• Always read the ingredient lists on personal care products.
  Federal law requires that beauty and hygiene products list all ingredients, in the order of their volume from highest to lowest. The only ingredients that don’t have to be listed individually by name are fragrance ingredients.

• Be cautious of the following ingredients:

  General personal care products

  • Fragrance
    • Number one cause of allergic skin reactions, according to the American Academy of Dermatology
    • Limit use of scented products or products that list fragrance as an ingredient to decrease risk
  • Phthalates
    • Linked to liver cancer, birth defects and harm to male reproductive organs
    • Avoid products containing DBP (dibutylphthalate), DMP (dimethylphthalate) and DEP (diethylphthalate)
    • Look for safer companies
  • Preservatives that may release formaldehyde:
    • Quaternium-15
      • may cause skin irritation or allergic rashes
    • Diazolidinyl urea
    • Imidazolidinyl urea
      • may cause skin irritation or allergic rashes
    • DMDM hydantoin
  • Talc
    • Can irritate the lungs
    • Some evidence linking long-term usage in the genital area with cancer

  Shampoos, body washes, bubble baths, liquid soaps:

  The Following:
  • Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)
  • Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)
    • Can disrupt the endocrine systems of fish, birds, and mammals 
    • On labels, APEs and NPEs are sometimes listed as octoxynol or nonoxynol lauryl compounds such as:
      • Ammonium lauryl sulfate
      • Monoethanolamine sulfate
      • Sodium lauryl sulfate
      • DEA or TEA lauryl sulfate
        • Harsh detergents that may be irritating or unnecessarily strong for kids
  The Following:
  • Polyethylene
  • Polyethylene glycol
  • Polyoxyethylene
    • Could be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen
    • Also watch out ingredients with the prefix, word, or syllable PEG, and "-eth" ingredients (as in sodium laureth sulfate)
  The Following:
  • Diethanolamine (DEA)
  • Triethanolamine (TEA)
  • DEA, TEA or MEA compounds (such as cocamide DEA, linoleamide MEA)
    • Suggestive evidence linking DEA compounds to tumors in laboratory animals
    • Can be contaminated with nitrosamines, some of which may cause cancer

  Nail polish, cosmetics:

  • Formaldehyde
    • A probable carcinogen and irritant of the lungs, eyes, nose and throat

  Antibacterial / antimicrobial soaps, lotions, toothpaste and other products:

  • Triclosan
    • Overuse may cause antibiotic resistance.
• Be especially careful to limit use of products containing fragrances and the preservatives listed above, as they have been found to cause the most complaint.
  Preservatives are necessary to keep products from bacterial contamination, which can cause spoilage and may cause health problems in the user. Some mild preservatives include:
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Potassium sorbate
  • Sorbic acid
  • Tocopherol (vitamin E)
  • Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
  Note that so-called natural preservatives may not be as stable or long-acting as chemical preservatives. Products containing natural preservatives should be purchased in small quantities and replaced frequently, as often as every three to six months.

• Don’t get tricked by marketing claims. Many terms used on personal care products are meaningless because they are not regulated. These include the terms:
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Doctor tested
  • Doctor approved
  • Dermatologist tested or approved
  • Nontoxic
  • No synthetic ingredients
  For information on specific labeling claims, see Greener Choices Ecolabel website, which has expanded to include claims on cleaners and personal care products.

• Test new products before using. Apply a small amount of the product on the inner arm, wait several hours, then check to see if there has been a reaction.

• Monitor your child for any reactions after they have started using a new personal care products.

• Keep a list of products that irritate your child’s skin, eyes or breathing. Provide this list to others who care for your child, such as day care centers, camps, relatives.

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