Artificial Preservatives - DMDM Hydantoin / Formaldehyde - EverEscents

Artificial Preservatives – DMDM Hydantoin / Formaldehyde

DMDM Hydantoin (Formaldehyde)

Safe Cosmetics Australia explain that formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing ingredients are used in many personal care products, particularly in shampoos and liquid body soaps. These chemicals help prevent bacteria from growing in water-based products, but can be absorbed through the skin and have been linked to both skin sensitivity and cancer.  One of them is a preservative named DMDM Hydantoin which many cosmetics brands use in place of Parabens.

Product Safety Australia go on to confirm that low levels of formaldehyde can be found in many consumer products including cosmetics and personal care products like shampoos and conditioners, shower gels, liquid hand soaps, cream cleansers, skin moisturisers, toothpastes, nail hardeners, eyelash glues, and hair straightening solutions.

Exposure to low levels of formaldehyde does not present a serious health concern; however, continuous exposure to various cosmetics containing small amounts will combine to be an excessive amount and obviously excessive levels of formaldehyde is a safety concern, especially when used directly on people’s hair and skin.

Hazards: The adverse health effects associated with high levels of exposure to formaldehyde in cosmetic products includes:

  • sensory irritation
  • skin sensitisation
  • breathing difficulties
  • asthma, and
  • can cause cancer in circumstances where there is chronic high exposure.

Formaldehyde has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a chemical known to cause cancer in humans. Other names for formaldehyde include Formalin; Morbicid Acid; Methylene Oxide; Methylaldehyde and Methylene Glycol.

So rather than trying to find out what level of formaldehyde your hair shampoo or hair conditioner includes, why not avoid it entirely with EverEscents Organic Hair Care Range that is formaldehyde free.

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