What Is Preserving your Beauty Products?

Parabens are used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products as an anti microbial preservative [3]. Often used in combination with other types of preservatives as well as multiple types of parabens to allow low levels off any one chemical added to products with increased preservation[2].
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has stated safe levels of parabens use in a single product is up to 25%, while most products range from .01%-0.3% paraben levels[2]. Without these preservative products things such as various make-ups, lotions, and hair products could grow harmful and even deadly bacteria. Although studies show over 90% cosmetics use parabens of some kind[1] some controversies exists, as both a mimic of estrogen in your body and has been found in biopsies of breast tumors. However, estrogen is a very simple hormone and is mimicked by a variety of other products used daily and in the limited levels doesn't make a difference, especially in skin products. Parabens have been found in multiple breast tumors removed from cancer patients[3], however, no study shows any relation between the cause of the cancer and the presents of parabens, it is just simply stored for reasons we don't understand yet[7].


As so little of these parabens exist in any products, even in the combination of over 50 products, the levels of paraben don't reach a harmful level. Some people may experience allergic reaction or a rash from products that contain parabens[4], however these are a very small percentage of the population. As you have probably been using these paraben products all your life without knowing, and no studies, no matter how high the doses of parabens given to the test subjects have found any real problems I see no reason why you shouldn't continue to use all your favourite daily paraben products.

References

1. Suzuki, D. (2009) Parabens, David Suzuki foundation. Accessed on March 21:Http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-your-cosmetics---parabens/
2. FDA (Dec, 2014) accessed on March 21:
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm128042.htm
3. Breast cancer fund (2007), parabens. Accessed on March 21:
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/radiation-chemicals-and-breast-cancer/parabens.html
4. Wikipedia (2016) accessed on March 21:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben
5.Toxicology data network (2007). Methylparaben. Accessed on March 21:http://www.toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+1184
6. No listed authors, amended report on the safety assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benzylparaben as used in cosmetic products.(2008) accessed on March 21:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19101832
7. Master, S. Butylparaben;review of toxicology literature(April, 2005).National Toxicology Program (NTP) https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/butylparaben_508.pdf

The mystery of the hidden ingredient …

Do you take care of your hygiene? I hope you are nodding your head as you read this! Well, let me broaden your horizon and may be make you cringe ever so slightly with some truth about the chemistry behind all the toiletries you use so stay clean! The shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution, makeup, toothpaste, they all contain certain amount of parabens in them. Wait, what is that word? Parabens are preservatives used in cosmetic products and fragrances ^[2]. They are used in combination with other preservatives ^[2]. Their existence doesn’t just end in the toiletries; they are used in food additives as well. Furthermore, they are found in fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, carrots, olives and strawberries ^[1]. We are exposed to them literally everywhere!! They are found in the air; as dust, in wastewater effluent urban streams, in soil, in the rivers and drinking water ^[1]

Why is it such a big deal if we are surrounded by them? - Well that is because parabens can cause allergic reactions and can pose serious health threats such as cancer ^[1]. Parabens detected in breast tissue from patients with breast cancer ^[3].  It is important to know what this compound is and how individuals are exposed to it. Parabens can enter the human body through the skin. The average daily total personal parabens exposure is estimated to be 76 mg, with cosmetics and personal care products accounting for 50 mg, 25 mg from pharmaceutical products, and 1 mg from food ^[1]. When looking at the statistics, the data shows that they are indeed found in various concentrations depending on the products (cosmetics to personal care products to pharmaceutical products).

Although it does a great job of being a preservative, it is essential to know some of the side effects that come with it. It is almost impossible to get rid of them since they are found everywhere. There has been a lot of problems with the alternatives proposed and replacements for parabens have another set of affects due to lack of research. Regardless, it is important to know where we all stand in terms of being surrounded by parabens in our day to day life and now that you are aware of its usage and potential side effects, you can make the decision for yourself, whether you want it to still be a part of your lifestyle or are you going to take steps to eliminate or perhaps limit the amount of parabens.  

That moment when you thought you were so cleansed after a nice hot bath with all your favourite toilettes and then you realize you are technically covered with all this chemical that could potentially kill you! Wait, What? – I never said that!

