The layers of the skin



     The skin is made up of many different layers.  The outermost layer of the skin is called the epidermis.  The epidermis is the top layer of the skin, and so it is the entrance to pores, sweat glands, and hair follicles, which lead into the deeper layers of the skin and into the blood stream.  The epidermis serves as a barrier to infection and water loss and, forms new cells.  Many skin products break down the barrier and open up the skin to other dangerous chemicals. 
     The next layer of the skin is called the dermis.  The dermis is the thickest layer of the skin that consists of connective tissue, glands, hair follicles, and other elements of the skin.  The dermis provides nourishment and waste removal from the cells.  The last layer, the hypodermis, is technically not part of the skin.  It lies below the dermis and attaches the skin to the bone and muscles.  It contains the blood vessels and nerves and insulates and pads the skin with layers of fat.

Possible pathways for chemicals to penetrate the skin

  The skin has many functions.  It serves as a barrier to prevent pathogens and bacteria from entering the body. Skin also contains a variety of nerve endings that react to heat, cold, touch, vibration, and injury.  Other functions are to control evaporation, to regulate fluid loss, and to keep the skin surface relatively dry. However, the most important and potentially dangerous function that affects the use of skin products is absorption.  Dermal absorption depends on numerous factors including the concentration of the substance on the skin, the duration of contact, and the location of the substance on the body.  Some areas of the body's skin absorb more rapidly than other areas.



This picture shows the routes of penetration a chemical might be absorbed into the skin through.
(1) across the intact epidermis layer
(2) through the hair follicles with the associated sebaceous glands
(3) via the sweat glands

       After the substance is absorbed,  it travels throughout the body, including into the internal organs.  When absorbed, the chemicals are stored in the fat layers of the skin and soak into the body and its organs.  Chemicals absorbed through the skin have been linked to genetic alterations, tumors, and birth defects.  These possible effects may not show themselves until years after the exposure or contact.  

Chemicals in common fragrances

Fragrance: a combination of chemicals that give each perfume or cologne its distinct scent - defined by United States law

     Fragrances may contain solvents, stabilizers, ultra violet (UV) ray absorbers, preservatives, dyes, and other ingredients that are not necessarily listed on the label.  Instead, the word "fragrance" will appear on the ingredient list of the product.  Out of the more than 5,000 ingredients used in the fragrance industry, only about 1,300 have beeen assessed for safety so far by the industry's International Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (http://tinyurl.com/28aw4jh). 
     In 1999, after repeated complaints about toxic effects from Calvin Klein's Eternity perfume, the Environmental Health Network of California ran a lab test on the product to identify its ingredients.  The results were as follows: 26 ingredients had toxicological properites that had not been investigated, 25 ingredients were irritants, 5 ingredients were skin sensitizers, or allergens, 3 ingredients showed fetal, hormonal, and reproductive toxicity, and 2 ingredients were possible carcinogens. For more information on Fragrances visit http://www.ewg.org/notsosexy. 

This graph shows the number of secret or unlisted chemicals in common fragrances





This graph displays the percentage of chemicals, listed and not listed, that have been assessed for safety

 

This charts shows the results for all fragrance ingredients combined.

 

Daily products of Sarah*

*Name has been changed for privacy.
     The average person uses nine personal care products per day that may collectively include up to 126 unique chemical ingredients (http://tinyurl.com/4nx4b8q).  These personal care products include skin lotions, hairsprays perfumes, moisturizers, shampoos, and deodorants.  Sarah is a normal middle-aged woman who uses on average 12 skin care products everyday, throughout the day.
Over all, Sarah used:
4 products that will potentially cause cancer
6 products that are linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity
11 products with allergies and immunetoxicity
11 products that cause irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
12 products that cause neurotoxicity or organ system toxicity
11 products that enhance skin absorption
     Some of these effects are immediate, while others may take years to present themselves.  In all of the hazardous products, the most harmful ingredient was the fragrance (see post on dangers of fragrances).  Some of the other more dangerous chemicals include Retinyl Palmitate, DMDM Hydantion, Propylene Glycol, Formaldehyde, Polysorbate, and Salicylic Acid.  For more information on harmful chemicals, visit Natural Skincare Authority.

