Lifestyle Choices

We know today that skin absorbs a lot more than was once thought. In orthodox medicine some drugs are even delivered through the skin in patches and creams. Studies are finding the skin a highly effective way of delivering these substances directly into your bloodstream. Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it is not a uniform barrier. There are lots of holes in your skin like hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat glands that absorb and excrete. If a clove of garlic is rubbed on the sole of your foot, the odour can be detected on your breath within 10-20 minutes.

Many things can affect the absorption of an ingredient: your skin’s condition, your health and the molecular structure of the ingredient itself. Some substances and chemicals with large molecules were always thought to be unable to penetrate the skin; however, studies are showing now that it may be the base these substances are mixed in that causes a change in their structure, allowing them to be more easily absorbed.

An example of this is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. This ingredient is a very common surfactant (foaming cleansing agent) in shampoos, foaming facial cleansers and body washes. Studies have shown, however, that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate may increase the body’s ability to absorb certain chemicals, which can include preservatives, fragrances and colours. It may also have the ability to damage the outer layers of the skin, causing roughness, dryness, flaking and a loss of the protective barrier that sits on your skin.

When I heard this a few years ago, I was horrified! I headed for my bathroom to read all the labels on every product I owned. I was shocked to find a large proportion of our personal care products had this ingredient — facial cleansers, shampoos, shower gels and baby products. This was not only capable of affecting my own health but my family’s health as well, and as a mother you tend to become highly protective of your little ones. Especially since I knew that my two little girls not only bathed in these products but also sometimes played tea parties in the bath, therefore drinking them as well. So they had to go!

Lip tip: The body’s ability to absorb an ingredient is also affected by the body’s immune system, which is your army to protect you from invasion of harmful substances. If you are under stress or run-down, your immune system will not be functioning at its optimum, making you more susceptible to the effects of chemicals, bacteria or viruses.

I didn’t want to waste all these products and so I cleverly relabelled them all with a black marker: ‘CAR WASH’. After all, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a main ingredient in car-wash shampoos! My husband thought I had gone mad but soon realised how passionate I was about these products no longer being part of our skin and hair care!

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
How Much Does Your Skin Really Absorb? / Toxic Ingredients and Your Skin

• Taking Care of Other Skin Conditions
• All You Need to Know About Your Skin
• Cosmetic Toxicity and Cellular Response
• Hair Removal and Unwanted hair
• Herbs Foot Care
• Skin Bacteria Infections and Infestations
• Caring for Your Hands, Knees, Elbows, and Feet
• What Sunscreen Cream should I choose? continue...
• What Is Skin?
• Take Care of Your Hand and Foot