How Safe Are Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
You may be choosy about your choice of moisturizer, hair dye, and makeup, but how much time do you spend checking these products for safety?
Cosmetics and personal care products include foundation and
mascara, face and body lotion, soaps and shampoos, hair products, deodorant,
toothpaste, hair dyes, and nail polish. They are considered safe, but this does
not mean that there are no risks associated with their use, especially if you
use them incorrectly.
Safety concerns
Some of the safety concerns that can be associated with
cosmetics and personal care products include:
Eye infections
Spread of bacteria to the skin.
Eye irritation and scratches.
Risk of fire when using aerosol products such as
hairspray.
Allergic reactions or sensitivity to ingredients.
Contaminants in Products Made Outside the United States
The correct use of cosmetics and personal care products can
help reduce many of the risks. These include rinsing off makeup before bed and
avoiding personal products to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Safety testing
The FDA is working to ensure that cosmetics companies comply
with regulations to keep cosmetics and personal care products as safe as
possible. But while the FDA recommends that cosmetics manufacturers test their
products, they are not required to do so. You can tell what has been tested by
looking at the product label that reads "WARNING: This product has not
been determined to be safe." If the product has not been tested for
safety, you must post this label.
You may also see “External D&C”, “D&C”, or
“FD&C” followed by the color name, for example, “D&C Red No. 36 ".
These are coloring additives. External D&C is approved for use only in
cosmetics and medicines that are applied to the skin. D&C is only approved
for use in medicines and cosmetics, but FD&C is approved for use in food,
medicine and cosmetics.
Two commonly used chemicals that have been extensively
tested for their safety are parabens and phthalates. Parabens are preservatives
that prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetic and personal care products.
While one study has shown a possible link between parabens and breast cancer,
other studies have not come to this conclusion. The levels of parabens used in
personal care products today are considered safe, although parabens (and other
ingredients) can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
Phthalates are used to enhance formulas in a variety of
cosmetics and personal care products, from shampoos to hairspray and nail
polish. They can be used as solvents and fixers in perfumery, or to prevent the
harshness of hairspray and reduce cracking of nail polish. Although the
phthalates have been extensively researched and analyzed, several commissions
have agreed that the phthalates in these products are safe.
The FDA’s role
The FDA regulates many of these products because products
like dandruff shampoo, antiperspirants, and medicated lip balm are considered
drugs. Dyes and dyes found in hair dyes and cosmetics must also be FDA
approved. The FDA also regulates personal care products that are classified as
medical devices such as hair removal devices, nutritional supplements, and
consumer products such as nail care tools.
Although the FDA does not regulate cosmetic and
non-pharmaceutical personal care products, the agency can sue companies that do
not comply with safety regulations in the manufacture of these types of
products. Companies need to make sure their products are safe before they can
be sold.
Since the FDA cannot approve most ingredients in cosmetics,
personal care products cannot be labeled or marketed as "FDA approved.
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