Below are the products Sarah uses.

Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel
(moderate hazard)



Rusk Sensories Brilliance
Leave-in Conditioner
(high hazard)





Vaseline Nursery Jelly
(low hazard)

 

Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Faceblock
(moderate hazard)




Neutrogena Oil-free Acne Wash
(high hazard)


 

Aveda Confixor Liquid Gel
(high hazard)




Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
Shampoo and Conditioner
(moderate hazard)



Jean Nate After Bath Splash
(high hazard)




Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle
Anti-Blemish Cleanser
(high hazard)



Tom's of Maine Natural Deodorant Stick
(moderate hazard)



 

Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum
(moderate hazard)

Daily products of Jenna*

*Name has been changed for privacy.

    Jenna is an average teenage girl who uses about 12 personal care products everyday.  Some of her products include moisturizer, acne wash, deodorant, nail polish, mascara, and perfume.  Teens today are at higher risks for breast cancer and other problems due to the abundance of chemicals in skin care products.
Over all, Jenna used:
2 products that will potentially cause cancer
5 products that are linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity
11 products with allergies and immunetoxicity
11 products that cause irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
11 products that cause neurotoxicity or organ system toxicity
11 products that enhance skin absorption

    Even though many of Jenna's products are labled "natural" and "dermatologist tested," they still pose as hazards and contain harmful chemicals.  If a skin product contains one natural ingredient, and all the rest are synthetic, then a manufacturer is technically allowed to claim the product as natural.  This lack of regulation puts the onus on the consumer to check products before buying or using them.  For a Shopper's Guide to Safe Cosmetics, go to http://www.ewg.org/files/EWG_cosmeticsguide.pdf.



Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
(moderate hazard)



Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub
(high hazard)



Neutrogena Fresh
Foaming Cleanser
(moderate hazard)




 

Rhonda Allison Grape
Seed Moisturizer
(low hazard)

 

Tom's of Maine
unscented deodorant
(low hazard)

Cutex Original Nail
Polish Remover
(moderate hazard)



Aveeno Daily
Moisturizing Lotion
(low hazard)

 

Wet 'n' Wild nail Polish
(moderate hazard)

   

Abercrombie Perfume 15

(high hazard)

  

Great Lash Mascara
(moderate hazard)



    

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
 Shampoo and Conditioner
(moderate hazard)



Videos

     This first video is a short but effective way to emphasize the dangers of skin products.  Included in the clip are some statistics and a list of some of the more dangerous chemicals that consumers should be aware of and avoid.

     This next video is a recording of a news report on the dangers of skin care products.  The video goes into depth and includes interviews with experts about some of the harmful chemicals and their effects.  The video also discusses the lack of regulation of skin care products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Consumers need to be aware of the dangers and be responsible for their own use of safe products.  For more information on the hazards of products and their ingredients, go to Skin Deep.

     This video is about breast cancer and the connection to estrogen.  Certain ingredietns, such as parabens are linked to breast cancer because they mimic estrogen.  This video discusses the dangers of certain ingredients and the products in which they might be used.

Summary

• Many skin care products contain chemicals that may be harmful or that are not tested for human safety
• Any product with a fragrance will have some potential danger.
• Not all harmful effects of the chemicals in skin care products are immediate; some take years of exposure to present themselves.
• Not all products that claim to be "natural" really are; check the ingredient list for harmful chemicals.
• When going shopping, bring the Shopper's Guide to Safe Cosmetics to help determine the safety of certain products.
• There is no single brand for which all products of that brand are dangerous, although many of the bigger companies have harmful ingredients in at least some of their products.
• Before using and or buying any product, check its safety on Skin Deep.
• Skin Deep is a cosmetic safety database in which a consumer can search the product by company, name, or ingredient to learn which of the product's ingredients are hazardardous and the overall hazard rating of the product.
• Next to the searched product will be a green, yellow, or red dot.
• Green means that the product has low to no hazard; go ahead and use it.
• Yellow means there is some potential risk of harm; use with caution.
• Red means there are definite dangers from using the product and one should avoid this product.