Everything we apply to our skin is quickly absorbed into our bloodstream, where it may seriously harm our bodies. Everyone is aware of how important it is to wash their hands, but how often do you consider what’s in your hand soap for ingredients? Or believe they could be harmful to our health? Doesn’t is make sense to use only the purest soap, especially for children? To help you understand more about the harmful substances included in most hand soaps and hand sanitizers as well as some safer alternatives, I’ve gathered some information here for you.
Contrary to what we think or were taught to believe, we should not be using antimicrobial soaps.
It has been suggested that using antibacterial soap is important to reduce the risk of infection and that normal soap is insufficient. As a result, antibacterial soaps are now so common in homes that 72% of the liquid soap marketed in the US is thought to include antibacterial components. Furthermore, it’s not just soap; toothpaste, laundry detergent, and dish soap also include it.
Regular hand washing is important, but chemical-free natural soap and water works just fine. In actuality, using antibacterial soap is not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful. Overuse of antibacterial soaps could promote the growth of drug-resistant “superbugs” that might otherwise be kept in check with little more than a vigorous scrub. Triclosan, an active ingredient in most antibacterial soap, not only kills bacteria, but it has also been shown to kill human cells as well. When common bacteria are wiped out by antibacterial soap, children aren’t exposed to them and some exposure to bacteria in early childhood can strengthen their immune systems. Without exposure, children may be prone to allergies and asthma.
Below I will provide a list of some toxic ingredients common in hand soaps and hand sanitizers. This may not be a complete list of all toxic ingredients, but it will give you a good start to the worst ones that you should watch out for when you look at ingredient labels.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used as foaming agents in many personal care products such as lotions, soaps, toothpaste, and laundry detergants. SLS and SLES can cause skin irritation, dryness, and itching, damage to cell membranes and possibly cause hair loss. If that wasn’t bad enough, they can also cause organ toxicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicological, and biochemical or cellular changes, and possible mutations and cancer,
Additionally, SLES, or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, is an ethoxylated ingredient. This means it was mixed with ethylene oxide during its formulation process. Unfortunately, this process has the possibility of creating 1,4 dioxane, which is a known carcinogen. However, this ingredient will not be listed on the ingredients list and would not be discovered unless specific testing were done in a lab. This is why I try to avoid all ethoxylated ingredients in my products at all costs.
Triclosan
Triclosan is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent. This substance is labeled as an endocrine disruptor due to a study showing it increases testosterone levels in human infants from prenatal exposure, and also in multiple animal studies showing triclosan has antiestrogenic and antiandrogenic properties. Triclosan is also suspected to be a carcinogen. This substance is absorbed through the skin and can cause dermatitis, allergies, or skin irritation.
Parabens
Parabens are a type of preservative that is used in soaps to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Topical parabens have been detected in human breast tumors. This is concerning because parabens have been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can encourage the growth of human breast tumors. Parabens can also cause diminished muscle mass and extra fat storing.
What to look for on the label:
- Ethylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Isopropylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Any ingredient which ends in –paraben
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers
While Formaldehyde is rarely used in its pure form, formaldehyde releasers are commonly used as preservatives in many cosmetics including our soaps. Formaldehyde is a well-known carcinogen, linked to leukemia, tumor formations, joint pain, heart irregularities, and a weakened immune system.
While Formaldehyde could be listed on an ingredients list, it’s unlikely. Here’s a list of formaldehyde releasers to stay away from:
- Formaldehyde
- Urea
- Imidazolidinyl Urea
- Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
- Benzylhemiformal
- 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
- 5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
- Quaternium-15
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Methenamine
- Polyoxymethylen
Dyes/Synthetic Colors
Coal tar is used to create artificial colors. They include heavy metal salts that might cause the skin to become sensitive and irritated by toxic deposits. Nearly all of them have been demonstrated to be carcinogenic in investigations on animals. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number.
Ethanolamines
- monoethanolamine (MEA)
- diethanolamine (DEA)
- triethanolamine (TEA)
Ethanolamines are used as wetting agents in cosmetics. DEA, specifically, is used to provide lather. Diethanolamine is a chemical that’s regarded as toxic enough in the European Union to be banned from personal care products and cosmetics. Diethanolamine or DEA has been linked to the following health issues:
- Hormone disruption
- Cancer
- Liver tumors
- Accumulation in the liver & kidney causing organ toxicity
TEA and DEA have been associated with cancer in the liver in female mice.
