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Acne: Trouble Over the Counter - Benzoyl Peroxide Banned by European Union
There are many over the counter (OTC) preparations for treatment
of acne. Sold as lotions, gels, creams, and cleansers, OTC
products can be a precarious buy and consumers should be aware
that chemicals applied to the skin can also be absorbed...
Making A Difference
Cancer. Just the word brings fear into the heart of whoever hears it. Unfortunately, the chances are high that at some point in each of our lives, we will be affected by cancer. We may suffer from it ourselves, or we may have a friend or a loved one...
Phytoestrogens: The Latest Compounds To Reduce Lung Cancer Risk, And Where To Find Them
A new weapon has been uncovered in the fight against lung cancer -- the leading cancer killer of men and women in the United States. Eating foods that are rich in phytoestrogens appears to lower lung cancer risk in both smokers and non-smokers,...
Soy Products Gaining Popularity In Western Culture!
Citizens of Japan, China and Indonesia have understood the
benefits of soy products for years but it is only recently that
Western societies have begun to implement soy products as a
regular part of their diet. Many Americans are turning to...
Understanding Your Breasts: A Health Guide for All Women
A woman's breast is a gland that produces milk in late pregnancy and after childbirth. Each breast is made of lobes which are groups of milk glands called lobules. Lobules are arranged around thin tubes called ducts which carry the milk to the...
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How to Make Sure Your Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Are Safe
Choosing safe products can be a daunting task without the proper
knowledge and tools. Many product packages are deceptively
designed to make you believe that the product inside the package
is herbal, all natural, safe and gentle, when in fact the
product contains little or no natural or herbal ingredients, is
contaminated with carcinogens and is irritating to the skin.
This is the case because of the lack of regulation in the
cosmetic and personal care product industry. But armed with a
little knowledge and some helpful tools, there is much you can
do to protect yourself.
Here are 10 things you can do to make safer and healthier
choices when selecting your toiletries.
Read the ingredients on the label. The packaging may say such
things as natural, herbal or hypoallergenic. This has nothing to
do with what's really in the product or how safe it is.
Manufacturers make a lot of claims on the package to "sell" the
product. They can do this because some of the terms don't have
official definitions and they can use them however they want. To
really find out what's in a product, you must read the
ingredients in the small print, you know, the ones that you
sometimes need a magnifying glass to be able to see.
Interpret and understand the ingredients. Once you find the
ingredients, you have to be able to know what they are and if
they are safe, harmful, questionable or untested. A great many
ingredients have chemical names that only a cosmetic chemist
would understand. However, you don't have to be a cosmetic
chemist. The book, Dying To Look Good, makes it easy for you to
choose products with safe and healthy ingredients.
Choose products without parabens. Parabens are xenoestrogens or
endocrine disrupters. They disturb the hormone balance in your
body. They are also skin sensitizers and have the potential to
cause allergic reactions. They have been found in breast cancer
tumors, but it is not known if they cause breast cancer.
Stay away from products containing amines. Chemicals that fall
into the category of amines can combine with nitrosating agents
to form nitrosamines, which cause cancer. Nitrosamines are
formed during the manufacturing process when an amine combines
with a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Some of the amines
commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products are
Cocamide MEA, Cocamide DEA, TEA, sodium lauroyal sarcosinate and
amino methyl propanol. Several of the formaldehyde-releasing
preservatives include sodium hydroxymethylglycinate,
quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin and diazonlidnyl urea.
Steer clear of products containing talc. Talc is
found in talcum
powder, baby powder and makeup. It is a carcinogen if it
contains asbestiform fibers. The quantity of asbestiform fibers
in cosmetic-grade talc is unregulated in the U.S. Some research
suggests a link between talc and ovarian cancer.
Be cautious about products that contain fragrance. Manufacturers
are not required to disclose the ingredients used in frgrances.
A single fragrance may contain hundreds of different chemicals.
Some of the chemicals used in fragrances are hazardous, such as
benzyl chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, methylene chloride,
toluene and phthalates. Fragrances may also contain chemicals
that cause cancer. Even products listed as fragrance free may
have fragrance added to mask offensive odors.
Avoid D&C and FD&C Colors. Most D&C and FD&C colors are derived
from coal tar which is a carcinogen. Most coal tar colors are
potential carcinogens, may contain carcinogenic contaminants and
cause allergic reactions. These colors must be certified by the
FDA to contain not more than 20 ppm of lead and arsenic, but the
certification does not address any other harmful effects these
colors may have on the body.
