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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
is a harsh (caustic) detergent. Also known as a surfactant,
which breaks down the surface tension of water. "It can
actually damage the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum,
causing dryness, roughness, scaliness, fissuring, loss of flexibility
and reduction of the barrier functions of normal healthy skin.
The lipid dissolving action of some detergents, including SLS
cause damage to the moisture retaining ability of the cellular
level resulting in water loss and loss of water-binding ability"
(Cosmetic Science, C. Prottey, 1978)
Sodium lauryl sulfate, a surface active agent and a common
surfactant used in shampoos,
was found to increase the absorption of certain chemicals.
Simply put, SLS in your shampoo could be increasing the rate
of skin absorption of other chemicals in your shampoo and
conditioner which may include preservatives, fragrances and
color additives. (Cosmetic and the Skin, F.V. Wells, Reinhold
Publishing Corporation, New York, 1964)
Sodium Lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used in concrete floor cleaners,
engine degreasers, car wash detergents. Along with hundreds
of personal care products including probably every major brand
of toothpaste you can find.
Cosmetics and personal care
products containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• could keep children's eyes from developing properly.
Children under six are especially vulnerable to improper eye
development;
• can cause cataracts in adults and delay healing of
wounds on the cornea;
• can build up and cause major problems in the heart,
liver, lungs and brain;
• can cause roughness and flaking of the skin;
• is a caustic cleanser that could corrode the hair;
• is routinely used in clinical studies to deliberately
irritate the skin so the effects of other substances can be
tested.
A report from the Journal of the American College of Toxicology;
Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983 states,
• SLS is routinely used in clinical studies to irritate
skin tissue.
• SLS corrodes hair follicle and impairs ability to
grow hair.
• Carcinogenic Nitrates can form when SLS interacts
with other nitrogen bearing ingredients.
• SLS enters and maintains residual levels in the heart,
liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. (Shampoos?)
• SLS denatures protein, impairs proper structural formation
of young eyes - damage permanent.
• SLS can damage the immune system; cause separation
of skin layers and cause inflammation to the skin.
Many medications are now administered through patches on
the skin or by placing drops under the tongue. Do you feel
that it would be healthy to have chemicals such as Propylene
Glycol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate making contact with your
body multiple times a day?
Studies are ongoing in this area. SLS is cheap and available
and cost is definitely a factor when manufacturers are deciding
on their formulations. The irony is that we as consumers rarely
see any of this saving and pay high prices for products that
contain the same cheap ingredients as a lower priced product
that doesn't have the benefit of a well known name and a huge
advertising budget. There are safer products on the market.
There are safer alternatives to SLS but they can cost up to
ten times more than SLS. One manufacturer said "I know
it's not a good ingredient, but everyone uses it."
It has been shown in most cases to be extremely dangerous
to your health. In most cases the cap on the bottle costs
more than the ingredients inside.
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