Natural Skin Care
The skin is probably the most important body tissue. About 20 square feet of it covers the body and functions as protection for muscles, nerves, blood vessels and other organs. The skin also serves as a kind of thermostat by regulating body temperature. In addition, it is sensitive to external stimuli; in some cases this characteristic could prevent more serious burns or cuts.
Basically, the skin presents a barrier to harmful environmental elements, such as dirt, bacteria, fungi, temperature extremes and radiation. Because of the exposure to a variety of hazards, it is not surprising that skin disorders account for one-half to two-thirds of all compensation claims for occupational diseases in the United States. These figures do not include cuts, puncture wounds or bruises because they are considered physical injuries.
Chemicals In Skin Care Products
As an introduction to the topic of proper skin care, I would advise you to read the highly informative “Guide To Toxic Chemical Ingredients in Cosmetics and Body Care Products. The Toxic Chemical Ingredient Directory.” Read this report and find out what very potent poisons are lurking in your skin care products, and why anyone and especially someone with a skin condition such as dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis just must avoid them.
It is a fact that while many of us are committed to natural foods and remedies, we may not be as selective when it comes to personal care products.
Many of the synthetic compounds used in products such as shampoos, lotions, and skin creams are known cancer causers and skin irritants.
There are many so-called ‘natural’ products on the market now, but be sure that the one you buy is all-natural. Read the ingredient list, as a lot of products are marketed as natural, but they may only contain a small percentage of pure, natural ingredients. If it’s all natural, that’s the one to buy.
Many companies, even those that tout themselves as providing an all-natural line, use ingredients that have been linked to skin irritation and dryness, as well as various skin diseases such as cancer. Therefore, it is important to learn which ingredients are potentially harmful and can actually contribute to and cause the skin problems you are trying to avoid.
For example, a cancer-causing compound called 1,4-dioxane has been found in some of the most commonly used petroleum-based cosmetics by a study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group. The list includes products from natural companies such as Kiss My Face, Nutribiotic, Jason, Ecover, Citrus Magic, 365, Alba, Lifetree, Giovanni, Seventh Generation, Method, Earth Friendly Products, Sea-Chi Organics and many other brands.
1,4-dioxane (often just called dioxane) is a clear, colorless, organic compound that’s a liquid at room temperature and is a known human carcinogen. Studies show that this chemical readily penetrates the skin. EPA classifies it as a probable human carcinogen, and the National Toxicology Program considers it a known animal carcinogen.
Companies whose products were found to be free of 1,4-Dioxane include Dr. Bronner’s, Aubrey Organics, Burt’s Bees, Desert Essence, Dr. Hauschka, TerrEssentials, Avalon Organics among other companies.
Click on www.naturalnews.com/022846.html to learn more about this problem.
According to a study of cosmetic reactions conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group the most common cause of allergic and irritant reactions are fragrances and preservatives in cosmetics.
This problem can be better understood from the following eye opening statement found on the web site of the FDA at; http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/CosmeticsQA/ucm167234.htm.
“WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COLOR ADDITIVES AND A FEW PROHIBITED INGREDIENTS, A COSMETIC MANUFACTURER MAY USE ALMOST ANY RAW MATERIAL AS A COSMETIC INGREDIENT.”
The reason for this is that, in 1938, the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry, allowing these companies to decide for themselves what they put in the products we use absolutely disregarding the health damaging effects of these chemicals!.
The following are only some of the types of toxic chemicals and skin irritants commonly found in many popular skin care products.
• Sodium Laurel Sulfate: SLS is a very common chemical found in shampoos, hair conditioners, toothpaste, body washes, and bubble baths.
SLS is a harsh detergent commonly used as an engine degreaser and garage floor cleaner. When applied to human skin it has the effect of stripping off the oil layer, and then irritating and eroding the skin, leaving it rough and pitted.
The American Journal of Toxicology has found that SLS irritates skin tissue, corrodes hair follicles, and impairs the ability to grow hair. It also enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs, and brain.
SLS causes eczema and mouth ulcers in susceptible people and could be the contributing factor in the onset of psoriasis.
Many sufferers of scalp complaints have eased their conditions simply by switching to an SLS-free shampoo.
• DEA [Diethanolamine]: DEA is a colorless liquid or crystalline alcohol that is used as a solvent, emulsifier, and detergent. DEA works as an emollient in skin softening lotions or as a humectant in other personal care products.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) completed a study in 1998 that found an association between the topical application of DEA, certain DEA-related ingredients, and cancer in laboratory animals. For the DEA-related ingredients, the NTP study suggests that the carcinogenic response is linked to possible residual levels of DEA. The NTP study did not establish a link between DEA and the risk of cancer in humans.
The U.S. FDA believes that at the present time there is no reason for consumers to be alarmed based on the use of these substances in cosmetics. However, consumers wishing to avoid cosmetics containing DEA or DEA-related ingredients may do so by reviewing the ingredient statement that is required to appear on the outer container label of cosmetics offered for retail sale to consumers.
Common Sense Thought: Why take a chance and use products that contain DEA when you can purchase organic, DEA-free products?
