that. You may not see “parabens” on the list of ingredients, but the actual parabens themselves. Look out for methylparaben or propyl paraben.
While extending shelf-life synthetically, the parents irritate the skin. They dry your skin out completely, leaving you with an itchy feeling and flaky look. Your acne risk is also increased due to the hormonal imbalances.
Parabens are bad for disrupting the release of hormones in your body. You can end up with far more cortisol messing up the way your organs and natural oil releases work. Your skin gets far more oil than it needs, bacteria get trapped in the pores, and you’re left with the pimply side effects.
The hormonal imbalances have also been linked to cancerous issues. The parabens are very much like estrogen in the body, which has already been linked to female cancers when it is in the body in a large amount. Researchers have found paraben evidence in breast cancer tissue samples. Sure, this isn’t a direct link, but it looks suspicious.
Drop the Drying Alcohol
Most of hair care products include alcohol in some form. This includes your shampoos that you use daily. What’s the problem through, right? We drink alcohol on a daily or at least a weekly basis.
Well, the alcohol in shampoos is a much higher concentrate. It’s also applied directly to the skin, which means negative side effects. Alcohol dehydrates the body; you know that from when you drink and feel very thirsty the next morning. When it comes to the skin, it draws out the natural oils and prevents the production of more. You’re left with a rough and irritated feeling on your skin.
If you can’t avoid all alcohol, look for where it’s placed in the list of ingredients. When it’s one of the first four products, it’s an extremely bad sign. The order is from highest concentration to the lowest.
Watch Out for Anti-Freeze
Yes, anti-freeze is put in your shampoo. Okay, so it won’t be labeled as that in the ingredients, but I wanted you to be aware of what this toxin is.
We’re talking about propylene glycol—not to be confused with PEG. Propylene glycol is antifreeze. And you know what it does to your car, right? It prevents the car’s liquids from freezing during cold months. This is the exact reason it is put into shampoos and other hair care products. The manufacturers don’t want the shampoo liquids to freeze in cold climates, so they use propylene glycol since it’s so effective.
But this is also poisonous. If you look back at some of the murders in history, you will find out that the murderers have used anti-freeze.
While you’re not consuming shampoo, you are allowing the body to absorb the poison. It gets straight into your bloodstream, instantly causing health problems. When directly applied to the skin, it will physically alter the structure of your skin. You’ll be at risk of more allergic reactions and irritations than ever before.
All this while drying out the skin from all the other toxins you’re adding!
Check for Formaldehyde
If you’re raising your eyebrows at this, I understand. I couldn’t believe it when I first heard about this. Shampoo manufacturers put formaldehyde into their products. They also put quaternium-15, which is a formaldehyde releaser, making it even more dangerous.
You know that formaldehyde isn’t good for you. Like anti-freeze, you know it’s poison.It’s been linked to so many health problems, mainly cancer, and DNA damage. People have lost hair, suffered organ damage, and eye problems because of this poisonous addition.
It’s still used all the time in shampoos. Quaternium-15 and formaldehyde are used to preserve the products to make sure they last as long as possible.
Protect the pH Balance from Polysorbates
The last one on the list to avoid is polysorbates. This toxin is used to help dissolve oil additives and fragrances into the liquid. While it seems to be an innocent addition, it’s extremely damaging to the skin. It physically alters the pH level within the skin, destroying the balance completely.
At the same time, the polysorbates will leave a residue behind. This causes a barrier that upsets the natural protective barrier the skin already has. You’ll absorb more toxins, and they will lock within the skin. You end up with more bacteria, more acne, and more irritation and inflammation.
There are different types of polysorbates. If you’re struggling to stay away from all, make sure you avoid polysorbate-80 at all costs. This is the most dangerous of all.
Look After Your Skin by Avoiding the Chemicals
It can be difficult to avoid the chemicals in shampoos. It will be tricky getting rid of everything that could be bad for you—and we don’t know just how much damage some of the toxins can do. Manufacturers find new ways of hiding the ingredients they’re adding, due to the “secret recipe” loophole. The best thing to do is look at the list of ingredients and avoid as many of the 10 above as possible. You will at least get a good start at protecting your skin.
Leave a Reply