Keeping Baby's Skin Safe

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Permalink Reply by monica on April 11, 2009 at 9:56am

Hello Nancy! Please tell us what toxins and why?

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Permalink Reply by Jason Hennessey on April 13, 2009 at 1:49am

Hi Nancy!
I'm new here in this forum.
I'm very interested and eager to learn what are the toxins that we want to avoid and why.
Thank you!
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Life is so much sweeter when it's shared with wedding favors!

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Permalink Reply by Nancy on April 13, 2009 at 4:29pm

Hi Molly and Jason,
I have learned a great deal these last several years about toxins and our environment. It was a revelation to learn how much our skin acts as a carrier when I had always thought of my skin as a barrier. We know medically there are several trans-dermal patches available carrying ingredients into our systems. It is the same for toxins. Our skin absorbs toxins into our bodies in growing quantities.
For me, I have found sites like Cancer Prevention Coalition at http://www.preventcancer.com/ and one of their archived publications was particularly insightful -
http://www.preventcancer.com/publications/pdf/Time%20to%20Protect%2.... The Environmental Working Group is another trusted source of information for me. It is www.ewg.com. Skin Deep is another. As a parent, I did not really know there were alternatives and for the most part, back in the 70's and 80's there were not the safe and effective alternatives there are today. When we put a lotion or a shampoo on our bodies, it is voluntary and we get to make that choice. What we put on our children and grandchildren is involuntary to them and I am careful to use products that do not contain known toxins. Natural and pure organic are not always great either. Sometimes they are okay; however, sometimes they can harbor bacteria that occur naturally in the environment and not the best for our skin.
There is a whole lot more written about the harmful ingredients. Anderson Cooper did a piece that included toxin build up in children and the possible affects. I will try to locate that reference.

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Permalink Reply by Erica Jones on April 13, 2009 at 11:06pm

HI Nancy! What a shocking list of ingredients! I can't believe that everything in my bathroom has at least 3 of them in it! Most of them second after water or aqua! SLS, Propylene glycol, talc!

Why wouldn't the government ban these items if they knew they were unsafe? I thought their job was to keep us safe and now I learn that they are allowing these known cancer causing ingredients in products that many of us use at least once a day.

Where do you get your safer products? Can I order them online as I am living overseas these days?

I found this list of ingredients online... everyone should be testing their bathroom products against it.

Thanks for sharing this info Nancy...

Attachments:

• harmfulIngredients.pdf, 35 KB

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Permalink Reply by enimary on April 20, 2010 at 7:06pm

Formaldehye comes in many different names. Quaternium-15 or Q-15. is found in your store brand baby shampoos. It's the ingredient that keeps the shampoo from burning the eyes.

Link I found. http://ezinearticles.com/?Formaldehyde-In-Your-Home&id=54177

Other products containing Quaternium-15 include a variety of cosmetics including: foundations, powders, concealers, bronzers, makeup removers, blushes, eye shadows, eyeliners, eyebrow makeup, and mascaras (ie Avon® Advanced (Moisture) Foundation Natural Finish Creme Powder and Max Factor® Quick Draw Magic Eyeliner Pen). Quaternium-15 is found in many cleansers, sunscreens (ie Banana Boat® Dark Tanning Lotion and Physicians Formula® Sun Shield Oil-Free), moisturizers, creams, lotions (ie U-Lactin® Lotion and Mary Kay® Angelfire Perfumed Body Lotion), shampoos (ie baby shampoos such as Johnson & Johnson® and Baby Magic®), soaps (ie Dove Beauty Bar), and other skin care products. It is also found in adhesives, paper, paperboard, inks, polishes, and latex paints.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Gobel on April 15, 2009 at 9:06am

Hi Nancy,

I am so glad to see this information in your blog. As a parent you do not think such harmful ingredients would be on the shelves in the baby products aisle, but they are. I know first hand what a difference switching products can make as I did that about 5 years ago. For me it only took me about 2 months to adjust to new products and forget about my old 'favorites'. Not only do my children have less skin issues, they also get sick less. Maybe there is a link there as well?

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Permalink Reply by MCBG on April 29, 2009 at 10:41am

Just to name a few...

Diethanolamine (DEA) (shampoos, body washes, bubble bath, shaving cream)
• Triethanolamine (TEA) (moisturizers, cosmetics, deodorant, toothpaste, body oils, washes)
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) (shampoo, bubble bath, shaving foam, cleansers etc)
• Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) (as above)
• Propylene Glycol (moisturisers, shaving cream, deodorants, baby products)
• Sodium Fluoride (toothpaste)
• Alcohol (mouthwash, toners, baby products)
• Talc (baby powder, make-up, foot preparations)
• Glycerine (moisturizers, lotions)
• PABA (sunscreens)
• PEG (cosmetics, make-up, shaving cream)
• Artificial flavours (toothpaste, mouthwash)
• Artificial colours (make-up, toothpaste, shampoos)
• Ether (nail treatments, shampoo, conditioner)
• Coal Tars (shampoo, conditioner, hair dyes, soap, skin care, cosmetics)
• Aluminium (antiperspirants)
• Acetone (nail polish remover)
• Formaldehyde (antiperspirants, nail treatments, perfumes)
• Fluorocarbons (hair spray)
• Dioxins (shampoo)
• Petrolatum or Mineral Oil (baby products, washes)
This list is not exhaustive and the above ingredients are found in many more products than just those indicated.

See Erica's attachment above.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy on April 29, 2009 at 11:03pm

Great list. Thank you for sharing. The good news is we can avoid these ingredients and give ourselves and our families the best chance to reduce the harm they can cause.

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