The main concern with ethanolamines is their interaction with other chemicals, creating an extremely potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA), which is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked to the development of stomach, esophagus, liver, and bladder cancers. Additionally, it’s possible for DEA, MEA, and TEA to be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane (another carcinogen) as they go through the ethoxylation process of being mixed with ethylene oxide during formulation.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is the main ingredient in anti-freeze and is listed on the FDA government website as a known carcinogen. It is found in hand sanitizers, moisturizers, shaving creams, deodorants, and baby products. Propylene glycol weakens skin cells. It is linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity. You might also see this listed as
- Propylene Oxide
- Polyethylene Glycol
Fragrance or Parfum
Synthetic fragrances often contain phthalates, which are endocrine disrupters that mimic hormones and may alter genital development. Avoid products that list ‘fragrance‘ as an ingredient unless the label states that it’s derived from essentials oils, or look for a phthalate-free label on the packaging.
Ethoxylated Ingredients (prefixes PEG- and poly-, suffixes -eth and -oxynol)
These products go through the ethoxylation process of being mixed with ethylene oxide, which in turn can produce 1,4-Dioxane. 1,4 Dioxane is considered a ‘contaminant’ or ‘by-product’ of the ethoxylation process, rather than an ingredient.
1,4 Dioxane is a known carcinogen and has been shown to be harmful to a developing fetus, as well as increased incidences in nasal cavity, gall bladder, and liver tumors after exposure in animal studies.
Avoid synthetic ethoxylated ingredients, including those with myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other “eth,” PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol, in their names.
The prefixes and suffixes above will help to identify ethoxylated ingredients but here is a list of others found in common household, beauty, and self-care products:
- Acrylates/Steareth-20 Itaconate Copolymer
- Ammonium Capryleth Sulfate
- Ammonium Pareth-25 Sulfate
- Ammonium Myreth Sulfate
- Ceteareth -20
- Cocamidopropyl Betaines
- Disteareth-75 IPDI, -100 IPDI
- Emulsifying Wax NF
- Isosteareth-20
- Steareth – 2, -4, 10, 16, -20, 21
- Isosteareth -2, -10, -20
- Magnesium Laureth Sulfate
- Magnesium Oleth Sulfate
- PEG’s – ingredients listed as a polyethylene glycol or with a PEG- prefix such as PEG-20, PEG-40
- Phenoxyethanol
- Polyoxyethylene
- Polysorbate-20, -40, -60, -80
- Steareth-2, -4, -10, -16, -20, -21
- Sodium Coceth Sulfate
- Sodium Deceth Sulfate
- Sodium Oleth Sulfate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate
- Sodium Trideceth Sulfate
- Zinc Coceth Sulfate
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATs and QACs)
QUATs are commonly added to household products for their disinfecting properties but they can also be used as a surfactant. QUATs can disrupt key cellular processes and have been linked to a broad range of health issues including reproductive and development problems in animals. In one laboratory where studies were completed on mice, the staff switched from a chlorine-based disinfectant to QUATs, which resulted in fertility issues and neural tube defects in the mice. It has also been found that QUATs are resilient on surfaces, and it takes months to get rid of the residue. So, it is crucial not to use them on food preparation surfaces. They are related to a broad range of health issues that include skin and eye irritations, as well as respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies. Children are particularly at risk of developing complications. These chemical exposures have been linked to 5% of childhood cancer and 30% of childhood asthma.
Watch for ingredients that end in “ammonium chloride”, some examples are listed below:
- Alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride
- Didecyldimethylammonium chloride
- Dioctyldimethylammonium chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Benzethonium chloride
- Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
- Behentrimonium chloride
- Cetrimonium chloride
- Stearalkonium chloride
- Methylbenzethonium chloride
- Cetylpyridinium chloride
- Quaternium-15
- Polyquaternium-7
Products that are labeled as “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial” most likely contain QUATs.
Make sure you are checking those labels, even when the products are marked “natural” or “organic”.
After reading about all those toxic ingredients, you may decide to switch to a product labeled “natural” or“organic”. Yet, you should be aware that many products marketed as “natural” or “organic” still include hazardous substances. In a survey of personal care items that make the claim to be “natural” or “organic”, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) discovered that several of the top brands included 1,4 dioxane. This toxin was not present in products that were USDA National Organic Program certified.
Read the ingredients labels for every brand you purchase.
The mere fact that a product is “more natural” or “better” does not imply safety. If you are interested in seeing a list of safe and natural products that you can use you can click here.
