Early this year, after increasing concerns about over-the-counter personal hygiene products, the FDA warned the cosmetic industry they might soon be required to add warning labels to their products. In the future, virtually all of our daily beauty products may be required to carry the warning, The safety of this product has not been determined. Many cosmetic products have not been evaluated for their long term effects on human health or the environment, yet potentially harmful chemicals are commonly the basic building blocks of these products.
The FDA and other health organizations are concerned about what is called the “cocktail effect. This is the effect produced by applying different types of chemicals and toxins in and on the body every day. Over the long term, some medical experts believe that this mixing could produce harmful effects.
According to research, the average American uses approximately nine personal care products every day, each of which contain an average of 126 different ingredients. While limited safety testing evaluates the product’s propensity to cause short term side effects like skin rash, redness, or stinging, these products have not been evaluated for long term effects or effects in combination with other products
The chemicals in cosmetic and hygiene products can be stored in organs and other tissues throughout the body. While the cosmetic industry denies this possibility, scientists have found quantities of dangerous cosmetic chemicals in the urine, breast-tumor tissue, and breast milk. Medical research shows that fragrances can trigger an asthmatic response, some hair dye chemicals are carcinogens, and shampoo chemicals can damage the eyes. Many cosmetic products contain neurotoxins or chemicals that are cause cancer in animals.
At this point, the exact risks associated with cosmetics are not well understood. The FDA has yet to determine their approach to informing consumers about possible risks and which products will be selected as dangerous for use. Preliminary studies have found a number of products may be harmful to human health when used alone or in conjunction with a variety of other beauty products.