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SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) - SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE ( SLES) and Parabens

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up".

Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid - SLS is also known as "Sulphuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt", however there are over 150 different names by which it is known - SLES is commonly contaminated with dioxane - a known carcinogen.

Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting. Shampoos are among the most frequently reported products to cause eye irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms. Split and fuzzy hair. The main cause of these problems is sodium lauryl sulfate.

The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines. In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen.

This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved. Studies on SLS have shown that:
  • 1. "Shampoos with SLS could retard healing and keep children's eyes from developing properly. Children under six years old are especially vulnerable to improper eye development.
  • 2. Sulphate can cause cataracts in adults and delays the healing of wounds in the surface of the cornea."
  • 3. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate has a low molecular weight and so is easily absorbed by the body. It builds up in the heart, liver and brain and can cause major problems in these areas."
  • 4. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate causes skin to flake and to separate and causes roughness on the skin."
  • 5. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate causes dysfunction of the biological systems of the skin."
  • 6. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is such a caustic cleanser that it actually corrodes the hair follicle and impairs the ability to grow hair."
  • 7. "Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is routinely used in clinical studies deliberately to irritate the skin so that the effects of other substances can be tested."
(Study cited by the Wall St Journal, 1st November 1998)
Ethoxylation: Ethoxylation is the process that makes degreasing agents such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) less abrasive and gives them enhanced foaming properties. When SLS is ethoxylated, it forms Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), The problem is, the extremely harmful compound 1,4-dioxane may be created during the ethoxylation process, contaminating the product. 1, 4-dioxane was one of the principal components of the chemical defoliant Agent Orange, used to great effect by the Americans during the Vietnam War to strip off the jungle canopy to reveal their enemy. 1,4-dioxane is a hormonal disrupter believed to be the chief agent implicated in the host of cancers suffered by Vietnam military personnel after the war. It is also an oestrogen mimic thought to increase the chances of breast cancer and endometrial cancer, stress related illnesses and lower sperm counts.


Parabens

There are many delightful organic foods that contain no preservatives.

Read the labels on your organic honey, maple syrup, vinegar, olive oil, sugar, raisins, peanut butter and some wine. These foods are considered to be "self-preserving" and contain no preservatives.

This means that, because of certain inherent qualities, these foods are naturally stable and not overly susceptible to contamination from bacteria. Organic herbal medicinal tinctures made from high quality organic herbs and organic grain alcohols are shelf-stable for around two to three years. True Castile soap, liquid or bars, has an excellent shelf-life of up to eighteen months or longer and requires no preservatives. Wouldn't you prefer body care products that are fresh (like the food you eat) rather than several years old? In this article I'll explain dangers of parabens and answer the question are parabens bad. Then you can decide for yourself. Parabens a

re chemical preservatives such as methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl parabens that are found in many skin care products and cosmetics.

You will not find parabens in our skin care products.

With that in mind here are the facts you need to know about parabens

Fact #1-Parabens mimic your body's own hormones and can disturb the action of your endocrine system. They cause harm to just about every bodily system such as your thyroid, ovaries, hypothalamus and the male reproductive system.

Fact# 2- It is a well known medical fact that breast cancer is stimulated by estrogens. Estrogens can be stimulated by absorbing parabens. This is one of the big dangers of parabens and just that alone should make you stay away for products containing parabens.

Fact# 3- Parabens enter your bloodstream when rubbed onto your skin. In fact you receive higher concentrations from rubbing it onto your skin than you would from drinking it. It could up to 10 times the amount! It is readily and completely absorbed directly through the skin and the gastrointestinal tract, meaning it has absolutely no problem getting into your system via any means. When you think about how those lose weight, stop smoking, and birth control patches work, this makes complete sense.

Fact# 4- If you have sensitive skin, parabens can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. Many skin care products claim to be safe for sensitive skin, yet they still contain parabens. Even in small amounts the use of parabens over a long period of time can cause serious skin problems.

If that's not enough to convince you of the dangers of parabens -, then consider this.
If the skin care product you are using contains parabens, there's a very high likelihood it also contains other harmful ingredients such as mineral oil, alcohol and fragrance which is a very bad ingredient. The term fragrance can mean up to 4000 different chemicals. Many of them are toxic or cancer causing.

I challenge you right now to pick up a tube of any skin care product you are currently using and take a look at the ingredients to see if it contains any parabens or harmful ingredients. These are usually evident by words you can't read or pronounce.

I urge you to take action now and switch to natural plant based skincare for the benefit of the whole family.