What personal care products can cause problems?
Colognes and personal care products are in such common use and contain so many toxic chemicals that they deserve a discussion of their own. Personal care products include: Cologne, perfumes, cosmetics, acne medications, powders, nail products, creams/lotions, deodorants, sanitary pads, hair dyes/sprays/shampoos, and toothpaste/mouthwash.
Sensitivity to personal care products is quite common, and can affect both the wearers and those around them. The allergy sufferer may or may not be aware of the allergy or the cause, or that the allergy may be self-induced.
Some common symptoms are:
- Brain fog- This may be slight and chronic, or can be sudden or severe
- Emotional- The sympathetic nervous system reacts to what it correctly perceives to be a dangerous invader, and signals the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline to prepare for a confrontation. The rush of adrenaline (the fight-or-flight hormone) can cause a sudden feeling of anxiety, anger, or depression
- Rashes and increased skin sunlight sensitivity where the product was applied
- Fatigue and muscle weakness
- Increased sensitivity to other toxins or allergens as the body is overloaded with more than it can handle
- Meningeal system contraction similar to that caused by other toxic chemicals. Structural misalignments can then occur from the pressure, with a multitude of accompanying symptoms such as headaches and light sensitivity
Let’s think about some of the messages
One advantage of personal care products compared with other toxins is that most of them are optional. Now that you are more aware of the down side of perfuming and coloring your body, you may well decide that you will cut down on or eliminate such products.
One way to approach this is to evaluate advertisers’ messages, which are, after all, designed to sell products by creating an artificial need or desire. Primarily aimed at women, these messages convey the idea that the Real You is foul-smelling and unattractive, and that you are offensive to others if you appear in public without covering your hair, face, skin, armpits, and teeth with purchased products. Internalizing these messages can cause real damage in addition to that form physical toxicity. Let’s try to challenge these messages! As a result, you will keep more of your money in your wallet, improve your self-esteem, and eliminate a significant source of toxicity in your life.
Detox or Disease by William R. Kellas, PhD and Andrea S. Dworkin, ND, PhD