Beware of products containing chemical preservatives. Chemical
preservatives can be irritating and are the number one cause of
contact dermatitis. Some preservatives you should watch out for
are benzethonium chloride, BHA, BHT, diazolidinyl urea,
imidazolidinyl urea, phenoxyethanol and methylisothiazolinone.
Watch out for "and other ingredients." This means there are one
or more ingredients that the manufacturer considers a trade
secret and does not want to list on the label.
Be wary of products with long lists of ingredients. Many of the
chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care products have not
been tested or have not been adequately tested. Even those that
have been tested have only been tested individually, not in
combination with other ingredients. Nobody knows the effects of
the many different ingredients used in thousands of different
combinations, the effects of using numerous different products,
one on top of the other, or the effects of repeated use of
ingredients or products over time.
Protect yourself and your loved ones. Become a label reader and
learn how to decipher the ingredients for safety.
About the author:
Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. has been researching ingredient
safety since 1991. She is the author of three books, including
the new, second edition of DYING TO LOOK GOOD. To learn more
about the safety of ingredients in your cosmetics and personal
care products, visit www.dyingtolookgood.com.
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BreastCancer.org - Breast Cancer Treatment Information and Pictures |
Breast Cancer Information from a Nonprofit Organization. |
www.breastcancer.org |
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The Breast Cancer Site |
Founded to help offer free mammograms to underprivileged women nationwide. With a simple, daily "click" visitors help provide mammograms to those in need. |
www.thebreastcancersite.com |
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Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation |
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to education and research on breast cancer causes, treatment and the search for a cure. |
www.komen.org |
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Breast Cancer Information from National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc |
Breast cancer information including early signs and symptoms of breast cancer, myths, early detection, breast cancer research and more from National Breast ... |
www.nationalbreastcancer.org |
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BreastCancer.Net: http://www.breastcancer.net |
A clearinghouse for the latest news and information on the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. |
www.breastcancer.net |
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Breast Cancer Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine |
Educational resources on using Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat and prevent breast cancer. |
www.breastcancer.com |
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Breast Cancer Care - Homepage |
Breast Cancer Care is the UK's leading provider of information, practical assistance and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer or breast ... |
www.breastcancercare.org.uk |
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Breakthrough Breast Cancer |
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the UKs leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research and education. |
www.breakthrough.org.uk |
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MedlinePlus: Breast Cancer |
Search MEDLINE/PubMed for recent research articles on Breast Cancer: • Breast Cancer ... Select services and providers for Breast Cancer in your area. ... |
www.nlm.nih.gov |
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Breast Cancer Research | |
Online and print journal covering topics of basic and clinical research relevant to breast cancer. Research articles are free to all users. |
breast-cancer-research.com |
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National Breast Cancer Centre - Evidence based information for ... |
The National Breast Cancer Centre of Australia providing information about breast cancer for consumers and health professionals. |
www.nbcc.org.au |
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Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: Run for the Cure: Select Language |
Charitable organization which raises money to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment. |
www.cbcf.org |
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Breast cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
That is why you will see breast cancer patients wearing braces, ... [5] Men can also develop breast cancer, but their risk is less than one in 1000 (see sex ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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End Breast Cancer from Care2.com and TBCF! |
Help stop Breast Cancer by clicking daily - free! Supports efforts by The Breast Cancer Fund. |
breastcancer.care2.com |
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National Breast Cancer Foundation |
The ultimate goal of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is to raise enough money to fund a cure for breast cancer. As Australia’s leading national ... |
www.nbcf.org.au |
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Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization |
Support and information about the condition from this non-profit entity. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. |
www.y-me.org |
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Breast Cancer Home Page - National Cancer Institute |
Information about breast cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials, research and statistics from the National Cancer ... |
www.cancer.gov |
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What You Need To Know About™ Breast Cancer - National Cancer Institute |
Information about detection, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. NIH Publication No. 05-1556. |
www.cancer.gov |
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Breast Cancer Campaign - Researching the cure |
Breast Cancer Campaign is the only charity that specialises in funding independent breast cancer research throughout the UK. |
www.breastcancercampaign.org |
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NBCC - NBCC - National Breast Cancer Coalition |
The National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending breast cancer through the power of action and advocacy. |
www.natlbcc.org |
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