A recent study conducted by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women who often use chemical straighteners (also known as Brazilian Blowouts) may be twice as likely to suffer from uterine cancer when compared to those who never participated in this treatment.
In the same week, this study went viral, several major hair care brands announced they are recalling their dry shampoo products for “cancer-causing chemicals.” Specifically, Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI, and TRESemmé aerosol dry shampoos contain the chemical benzene, a known carcinogen.
Unfortunately, these findings are all too common. Benzene is actually one of the most commonly made chemicals in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
So why are chemicals like Benzene, which is present in gasoline as well as cigarette smoke, incorporated into our health and beauty products?
A Lack of Regulation: More Chemicals Need to be Banned in the United States
There is a slew of evidence that suggests hair, cosmetic, and beauty products are doing more harm than good. In fact, health and wellness experts have been trying to sound the alarm on this issue for decades. For example, in 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers reported using 88 chemicals in more than 73,000 products that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.
Although some of those chemicals have since been banned, the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of products is still far behind what’s necessary. Earlier this year, the European Union banned an ingredient in the popular hair care brand, Olaplex, known as lilial. This chemical is linked to infertility and chronic allergies yet it has not been banned in the United States.
It has been almost 80 years since regulators last revised the federal safety regulations for personal care products.
Mismarketing & Misinformation
Lack of regulation is definitely the most pressing issue when it comes to toxins in health and beauty products, but second to that is the misinformation that is distributed to the masses.
Take the recent finding of Brazilian Blowouts causing uterine cancer because they contain formaldehyde- consumers were told for years that these chemical straighteners are actually “formaldehyde-free.” However, this hair treatment contains heat-triggered formaldehyde releaser preservatives, like DMDM hydantoin.
Therefore, their claim of formaldehyde-free is technically true and hides the truth and consequences from the consumer.
Follow the Money
With the astronomical growth of the cosmetic industry, which is currently worth $534 billion in 2022, more women than ever are using cosmetic products. In fact, the average woman uses 12 such products containing 168 different chemicals each day.
This newfound focus on anti-aging and self-care routines allows for billions of dollars to be made from pushing cheaply made, toxin-filled beauty products. Moreover, many of these products are marketed as “clean” or “organic” products, misleading consumers to believe they do not contain harmful ingredients.
This is far from true.
The clean beauty segment of the cosmetic industry grew by 23% over the past two years and refers to products that favor natural ingredients. However, the FDA actually has no definition as to what the terms “clean” and “natural” mean. Plus, the FDA is not required to test or preapprove cosmetics and their ingredients (excluding color additives).
Why Clean Beauty Products Matter
As the studies we previously discussed reveal, the shortcuts the cosmetic industry takes by including harmful chemicals in unregulated products have real consequences.
The chemicals in cosmetic products are eventually absorb into the bloodstream and their cumulative effect from daily use has been shown to have long-term harmful health effects:
- Allergic reactions
- Cancer
- Developmental issues in infants and children
- Liver damage, neurotoxicity
- Reproductive disorders
- Skin DNA damage
- Tumor growth
- Thyroid disease
- Hormonal Imbalances
- And more
Reliable Resources for Personal Care Products
Because what you put on your body is as important as what you put in your body, we want to ensure you know what you are putting on your body on a daily basis The Environmental Working Group is a reliable information source on these topics as they have customer guides based on more than 30 years of research, so you can make informed, healthy decisions. They also offer a database where you can check how “clean” your products really are and find healthy alternatives that have been carefully vetted.
Beauty from the Inside Out
At Holtorf Medical Group, we understand that personalized beauty is best addressed with a whole-body, personalized approach. With cutting-edge services such as NAD Therapy, Ozone Therapy, IV Therapy, and others, you can enhance your look from the inside out.
Plus, we also have Holtorf Aesthetics services that deliver customizable treatments to your unique needs. For the month of November, enjoy a complimentary aesthetic consultation and 25% off select laser services when you mention the promo code: LASER25 when booking.