References:

[1] Kirchhof, M. (2015). Skin Therapy Letter. The Health Controversies of Parabens. Retrieved on March 30^th, 2016 from http://www.skintherapyletter.com/2013/18.2/2.html

[2] Parabens. (2006). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved March 30^th, 2016 from http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/ucm128042.htm

[3] Parabens. (n.d). [Image]. Retrieved March 30^th, 2016 from http://img.allw.mn/content/www/2010/10/9-harmful-ingredients-in-cosmetic-and-personal-care-products/parabens_9-harmful-ingredients-in-cosmetic-and-personal-care-products.jpg

[4] Retrieved from http://www.mommyconnections.ca/calgary/files/2014/12/PARABEN-1.jpg?file=2014/12/PARABEN-1.jpg

Gimme some Sugar!!

Image Retrieved from http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/07/the-shocking-story-of-how-aspartame-became-legal.html (accessed March 27th, 2016)

What seems like sugar but is 200 times sweeter [1]? Aspartame!! It may be very known to you if you have someone in the house that's a diabetic or simply a dieting sweet tooth. Ever wondered how while your eating something that claims to be sugar-free yet is still sweet. The answer lies in the chemical compound aspartame or other alternative compounds that make it sweet. Aspartame is a no calorie sweetener used in various diet products, gum, and candies [2]. Diet drinks are a slightly better alternative to consuming high sugar content regular soda drinks. However, it is important to not be misled by claims that suggest it is healthier. This compound is the very creation of a laboratory accident. A chemist was actually trying to create a drug that could be used as a treatment for ulcers and produced aspartame as an intermediate [3].

There are many controversies regarding this drug and all are a media hoax. Many claim it causes cancer (is anything edible in this world said to not cause cancer these days?), headaches, weight changes, and various other neurotoxic diseases. This chemical compound is probably one of the most consistently studied due to its controversies since the very beginning. Many are set out to prove that the controversies are true and others to refute them. Overall, there has been no scientifically sound study that is able to prove any of the above side effects. 

The daily intake levels are so high that one would need to consume extremely extensive amounts  of aspartame to cause any harm, The U.S. food and drug administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have set the daily limits at 50 [4] and 40 mg/kg [5] body weight respectively. One can of diet soda can contain 180 mg [6] of aspartame. So someone my weight (50 kg) would need to consume almost 14 cans of diet soda in a day. The maximum I can have is maybe one or two in a day. Such low consumption will not lead to any adverse health affects. 

So go ahead enjoy your diet drinks once in a while and abandon the fear of aspartame!!  

References

[1] Thomas, P. (2005, 09). Aspartame. The Ecologist, 35, 36-46. Retrieved from http://library.mtroyal.ca:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/234930257?accountid=1343

[2] "What Foods Contain Aspartame? | MD-Health.com," MD-Health.com - Better Health Information from Doctors, accessed March 19, 2016, http://www.md-health.com/What-Foods-Contain-Aspartame.html.

[3] Stegink, Lewis D., and Lloyd J. Filer. "Discovery of Aspartame." In Aspartame: Physiology and Biochemistry, 3-7. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1984. https://books.google.ca/books?id=yTH1iI9ybl4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false.

[4] Renwick, A.G. "Intake of Intense Sweeteners," Low-Calories Sweeteners: Present and Future, 1999, 178-200, doi:10.1159/000059699. 

[5] "The Truth About Aspartame Side Effects," Healthline, accessed March 20, 2016, http://www.healthline.com/health/aspartame-side-effects#SideEffects4.

[6] "Aspartame," Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, accessed March 20, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame.

Basic, But Not Too "Basic"

Do you wash your hands? I hope your answer is yes! The main chemical in soap formation is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). You can find this chemical in many things you probably use everyday without even knowing it's there. Most of the time, its main job is to balance out the acidic properties of the other ingredients, just like in moisturizers (1). 

A surprising fact about sodium hydroxide is that it isn't found naturally, but it is produced from mainly salt and water (3). When a salt molecule is split using a technique called electrolysis, the free salt and water molecules can now come together to make sodium hydroxide (3). By itself, sodium hydroxide is actually quite corrosive; even though it is a basic chemical it can cause serious burns, pain, vomiting, blurred vision, and redness (4, 5). Being in direct contact with a concentration as small as 0.5% of sodium hydroxide can cause these problems (5). So you should always handle it very carefully or have someone assist you when dealing with sodium hydroxide. 

