Chemicals Present in Day-to-Day Products

Nail enamels, sunscreens, bases or correctives are examples of some day-to-day products that contain toxic agents to the body, of which many people are unaware.

These products may contain various products toxic to the body, such as Toluene, Oxybenzone, Parabens or Sulphates, which should be avoided by consulting the label of the products purchased.

5 Products with Harmful Chemical Substances

Thus, some day-to-day products that contain substances hazardous to health include:

1. Nail Polish

They often contain Toluene in its composition, an aromatic hydrocarbon without coloring and pleasant odor, which is irritating to the skin, eyes and throat. This compound can also be known as methylbenzene, and is widely used in paints, varnishes and resins or some cosmetic products due to its solvent effect.

To avoid exposure to this agent, you should avoid purchasing products in your composition by referring to the product label. On labels the product may be mentioned under different names as it may be known as Toluene, Methylbenzene or as Toluene or Methybenzene if the label is written in English.

2. Solar Protector

Most contain oxybenzone in its composition, a pharmaceutical drug capable of absorbing UVB and UVA radiation, thus reducing the penetration of radiation into the skin, which reduces the risk of DNA damage. This drug can also be found in other cosmetic products with protection against the sun's rays, and may also be known as 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone. Although it is very effective in protecting the skin, it can be responsible for causing irritations, dermatitis and urticaria on the skin, especially in people more sensitive or with a history of allergies, once it ends up penetrating the skin.

In order to avoid exposure to this drug, you should avoid buying the protectors or cosmetics with this agent in your composition, looking for the following names on the labels: Oxybenzone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone or as oxybenzone.

3. Bases and Corrective

They may contain Parabens in their composition, substances that can trigger irritations or reactions of allergy, besides interfering with the production of the hormone estrogen, as they are absorbed by the skin.

Parabens may also be used in lipsticks, body lotions or shaving products, acting as preservatives, and may also be added as food additives. To avoid the use of products containing parabens, it is important to consult the packaging labels, looking for the terms Parabens or Parabens, or the most common types that include Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben and Butylparaben.

4. Shampoos

They may contain sulfates or sodium lauryl sulphate in their composition, degreasing compounds responsible for producing foam, due to their tensoactive properties. In addition, this compound is also used in skin cleansers, makeup removers or bath salts because of their ability to remove oil from the skin as it is potent degreasing agents. These compounds may be irritating to the skin and eyes and may cause redness, itching or swelling in these areas. In addition, when used in shampoos can also remove the natural protection of the threads, drying out and causing them to break.

To avoid exposure to this compound, you should avoid purchasing Shampoos or Sulphate-free skin cleansers by looking on the labels for the following names: Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sodium lauryl ether sulphate, sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium lauryl ether sulfate.

5. Hair Color

They may contain lead in their composition, a heavy metal that in large amounts is harmful to animals and humans, and is also harmful to the environment. This metal is not only used in hair dyes but also in other cosmetic or beauty products like lipsticks, being accumulated in the body over time. Its accumulation can cause various problems such as nausea, vomiting, malaise, drowsiness, headache, irritability and muscle weakness, for example.

In hair paints, lead can be found under the name of lead acetate, and to avoid exposure to this heavy metal should always consult the label of hair dye that will use.