It’s no secret that personal hygiene is crucial for maintaining good health, but what many people don’t realize is that the products we use to stay clean can also have a negative impact on our well-being. From soaps to toothpaste and deodorants, many personal hygiene products contain toxic chemicals that can harm our bodies and the environment.
On this page, we’ll explore the importance of choosing products that are free of harmful chemicals and how doing so can lead to a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
Harmful products
– 1,4-Dioxane: possible carcinogen
– Aluminium: neurotoxic, skin sensitizer
– Benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol: eye irritant, skin sensitizer (isopropyl alcohol)
– Boric acid: irritant to eyes and respiratory tract, possible effects on development and reproduction
– Bronopol (2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-2,3-Diol): eye irritant, skin sensitizer
– Butylhydroxy anisole (BHA) and butylhydroxy toluene (BHT): possible carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, BHA possibly toxic to reproduction
– Ceteareth: possible carcinogen (may contain 1,4-dioxane)
– DMDM Bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3 dimethyl-5,5 hydantoin: skin irritant, skin sensitizer (may release formaldehyde)
– FD&C dyes: carcinogenic, skin sensitizer, photosensitizer and mutagenic
– Formaldehyde: carcinogenic, eye and respiratory irritant, respiratory sensitizer
– Iodoproponyl butylcarbamate: possible carcinogen, skin sensitizer
– Heavy metals (as impurities): the main heavy metals present in products (arsenic, mercury, lead, etc.) can have different toxic effects on humans. Can be neurotoxic, endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic and have developmental effects
– Hydroquinone: possible carcinogen (confirmed in animals), mutagenic effect, eye and respiratory irritant, skin sensitizer
– Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone: skin and respiratory sensitizers
– Nitrosamines: possible carcinogens
– Nonylphenol: irritant to skin, eyes, respiratory and digestive tracts, skin sensitizer
– Oxybenzone: allergen, photosensitizer
– Parabens: endocrine disruptors
– Perfumes: allergens
– PEG (polyethylene glycol): irritant to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract, may be composed of carcinogenic agents
– Phenylenediamine: toxic to the respiratory tract and kidneys (renal failure), skin irritant and sensitizer (may cause contact dermatitis)
– Phtalates: possible irritant for skin, eyes and respiratory tract
– Propylene glycol: allergen, irritant
– Quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats): irritant to the skin and respiratory tract
– Selenium sulfide: possible carcinogen, possible eye irritant
– Silica: possible carcinogen, irritating to eyes and respiratory tract
– Sodium lauryl sulfate: irritant, may cause contact dermatitis
– Talc: possible carcinogen, irritant to skin, eyes and respiratory tract
– TEA, DEA and MEA: possible carcinogens (by production of nitrosamines)
– Titanium dioxide: possible carcinogen, irritating to eyes and respiratory tract
– Toluene: irritant to skin and eyes, neurotoxic, potentially toxic to the respiratory tract and development
– Triclosan and Triclocarban: endocrine disruptors