The Ugly Side of Beauty
by Judi Vance
by Judi Vance
For ten long years, Judi Vance, author of Beauty to Die For - The
Cosmetic Consequence has been voicing a conflicting account on the safety
of cosmetics. Her latest endeavor is an Internet community, Cosmetics - Are
they worth the risk? The publisher sponsored Web site allows Vance to
continue her quest to educate on the subject of cosmetic risks.
“Not everything we women do in an attempt to enhance our beauty is
necessarily good for us.” says Vance “Years ago, in the Elizabethan times, it
was fashionable (and aristocratic) to present a pasty white complexion. Women
powdered their faces with a mixture including white lead called ceruse, and
colored their lips with a reddener containing fucus-red mercuric sulfide. Even
though this beauty regime destroyed the outer layer of skin, they continued
using these poison palettes well into the 18th century.”
“Today isn’t much different,” Vance concedes. “Thousands of Filipino women expose themselves to the dangers of severe
skin disorders and possibly even cancer through their desire to have paler
skin. Although the full extent of the dangers of hydroquinone , the active
ingredient in the skin bleaching cream are still unknown, U.S. studies have
linked it with leukemia, liver damage, and thyroid disorders. Animal studies
show that it could cause mutations in developing fetuses.”
“In our quest for beauty we forget that the skin is an organ that serves
vital body functions.” She emphasizes that our skin is part of our respiratory
system, absorbing oxygen and releasing waste; cooling or heating us in
accordance with the outside temperature; creating natural oils to prevent
moisture loss and over-hydration and also to protect us from invading
microorganisms. The skin also plays a major role in immunity. “Cosmetic use
does not respect these bodily functions—it destroys them.”
According to Vance, “most women have no idea that cosmetics could cause
harm. They tend to think that the new “miracle” ingredients are coming from
years of scientific discovery. Wrong! Most of the ingredients have been around
for many years. It’s only now that they have moved from an industrial purpose
into the world of beauty. The ultimate wrinkle removers (according to cosmetic
ads)—alpha hydroxy acids—have been used for years in the processing of
textiles, leather, and metal and also used in cleaning, polishing, and
soldering compounds, copper pickling, adhesives, and electroplating.”
Vance, who participates in the upcoming four-part Discovery Channel
documentary called “Hope and beauty: the story of cosmetics” says, “cosmetic
chemicals are not adequately tested. The cosmetics business is a self-regulated
industry and, as quoted by a Health Canada toxicologist, compliance is as low
as 30 percent.”
Several months ago, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) completed a
study in relation to the phthalates found in children’s soft plastic toys. The
study showed that the particular phthalate used in toys were at rather low
levels. However, other phthalates, like the ones used in fingernail polish,
were at levels high enough to raise concern. Warnings were then issued advising
women not to use nail polish during pregnancy because of the possibility of
birth defects.
“Science doesn’t have all the answers,” she says. “There's no scientific
agreement on what tests can correctly determine whether someone’s immune or
nervous system, or genes have been damaged. Nor is there a consensus on what
constitutes a safe level of exposure. Reproductive, developmental and genetic
damage is a non-threshold event and the only safe dose is zero. Until, science
knows the answers to these baffling questions, avoidance of the suspect
chemicals is probably our antidote.
“Some women are becoming wise,” says Vance and cites the onslaught of
natural cosmetic products to the marketplace as validation that safety is an
issue. Alternatives exist. Education is a must.
email
her at chreport@lapaz.cromwell.com.mx.
Her telephone number in Mexico is 52-1-122-9661.
|
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan
Nota: Hanya ahli blog ini sahaja yang boleh mencatat ulasan.