Is Formaldehyde in Baby Shampoo a Bad Thing? Um…YES!

There has been a flurry of news articles and blog posts circulating over Johnson & Johnson’s use of Quaternium-15 in their baby products.  Quaternium-15 is a formaldehyde releasing preservative found in loads of beauty products.

So, is all the hype necessary?  You betcha!  I patch tested positive to Quaternium-15 and it’s sure difficult to find products without formaldehyde releasing agents like Q-15.  Repeated exposure to common allergens increase your chances of developing a sensitivity to that agent.  So why are we exposing our little ones?  Something to think about.

Here’s a snippet from the article…

“A peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association raises fresh concerns that the chemical preservative used in America’s leading baby shampoo may be causing increased rates of allergic contact dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin that varies from mild irritation to rashes and open sores.

The paper states that quaternium 15, a chemical preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde, “is the most sensitizing formaldehyde-releasing preservative and has been repeatedly shown to be a strong allergen that can cause contact dermatitis.” Quaternium 15 — used in many baby products including Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Mr. Bubble Bath and Huggies Baby Wash — is considered by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group to be among the most clinically significant contact allergens in children.”

More to come on this subject, including the difference in US and European standards for cosmetic ingredients.

Stay tuned…Robyn

Allergic Contact Dermatitis & Henna Tattoos

Check this link before getting a henna tattoo.

I Love thebeautybrains.com!

I found, “The Beauty Brains” several months ago and have been addicted ever since.  They really get it!

According to their site…

“The Beauty Brains are a group of cosmetic scientists who understand what the chemicals used in cosmetics really do, how products are tested, and what all the advertising means.”

The information on the site is truly science based (hallelujah) and oh so informative.  I suggest you check it out immediately.

Here is a post regarding the difficulty of finding TRUE hypoallergenic products.  It continues to blow my mind that most hypoallergenic or sensitive skin products contain fragrance…ridiculous!

In the News – Cottonelle Launches Sensitive Skin Line

Sensitive booties rejoice!  Read the press release.

Top Ten Allergens

According to a Mayo Clinic Study done in 2006, the top 10 Contact Dermatitis Allergens are…

• Nickel (nickel sulfate hexahydrate) — metal frequently encountered in jewelry and clasps or buttons on clothing
• Gold (gold sodium thiosulfate) — precious metal often found in jewelry
• Balsam of Peru (myroxylon pereirae) — a fragrance used in perfumes and skin lotions, derived from tree resin
• Thimerosal — a mercury compound used in local antiseptics and in vaccines
• Neomycin sulfate — a topical antibiotic common in first aid creams and ointments, also found occasionally in cosmetics, deodorant, soap and pet food
• Fragrance mix — a group of the eight most common fragrance allergens found in foods, cosmetic products, insecticides, antiseptics, soaps, perfumes and dental products
• Formaldehyde — a preservative with multiple uses, e.g., in paper products, paints, medications, household cleaners, cosmetic products and fabric finishes
• Cobalt chloride — metal found in medical products; hair dye; antiperspirant; objects plated in metal such as snaps, buttons or tools; and in cobalt blue pigment
• Bacitracin — a topical antibiotic
• Quaternium 15 — preservative found in cosmetic products such as self-tanners, shampoo, nail polish and sunscreen or in industrial products such as polishes, paints and waxes

For the full report click here.

Lavender & Tea Tree Oils May Cause Breast Growth in Boys

I’ll say it AGAIN…just because it’s “natural” doesn’t mean it’s good for you!

I discovered some startling news while out to dinner with my husband and our good friend (and my dermatologist) Dr. Marti.  It seems that lavender and tea tree oils may cause breast growth in boys.  Yes, really!  You can read the New England Journal of Medicine article here.  However, I recommend the Science Blog summary of the NEJM report for anyone who is not a scientist.

According to the article, “laboratory studies confirm that pure lavender and tea tree oils can mimic the actions of estrogens and inhibit the effects of androgens.”

So, if you think a product is safe because it is marketed as “organic” or all-natural”, think again.  I guarantee that you will be seeing more of these types of reports in the future and I promise to post them right here on my blog.

Those fragrance and botanical free products are looking better and better.

Eczema – One Woman’s Story

A moving story featured in the NY Times and written by UPenn student Khana-Anh-Le about her struggles with eczema.

Blog-a-Palooza

I wanted to share a few new blogs that I’ve discovered since becoming interested in allergies and skin disorders.  If there are others out there that I’ve missed, please let me know.

Well Woman Blog – A source for health tips and wellness information

The Beauty Brains – The Beauty Brains are a group of cosmetic scientists who understand what the chemicals used in cosmetics really do, how products are tested, and what all the advertising means.

Allergizer

ENJOY!

In the News – Eczema’s Link to Asthma

Scientists believe they have found what triggers many children with eczema to go on to develop asthma.  Read the entire BBC article here.

Silly Stories – “The Forbidden Drawer of Hair Products” UPDATE

So, I’m packing for a trip to Las Vegas and notice that my toiletries are pretty dang boring looking these days.  Just thought I’d share…

Robyn’s NEW Hypoallergenic Products

Robyn’s OLD fragrance & botanical filled products