Phthalates in Personal-Care Products

Patricia S. Lemer, MEd, NCC fills us in about the dangers of phthalates, another family of toxic chemicals, in this blog post.

Phthalates (pronounced THAY-lates) are plasticizers used to add texture and luster to hair spray, deodorant, nail polish, lipstick, perfumes and many other products. These ubiquitous chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled as fumes, and ingested if children mouth toys made out of plastic. Thousands of studies have shown that phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system.

In pregnant women, phthalates pass through the placenta to be absorbed by the fetus. Later, they show up in the breast milk of nursing mothers, whose babies ingest them. In male fetuses and infants, phthalates can cause testicular atrophy, leading to a reduced sperm count. 

As we learn more about the role of toxins in disease and developmental delays, reducing our toxic load must be a priority.

What Can You Do About Phthalates?

Discover what toxins are lurking in the most commonly used baby products, cosmetics, deodorants, dental, eye, nail and skin care products, fragrances, and other personal-care products, and switch to less-toxic alternatives. Both the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics  are excellent resources to use to determine which personal-care products contain phtalates. In particular, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database rates personal-care products on a scale of zero to ten, with a rating of zero being the safest.

Remember, phthalates are just part of the story; some products contain other toxins, such as aluminum, parabens, neurotoxins, perfumes, carcinogens and other toxins.

In addition, look for the EWG-verified seal of approval on personal-care that meet their strictest standards; Made Safe’s seal of approval means that personal-care as well as household products are made only with safe, non-toxic ingredients. Be careful not to assume that all products within a particular brand are safe; you need to check each product individually for its safety and non-toxicity.

More Measures to Reduce Your Toxic Load

Use Fewer Products Less Often

Cut down the number of chemicals contacting your skin every day either by totally eliminating use of non-essential products or using them less often. 

Read Labels

Claims like “organic,” “natural,” “hypoallergenic,” “animal cruelty free,” and “fragrance free” are poorly defined by law. Only by carefully reading ingredient labels can you discover which claims are true. 

Use Mild Soaps to Reduce Need for Moisturizers

Less-harsh soaps can remove dirt and grease from the surface of your skin without taking away the body’s natural oils. Let your skin do some of the work naturally.

Minimize Use of Hair Dye

Avoid dyes that contain coal-tar ingredients, as they have been linked to cancer in some studies. 

Cut Down on Use of Powders

Avoid using baby powder with newborns and infants. A number of ingredients have been linked to cancer and other lung problems, when they are inhaled. 

Choose Products That Are Fragrance-Free

Fragrances can cause allergic reactions, and mask odors of some other ingredients. 

Avoid or Reduce Use of Nail Polish

Paint toenails; skip the fingernails. Polish routinely contains ingredients linked to birth defects. Paint nails in a well-ventilated room, or outside, or avoid using nail polish altogether, particularly when you are pregnant. 

About Patricia S. Lemer LPC MEd

Patricia S. Lemer is a licensed professional counselor, holding a Masters of Education in counseling and learning disabilities from Boston College and a Masters in Business from Johns Hopkins University. She practiced as an educational diagnostician for over 40 years.

She was a co-founder and served as Executive Director of the international non-profit organization Developmental Delay Resources (DDR). After DDR merged with Epidemic Answers, she became Chairman of the Board. When she retired from the board, she became an emeritus board member.

Patricia Lemer MEd LPC

She is the author of three books, the most recent of which is Outsmarting Autism, Updated and Expanded: Build Healthy Foundations for Communication, Socialization, and Behavior at All Ages (North Atlantic Books, 2019).

Lemer wrote over 50 editorials for "New Developments," the quarterly newsletter of Developmental Delay Resources (DDR), from 1995 - 2009. When DDR wound down, she wrote an online blog, "After the Diagnosis, Then What?" from 2009-2017. Her articles and blogs have been updated and archived on the Epidemic Answers website.

Since 2019, Patricia Lemer has recorded a bimonthly podcast, "The Autism Detective." In these hour-long shows, she interviews parents and professionals about their experiences in maximizing the potential of individuals on the autism spectrum. Over 100 episodes are available on Spotify and other online platforms. To learn more, go to PatriciaLemer.com and OutsmartingAutism.com

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