Shampoo and soap Warning... Sodium Laureth Sulfate

[xiblanque]

Hi Everybody!
I've used them, You've used them, Everybody uses them. I am talking about shampoo, soaps and other body products that contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate. We all need to educate ourselves and start reading labels... usually that is referring to food labels but it also pertains to personal body products. I know you are thinking "Come on Xib!!! shampoo can be harmful to you?" I am saying "Yes"... I mean the big drug companies and big product companies wouldn't put poison in our shampoo, soaps and toothpastes... would they? It is well known that the scalp is a very sensitive and absorbant part of the human body... and it's so close to our precious brains. Some advocate using shampoos with salt/essential oils and leaving the mixture on your scalp for hours or days even... If it kills the bugs will it hurt ME? You decide...

this from the natural health information center...
I've broken up this info into two posts...
Xib

Sodium Laureth sulfate (SLES ) | dangers of sodium laureth sulfate

ps... There are products out there that are free of Sodium Laureth Sulfate... The above treatments would be wonderful with those products. Jason (natural ingredient brand) makes a great dandruff shampoo Fortified with MSM, Neem Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Colloidal Sulfur and Rosemary. All great stuff against Morgellons!!! Add some salt and it's amazing!!! Castille soaps are usually free of SLS but READ labels... this is your health at stake here.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Both Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and its close relative Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up". Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

Unfortunately, both sodium laureth sulfate and its cousin are also very dangerous, highly irritating chemicals. Far from giving "healthy shining hair" and "beautiful skin", soaps and shampoos containing sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity.

Although sodium laureth sulfate is somewhat less irritating than SLS, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting. This not only means it stays in the body tissues for longer, but much more precious energy is used getting rid of it.

A report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations of SLS as low as 0.5% could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. National Institutes of Health "Household Products Directory" of chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain SLS and SLES. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%, which the ACT report called "highly irritating and dangerous".

Shampoos are among the most frequently reported products to the FDA. Reports include eye irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms and split and fuzzy hair. This is highly characteristic of sodium laureth sulfate and almost definitely directly related to its use.

Click here to learn of the possible health effects of sodium laureth sulfate


So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium laureth sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple - it is cheap. The sodium laureth 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, SLES also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.
This denaturing of skin proteins may even be implicated in skin and other cancers.

Perhaps most worryingly, sodium laureth sulfate is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of SLS 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.

Products commonly found to contains SLS or Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Soaps
Shampoos
Bubble-baths
Tooth paste
Washing-up liquid / dish soap
Laundry detergent
Childrens soaps / shampoos
Stain Remover
Carpet Cleaner
Fabric glue
Body wash
Shave cream
Mascara
Mouthwash
Skin cleanser
Moisture lotion / Moisturiser
Sun Cream

Note... these warnings from this site are meant for "normal" use of these toxic products, meaning lathering and rinsing within 10 -15 minutes tops. Leaving these poisons on your scalp for long periods of time cannot be good for you. Especially since the shampoo and lathering are probably after wetting your head with hot water which opens all the pores in your scalp.
Take responsibility for your health!

[xiblanque]

Continued from above and from Sodium Laureth sulfate (SLES ) | dangers of sodium laureth sulfate
follow this link to enable all the inactive links on this post... Great Info!!!
Xib


Sodium Laureth Sulfate Free ProductsTo find hair, personal and household products without ANY SLS or other harmful chemicals, please click this link - SLS-free products.

The use of sodium laureth sulfate in childrens products is particularly worrying. It is known that, whether it gets in the eyes or not, skin application DOES lead to measurable concentrations in the eyes of children. This is known to affect eye development, and the damage caused in this manner is irreversible. If you have children DO NOT USE products containing sodium laureth sulfate or SLS - they will thank you for it one day.

Do not believe that just because a product is labeled as "natural" it is free from SLS or sodium laureth sulfate. Most common brands of "Natural" or "Herbal" shampoos and cleansers still use these harmful chemicals as their main active ingredient - check your labels!

That is not to say that you can't get sodium laureth sulfate-free shampoos, soaps, detergents and toothpastes. Some highly reputable companies have been producing such products for years. These products not only contains no sodium laureth sulfate, they are also free of other harmful chemical colorings, preservatives and even flavourings.

SLS-free products and Recommended product for each category

Each of these catagories below have links to the products recommended.
Go to Sodium Laureth sulfate (SLES ) | dangers of sodium laureth sulfate to activate these links.

We STRONGLY recommend the "Convert your Bathroom" Pack if you are truly serious about removing harmful chemicals from your home.

SLS-Free Soaps Natural Soap
SLS-free Shampoos Herbal shampoo 100% natural
SLS-Free Hair Colouring Natural hair colouring
SLS-free Bubble-baths Aromatherapy bath crystals
SLS-free Tooth paste Natural Toothpaste
SLS-free Washing-up liquid / dish soap Dish Soap (click "products", then "newbrite")
SLS-free Laundry detergent Newbrite (click "products", then"newbrite")
SLS-free Childrens soaps / shampoos Natural shampoo
SLS-free Body wash Natural body wash
SLS-free Shave cream His and hers shave soap
SLS-free Cosmetics Chemical-free cosmetics (Click "TrueTouch Skin Care")
SLS-free Mouthwash Eliminator mouthwash (Click "products" then "dental care")
SLS-free Skin cleanser Clearskin face wash
SLS-free Moisture lotion / Moisturiser Natural Hand and body cream
SLS-free Sun Cream Tanacity / Rebound (click "products", "personal products" then"suncare")



Others forget to take supplies on vacation or business trips. Take our advice and make sure you replace the products in your wash-kit as well as your bathroom. You will be very grateful you did.

The potential effects of SLS on health are discussed here SLS. Health implications.