The following are some of the most commonly used ingredients that may contain DEA:
Although DEA itself is used in very few cosmetics, DEA-related ingredients are widely used in a variety of cosmetic products. These ingredients function as emulsifiers or foaming agents, and generally are used at levels of 1 to 5% of a product’s formulation.
The following are some of the most commonly used ingredients that may contain DEA:
- Cocamide DEA
- Cocamide MEA
- DEA-Cetyl Phosphate
- DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate
- Lauramide DEA
- Linoleamide MEA
- Myristamide DEA
- Oleamide DEA
- Stearamide MEA
- TEA-Lauryl Sulfate
- Triethanolamine
• Mineral Oil: A mixture of refined liquid hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. Mineral oil is the stabilizing ingredient of many skin care products. Mineral oil forms an occlusive film on your skin, blocking your pores, and interfering with normal skin respiration. The skin is a living, breathing organ and it needs to respire. When toxins and wastes are trapped in and oxygen is kept out, the skin is forced into an unhealthy state.
• Propylene Glycol (PG): As a "surfactant" or wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. There is no difference between the PG used in industry and the PG used in personal care products. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after shave- deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpaste. It is also used in food processing.
Learn how to avoid these and other potent skin irritants by reading the Consumers Dictionary Of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter.
You wouldn’t eat something without knowing what it was–don’t you want to take the same care with what you put on your face, hair, and body? Find out what’s in that shampoo, makeup, toothpaste, lotion, or perfume here, with more than 6,000 entries, organized alphabetically. Cosmetics are barely regulated these days, leaving it up to you to learn what those strange-sounding names mean and how they might affect you.
Chlorine
Before we discuss the topic of the proper soaps and shampoos, I feel it necessary to advise you on the quality of the water that’s coming from your showerhead and bath faucet.
In my opinion, a shower/bath filter that filters out chlorine and other contaminants is an absolute necessity because:
Chlorine makes your skin dry and brittle. Chlorine reacts with the proteins in the skin, causing cells not to adhere as well to each other. As a result, the skin becomes a less effective barrier, and dead cells visibly flake off, resulting in what is commonly known as “dry skin”.
Chlorine in shower water has a very negative cosmetic effect, robbing the skin and hair of moisture and elasticity, resulting in a less vibrant and youthful appearance. Anybody who has ever swum in a chlorinated pool can relate to the harsh effects that chlorine has on the skin and hair.
Chlorine is a poison, nobody can argue about it it’s a fact! The EPA knows that and so does anyone who has even the slightest knowledge about chemistry. So why is it still being dumped into our water systems? Simple! It is a very effective way of controlling bacteria in the water supply. The problem is a poison remains a poison! no matter why it is used!
I stress chlorine since that is the poison that irritates your skin, but there are plenty of other reasons to filter your water, due to many other toxic compounds commonly found in the water supply as was mentioned in a previous chapter.
A recent report in the American Journal of Public Health linked chlorine to significant increases in certain types of cancer, asthma, and skin irritations… and stated that “up to 2/3s of the harmful exposure was due to skin absorption and inhalation of chlorine in shower water”.
The U.S. EPA recently stated, "Due to chlorine and showering, virtually every home in America has a detectable level of chloroform gas in the air." When chlorine vaporizes in steam, and combines with other organic compounds in the air, it converts to chloroform. Chloroform is a strong respiratory irritant and causes fatigue. It has been found that taking just one shower will expose you to 20 gallons of cancer –causing chemicals. The heat of the water causes pores to expand and these enlarged pores absorb chlorine instantly.
In addition:
- Chlorine is a prime suspect in the cause of breast cancer, since the poisons seep into the fatty tissues of the body where they can cause problems.
- Recent studies indicate that the chlorine added to drinking water as a disinfectant may cause some miscarriages as well as some serious birth defects.
Shower filters attach easily and are available at most health food stores.
I would personally recommend a top of the line shower filter manufactured by a company called Aquasana. You can purchase this and other excellent water filtration products produced by this company by clicking on: www.aquasana.com.
Tip: Although swimming is a great form of exercise, swimming in a heavily chlorinated pool will only irritate your already dry skin. If you do swim in a chlorinated pool be sure to rinse off after swimming with clear water and then moisturize the skin.
Water Softeners
If you live in an area with hard water (water which contains large amounts of mineral deposits), purchasing a water softener might be beneficial to improving your dry skin condition. Many dry skin sufferers have reported that a move to softened water has substantially reduced inflammation. Softened water is also known to have a calming, soothing effect on other skin problems including eczema and psoriasis.
Tip: Use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride to soften your water. The high sodium content found in sodium chloride will only irritate your already inflamed and dry skin.
Soaps
Stay away from all commercially produced soaps, and use only soap products produced from all-natural sources such as olive, coconut, vegetable oils, and pine tar.
This is important for healthy skin because:
- Commercial soaps contain carbolic acid, caustic soda, and tallow, which dry out your skin.
- Commercial soaps especially the deodorant ones contain all kinds of artificial perfumes and dyes, which are generally made from petroleum and therefore can cause allergies and skin irritation.
