Are Your Cosmetics or Body Care Products Killing You?

The cosmetic and body products women use every day can be contaminated with acidic chemicals, and their effects could be especially harmful for young women. The Environmental Working Group (EW) tested 20 teenaged girls between the ages of 14 and 19 and found 16 acidic chemicals in their blood and urine. The chemicals involved have been linked to disruption of the endocrine system and even cancerous conditions.

Teens are especially vulnerable in two ways. First, they use more personal care products than adult women, using an average of 17 each day with a total of 174 acidic ingredients compared to the average adult woman's usage of 12 acidic ingredients. Second, the large number of products containing damaging acidic ingredients comes at a time when girls' bodies are developing rapidly, and reproductive, immune, blood, and other systems are maturing.

Some of the endocrine sex glands that guide the body's changes are present in miniscule amounts as low as one part per trillion (ppt) and girls' bodies may be particularly sensitive to acidic chemicals that disrupt the normal function of the sex glands.

Dr. Robert O. Young, Director of Research at the pH Miracle Living Center advises that consumers avoid the following ingredients found in cosmetics and other personal care products:

1) parbens (or ingredients that have "parben" as a part of their name). Linked to endocrine gland disruption.

2) Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate. May cause skin damage.

3) Fragrances and dyes. Tied to allergies, cancerous conditions, and difficulty with the nervous system.

4) "PEG" and "-eth." Highly toxic acidic contaminants.

5) Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone. Linked to allergies and difficulties with the nervous system.

6) Triclosan and triclocarban. May cause thyroid challenges.

7) DMDM hydantoin and imidanzolidinyl urea. Toxic acidic contaminants.

8) Triehanolamine (TEA). Contain toxic acidic contaminants and also linked to allergies.

Some specific types of acidic products consumers should avoid include:

1) Anti-aging creams that contain lactic, glycolia, AHA and BHA acid.

2) Nail polishes and nail polish removers that contain the acid formaldehyde.

3) All dark permanent hair dyes and dyes containing peroxide, ammonia, p-phenylenediamine, and diaminobenzene.

Dr. Young suggests, "read the labels of all cosmetics or body care products before purchasing to make sure they do not contain any harmful acidic chemicals that could compromise the delicate pH balance of your body making you sick and/or tired."

Check out Dr. Young's chemical free alkalizing body care products at: www.phmiracleliving.com Soon to release an alkalizing chemically free make-up line.