Chemical Content in Cosmetic Products may be Harmful for Health

Some of the cosmetic products one uses in every day life contain mind-boggling cocktail of different chemicals that scientists say could cause cancers, hormone problems and skin cancers.

Every day an average woman applies 175 different chemicals to her body in the form of cosmetics and toiletries, reported the online edition of Daily Mail.

Most beauty products contain chemicals linked to various health problems. They include chemicals linked to cancers, hormone problems and skin-irritations, according to Chemical Safe Skincare.co.uk, a campaign group set up by a group of concerned consumers and conscientious manufactures.

The group - set up by the manufacturers of natural products - is especially concerned about three commonly occurring ingredients, which it says can be extremely harmful.

Preserving agents called parabens - often used in moisturisers and body creams - have been linked to breast cancer and also to skin inflammations.

Foaming agents such as sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate - used in shampoos - are said to be skin irritants.

The disinfectant formaldehyde - in shampoos and hand wash - can make skin flare up and is linked to asthma and headaches, the group said.

Some of the chemicals in these everyday toiletries may also trigger irritant reactions or allergy, spokesman for the British Skin Foundation charity David Gawkrodger said.

Reactions are particularly seen in patients with atopic eczema and those with sensitive skin.

"Most reactions will be to the face or hands, and sometimes on the arms and legs," Gawkrodger said.

Source-IANS
SRM