- Most body cleansers on the market today are actually synthetic detergent products. These detergent cleansers are popular because they make suds easily in water and don’t form gummy deposits. Some of these detergent products are actually marketed as "soap" but are not true soap in the common and legal definition of the word.
Avoid Anti-bacterial soaps as they have been shown to wipe out the protective intestinal bacteria that is so vital for proper digestive function.
Antibacterial soaps have been widely embraced as a way to "kill germs" and prevent illness. But not all bacteria are harmful. And not all "germs" are bacteria.
Some bacteria are beneficial and your body needs them. Antibacterial soap cannot distinguish between harmful and helpful bacteria. It kills all bacteria. When the healthy bacteria that your body needs have been "washed away," it weakens your body’s defense system and makes it easier for you to get sick when you’re exposed to harmful bacteria.
Click here to browse through a fabulous selection of all-natural vegetable based soaps.
I would especially recommend using a soap product called Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap. This soap is excellent for bathing, showering, shaving and shampooing. Many people have described this soap as being helpful in treating scales of Psoriasis, Dandruff, Eczema, and other skin irritations.
Shampoos
Most of the so-called regular shampoos are not recommended due to fact that they contain all kinds of artificial chemicals such as sodium laurel sulfate [which is a known skin irritant and cancer causer], and synthetic dyes and fragrances, which will in most cases only increase the scaling and flaking on the scalp. Therefore, use only shampoo products made with all natural, SLS free, herbal ingredients.
The fact is that many sufferers of scalp complaints such as eczema and psoriasis have eased their conditions simply by switching to an SLS-free shampoo.
Click here to browse through a fabulous selection of all-natural chemical-free shampoos.
The following all-natural shampoo products are highly recommended as your best bets for controlling your dry and itchy scalp condition.
1. Tea Tree Oil Therapy Shampoo
2. .Dandruff Relief Shampoo produced by Jason Natural Cosmetics Inc.
Dandruff Relief Shampoo is fortified with MSM, Neem oil, tea tree oil, colloidal sulfur and rosemary to cleanse hair, moisturize, soothe and heal scalp, and help control symptoms of dandruff, scalp dermatitis and psoriasis.
For Cleansing Hair, and Dry, Itchy Flaky Scalp. Jason Natural Cosmetics brings you the all natural system to help control the symptoms of dandruff, scalp dermatitis and mild psoriasis. Dandruff is not a hair problem, it is a scalp condition. Treat your scalp with our laboratory-tested formula…extra mild, and an all natural combination of Food and Drug Administration compliant dandruff-control ingredients. We have combined natural scalp soothing, healing, moisturizing botanicals with aroma-therapeutic essential oils, Rosemary, Neem, Tea Tree Oil and Colloidal Sulfur. The benefits of our fortified ‘Dandruff Relief’ is amplified by MSM (methylsulfonylmethane).
Click here to browse through a fabulous selection of all-natural shampoos and conditioners.
The premier producers of truly all natural bath and hair-care products are: Kiss My Face Inc, Aubrey-Organics, and Jason Naturals.
Laundry Detergents
Use only Laundry Detergents made without harsh chemical derivatives.
Remember, harsh chemicals and detergents will only serve to dry out your skin and should therefore be avoided whenever possible.
Click here to browse through a fabulous selection of all-natural laundry care products.
Dish Washing Detergents
When sensitive skin comes in contact with chemical based dish washing detergent the result can be inflammation. In order not to expose your skin to harsh chemicals wear rubber gloves when washing dishes. Always wear cotton gloves under the rubber glove and only leave them on for twenty minutes at a time. Better yet, try to use only all-natural dishwashing detergents 
Click here to browse through a selection of all-natural dishwashing solutions.
Clothing
The clothes you wear can make a big difference in your skin and overall general health. Synthetic fibers do not absorb sweat, lotions or secretions, while natural fibers like cotton, will absorb toxins. Therefore, do not wear nylon, polyester synthetics next to your skin. Wear only clothing made from natural wool or cotton fibers.
Bathing Tips
Try to bathe daily for 20 minutes, in water that is not too hot, but as cool as you can tolerate comfortably. This will help to de-scale and moisturize your skin.
Keep in mind, that water is the only way to hydrate your skin. The trick is to seal the moisture in. After your bath, pat your skin dry: don’t rub it with a towel (the rubbing can irritate your skin), and then apply a thin layer of lotion or oil.
Tip-1: Take a bath rather than a shower because a bath allows the skin to hold on to more water.
Tip-2: Dry-brush your skin before your daily bath or shower. Dry skin brushing helps in removing the outer dead skin layers, and keeps the pores open. Use a natural bristle body brush, the size of your hand, and with a long handle to reach your back. In a light circular motion, start with your hands and move on to your arms, back, legs and feet — everything except your breasts and face. Do not scrub until your skin is red, but merely brush the skin. The brushing helps with the lymph flow in your body and helps to remove toxins.
Tip-3: Keep your bath water temperature comfortably warm not hot. Hot water dissolves the skin’s natural moisture; so if your skin is dry, keep your daily bath or shower short and water temperature moderate.
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