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Make Up Unhealthy for Skin

by Himabindu Venkatakrishnan on Jun 23 2007 3:23 PM

Make up on a daily basis can be very unhealthy for the skin. The skin absorbs almost 5lb of chemical into the body in a year by the usage of daily makeup. Mr. Richard Bence, a biochemist, told that this is more dangerous than swallowing the chemicals as they get absorbed straight into the bloodstream.

Women, across the globe, use a vast range of cosmetics everyday to look their best, but this excessive use is leading to a chemical pile up in their bodies. Many use over 20 different beauty products per day while nine out of 10 apply make-up which is past its expiry date. It is also been seen that women have started using make up quite early too.

Richard Bence, who advocates the use of organic beauty products, said people should question the products they put on their skin. Mr. Richard Bence, who spent three years researching conventional products, said: 'We have no idea what these chemicals do when they are mixed together, the effect could be much greater than the sum of the individual parts.'

Some synthetic compounds involved have been linked to side effects ranging from skin irritation to premature ageing and cancer. Traces of parabens have been found in breast tumour samples, although its link to the development of the cancer is disputed.

"If lipstick gets into your mouth it is broken down by the enzymes in saliva and in the stomach. But chemicals get straight into your bloodstream, there is no protection.

Warnings over using out-of-date lipstick and mascara have also been issued by the Royal College of Optometrists, which believes such items are a 'hothouse' for harmful bacteria.

Among chemicals under scrutiny are parabens (para-hydroxybenzoic acids), which are preservatives used in products including soap, shampoo, deodorant and baby lotion.

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Sodium lauryl sulphate, used to help create lather in soaps, shampoo, shaving foam, toothpaste and bubble bath, can cause skin irritation.

Disputing the facts The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association said there was no reason for worry because the products were covered by European Union rules requiring them to be safe.

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A spokesman said: "The cocktail effect is an urban myth. We do know how different chemicals react individually and can predict how they interact with each other and this is taken into account when the safety of products is assessed."

Source-Medindia
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