Toxins and Dry Skin

Toxins and dry skin? Of course there is a connection. With skin being our first line of defense against environmental pollutants this can be a real factor in your dry skin problems. Ever forget to put on gloves before using some chemicals to clean something and wish you had after you saw what it did to your hands? Well, that's what I'm writing about. And it is actually more damaging to inhale and absorb toxins through the skin than to ingest them. Why? Because the stomach immediately goes to work to break down the toxins, but when they are inhaled or absorbed through the skin they travel directly to the major organs via the bloodstream within minutes. Scary. How can we avoid these toxins that are causing our dry skin problems?

There are a number of less-toxic commercial cleaning products available in stores and online. Unfortunately manufacturers are NOT required to list ingredients, unless they are active disinfectants or known to be potentially hazardous. It can be difficult to find the least toxic versions. So you will need some label education.

Click here to purchase safe cleaning products.

If it says:

"Chronic Health Hazards" It may contain toxins which cause birth defects, sterility, or cancer.

"Corrosives" It is referring to toxic chemicals that destroy tissue.

"Sensitizers" It may contain ingredients that cause allergic reactions and chronic adverse health effects that become evident only after continuing exposures.

"Irritants" It is referring to substances that cause injuries or inflammation on contact.

"Danger" It has toxins that are corrosive, flammable, highly toxic, or poisonous.

"Caution" or "Warning" This is a catchall term for many other hazards--check the label for specifics such as "fatal if inhaled" or "may cause blindness if swallowed".

Do you even want these toxins in your home?

Let's remove toxins from your home with homemade cleaning products.

A List of Some Common Household Chemicals

Ammonia-----------The vapor is irritating to eyes, respiratory tract and SKIN; possible chronic irritation.

Ammonium hydroxide---Corrosive; vapor extremely irritable to SKIN, eyes and respiratory passages; ingestion causes tissue burns.

Carbaryl----------Very toxic; interferes with the human nervous system; may cause SKIN, respiratory system, cardiovascular system damage.

Chlordane and other chlorinated hydrocarbons---------Very slow biodegradation; accumulates in food chain; may damage eyes, lungs, liver, kidneys, and SKIN.

Chlorinated phenols----Flammable; very toxic; respiratory, circulatory or cardiac damage.

Dichlorophene-----SKIN irritation; may damage liver, kidney, spleen and central nervous system.

Diethylene glycol--Toxic; causes central nervous system depression and degenerative lesions in liver and kidneys.

Formaldehyde------Toxic; carcinogen; irritant to eyes, nose, throat and SKIN; may cause nausea, headaches, nose bleeds, dizziness, memory loss, and shortness of breath.

Hydrochloric Acid---Corrosive, irritant; damage to kidney, liver and digestive system.

Perchlorethylene or trichloromethane---Slow decomposition; liver and kidney damage; perchlorethylene is a suspected carcinogen.

Petroleum distillates or Mineral spirits---Highly flammable, moderately toxic, associated with SKIN and lung cancer, irritant to SKIN, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, entry into lungs may cause pulmonary edema.

Petroleum Solvents---Highly flammable; associated with SKIN and lung cancer, irritant to SKIN, eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

Phenols-----------Flammable, very toxic; respiratory, circulatory or cardiac damage.

Sodium acid sulfate, oxalate or hypochloric acid---Corrosive; burns from SKIN contact or inhalation; ingestion may be fatal.

Sodium hypochlorite---Corrosive; irritates or burns skin, eyes, respiratory tract; may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. Sodium or potassium hydroxide (lye)---Caustic; irritant; inhibits reflexes; burns to SKIN, poisonous if swallowed due to severe tissue damage.

Trichloromethane--Irritant to nose and eyes; central nervous system depression, liver and kidney damage if ingested.

This is not an exhaustive list of toxics found in household chemicals. And I have not even started on gardening chemicals, chemicals found in makeup, automotive products, paints and solvents, photographic chemicals, pesticides, batteries, moth balls, etc. All these toxics can contribute to your dry skin problems, are stored in your organs, and can lead to other health problems much more severe than your dry skin.

I ask you again: Do you even want these toxins in your home? How would you feel if a loved one accidentally ingested some of these toxic chemicals? What if it caused long term health issues? What if it was even fatal!!!!

Now I'm a very busy person like most of us are, therefore, I have gone the lazy route. I was presented with the idea of safer products through a friend of mine. Not only could I convert my home to these safer products easily, but they were very economical and worked as well or better than the toxic stuff I was using. For more info see my page non-toxic home page.

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