When you think of sodium hydroxide, you probably think it’s this boring, basic chemical that doesn’t do much. Surprisingly, sodium hydroxide is in a lot of things we use in our daily lives! You can find it in detergents, moisturizers, hair conditioner, and even soap (1). In soap specifically, sodium hydroxide plays an important role in its production. In order to make soap work, the sodium hydroxide binds to oils or fats, which turns it into soap (2). A single soap molecule had two sides, a top and a bottom; the top binds to water and the bottom binds to the dirt (2). When this process happens, you end up with a clean, dirt free area.

So, sodium hydroxide isn't that bad. By itself, it can be dangerous so you have to be careful, but in the products we use the manufacturers know just how much is needed to not cause burns or redness when we use things with sodium hydroxide in them. 

References

[1] Household Product Database. https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-            

            bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=19&query=sodium+hydroxide&searchas=Tb

lChemicals (accessed March 22, 2016).

[2] Saponification - The Process of Making Soap.

http://amrita.olabs.co.in/?sub=73&brch=3&sim=119&cnt=1 (accessed March 22,

2016).

[3] Sodium Hydroxide. http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/sodium-hydroxide.html

(accessed March 22, 2016)

[4] The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, 12th ed.;

Budavari, S.; O'Neal, M.J.; Smith, A.; Heckelman, P. E.; Kinneary, J. F., Eds.;

Merck & Co.: Whitehouse Station, NJ, 1996; entry 4857

[4] U.S. National Library of Medicine. Sodium Hydroxide.

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sodium_hydroxide#section=Top

(accessed March 21, 2016)

Sick of Acne? Looking for clear, clean and radiant skin? Salicylic acid may be the answer to your problems.

Image source: http://www.salicylic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/iStock_000010022977XSmall-300x199.jpg (accessed March 23, 2016) 

Acne is quite a common skin problem, especially seen during the teenage years. Whenever we face skin problems, we tend to grab over the counter acne treatments to see fast and effective results. However, we never consider what all these acne products have in common. Salicylic acid, is one of the frequently found ingredients in acne treatment products. This compound is most commonly used in the production of pharmaceuticals like aspirin due to its properties of preventing clot formation and blood coagulation.^1,2 Another place where salicylic acid is used is in the treatment of fungal skin infections because of its fungus killing properties.²

Salicylic acid in skin:

Particularly in skin, salicylic acid has many uses like destroying warts, and treatment of diseases like hyperkeratotic which is a scaly skin condition.^2,3 In many acne products which contain salicylic acid its function is to reduce pimples and skin blemishes by exfoliating skin (getting rid of dead skin cells) and removing excess oils in the pores.^4,5 In general, salicylic acid is more useful for people with oily skin whereas it makes dry skin drier because it extracts oils from the skin.⁶

Too much is not always good

It is important to consider is how much salicylic can be found in these products. It is commonly noted that in most major skin problems there is about 2-6% concentration of salicylic acid used.^2,3 Yet, in cases of more sensitive skin and for everyday use 0.5-2% salicylic acid products can be found and used.⁶

Some considerations before buying any acne products                      

Salicylic acid in general is not a harmful compound, if used in moderation and not consumed.⁷ Depending on the concentrations and skin conditions there could be allergies and irritation to the skin and eyes.⁷ This makes it essential that before using the products that are found on the market, consumers need to consider the type of skin you have and use products that contain the right amount of salicylic acid. Another thing that consumers need to keep in mind is that not all products are going to work for everyone and type of skin (dry, oily) could definitely influence the way your skin reacts to them.

Salicylic acid acne, skin treatment products are definitely worth the try but, if they are not effective there are always alternative solutions. Lastly, acne is not just going to go away completely by using these acne treatment product, you might need to consider making changes to lifestyle (sleep, diet, stress and overall care of skin).

