Is There Cancer in Your Toothpaste, Shampoo, or Lip Balm?

Have you ever taken a careful look at the list of ingredients on your shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, lip balm, or make-up? I don't know about you, but I'm a bit nervous about putting anything on my skin or near my mouth that has a long list of ingredients that I don't recognize. Do you know that whatever you put on your skin or near your mouth has a real chance of getting absorbed into your blood stream? Considering that some of the chemicals used in commercial personal care products are highly toxic and can cause cancer, this is an extremely important issue to consider.

Here are some alarming facts about cosmetics and personal care products like shampoos, lotions, make-up, and lip balms:

* 33 percent of all personal care products on the market contain ingredients that are classified by the United States government as being possible human carcinogens.

* One out of every 120 products on the market contains ingredients certified by the US government as being known or probable human carcinogens.

* Seventy-one hair dye products contain ingredients that are derived from coal tar and can cause cancer.

* Many popular personal care products contain chemicals that can cause allergic reactions, hormonal imbalances, and damage to a developing fetus.

This information is from a report done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a not-for-profit organization whose mission involves exposing threats to your health and the environment.

The EWG has put together an extremely useful database that rates 7,500 personal care products for health risks like cancer, hormonal imbalances, and allergic reactions. They even have a search engine that allows you to view ratings for the specific brands and products that you use on a regular basis. Click here for their database.

The best and most simple way of choosing personal care products that are not dangerous to your health is by using on your skin and around your mouth only those products that you would eat. You're probably eating them anyway.

I realize that most all-natural products tend to be quite expensive compared to regular household brands. Nowadays, even wal-mart has a natural products section that carries at least a few non-toxic brands. Your local health food store is also a good source for these products. Once you find a product that you like, you may want to contact the manufacturing company directly to inquire about wholesale rates for bulk orders. If you have friends and family members who want to use the same products, you might be able to order enough to qualify for the same discounts that health food stores and health care practitioners do. Don't hesitate to contact companies directly and ask what's available!

At the very least, I recommend that you find non-toxic options for your toothpaste, lotion, and hair dye (if you use any) because these are the products that have the greatest chance of being absorbed into your blood stream.

Remember: strive to use on your skin and around your mouth only those products that you would actually eat.