References

¹Salicylic Acid. In Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry [Online]; Wiley-VCH Verlang GmbH & Co., Posted June 15, 2000 http://library.mtroyal.ca:2183/doi/10.1002/14356007.a23_477/full (accessed on March 15, 2016)

²Salicylic acid. Toxinet [Online]; U.S. National Library of Medicine. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~qcAOJW:1 (accessed March 15, 2016)

 ³Salicylic acid. CHEMINFO [Online] CCOHS; http://library.mtroyal.ca:2536/cheminfo/records/4189E.html (accessed March 15, 2016)

⁴ Salicylic acid. In Paula’s choice skincare. http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/salicylic-acid (accessed March 16, 2016)

⁵ U.S. National Library of Medicine. Salicylic Acid Topical https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607072.html (accessed March 15, 2016)

⁶ Salicylic Acid and Acne: The Pro’s and Con’s http://www.facingacne.com/salicylic-acid-acne-pros-cons/ (accessed March 16, 2016)

⁷ Lewis, R. J. General Chemical Entries, in Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference, Sixth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2008; pp.1217 http://library.mtroyal.ca:2183/doi/10.1002/9780470335406.ch1/summary (accessed March 16, 2016)

Monosodium Glutamate - I want my umami!

Figure 1. Food containing monosodium glutamate.

Umami is the meaty, savoury flavor found in foods. The umami flavor can only be achieved by foods containing glutamates¹. High levels of natural glutamates are found in things like tomatoes and mushrooms^1,2. Monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG³, is the other major source of glutamates in foods.

Figure 2. Prepackaged MSG

available for purchase.

Monosodium glutamate is a white crystalline powder, very similar in appearance to table salt¹. MSG is used as a food additive similar to the way we use salt in foods¹. In some countries you might even find a monosodium glutamate shaker on the table! You can go to some specialty Asian stores and buy packages of MSG just the same as you would go to the store to buy salt. MSG is most commonly used in Asian cooking, and is usually added during the cooking process to enhance the flavors already present in the food and add the umami aspect to the dish¹.

Figure 3. MSG crystals.

MSG was discovered in 1908 by a Japanese professor who was able to extract the savory flavor from the seaweed broth in his soup². Although seaweed broth is a great source of glutamates which can be used to produce MSG, bacteria are now used to biosynthetically produce this compound². After isolation, the MSG is crystallized and shipped out to food establishments all over the world.

 
Most people have only heard of MSG because of the big signs in Chinese restaurants claiming that their food is MSG free. These signs exist because MSG has gotten a bad rap in popular culture. Some individuals experience negative symptoms, ranging from headache to diarrhea, after eating Chinese food⁴. Monosodium glutamate is often the scapegoat. Despite the lack of scientific evidence⁵, MSG continues to be blamed for the whole host of symptoms resulting from eating Chinese food⁴. The small amount of MSG found in foods is not harmful⁶ and should not be avoided, especially because it makes food taste better!

References:

¹The Facts on Monosodium Glutamate, 2002. European Food Information Council. http://www.eufic.org/article/en/artid/monosodium-glutamate/ (accessed March 7, 2016)

²Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG), 2012. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm328728.htm (accessed March 3, 2016)

³Monosodium Glutamate. In Chemical Compound; N. Schlager, J. Weisblatt, D. E. Newton, Eds.; UXL: Detroit, 2006; Vol.  2, pp. 465-468

⁴Chinese restaurant syndrome. In The Royal Society of medicine health encyclopedia [Online]; Bloomsbury, Posted Online 2000. http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/rsmhealth/chinese_restaurant_syndrome/0 (accessed March 7, 2016).

⁵Walker, R; Lupien, JR; The safety evaluation of monosodium glutamate. J. Nutr. [Online] 2000, Vol. 130, 1049S-1052S. PubMed. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10736380 (accessed March 7, 2016)

⁶Monosodium glutamate [NF]. http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/rn/6106-04-3 (accessed March 2, 2016)

Figure 1: pelican. Subgum chow mein. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Subgum_chow_mein.jpg (accessed March 7, 2016)

Figure 2: Dynomat. Ajinomoto msg. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ajinomoto_msg.jpg (accessed March 8, 2016)

Figure 3: Miansari66. China Namak. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:China_Namak.JPG (accessed March 3, 2016).