A few years back i became aware of studies that showed the SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) and Parabens found in many cosmetics and toiletries could be bad for your health. I’ve since read that there have also been studies that have found them to be safe to use. So are they or aren’t they safe? I really don’t know but when it comes to my own children i’ve decided to be precautionary and use natural products where possible. There are many examples in history where we’ve been told something is safe and then years later it’s been proven to cause something nasty.
So what are these chemicals and what might they do?
SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate)
This is frequently used in shower gels and shampoos to make them foam up. It can however be a skin irritant. Prolonged exposure can also make skin problems worse for individuals with sensitive skin. SLS can also be absorbed into the skin and can mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen
Parabens
Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics. Parabens can also mimic the female hormone Oestrogen. Evidence suggests that a lifetimes increased exposure to oestrogen is linked to an increase in the risk of breast cancer and has an adverse impact on male reproductive functions.
It’s not always easy to find products which don’t contain any hidden “nasties.” They might be free of one sort and have something else instead. For our children I use the Earth Friendly Baby (and now the Earth Friendly Kids) range. These are mild and gentle on their delicate skin, only contain natural/organic ingredients. They are hypoallergenic so great for the sensitive skin of our middle child. They contain no artificial colouring, or artificial fragrances, no SLS or parabens. They are also not tested on animals and approved by the Vegetarian Society. Pretty good credentials compared to your a “normal” kids bathroom products.
These can now be found on the site in the new “We Also Love…” section.
Wendy Richards
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Thursday, November 17th, 2011, 3:30 pm | 
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17/11/2011 at 3:59 pm
SLS can also exacerbate (or trigger) eczema. Here in Ireland, doctors recommend Silcock’s Base (an E45/aqueous type cream which I have never come across in the UK) to use on baby eczema and very dry skin, but some brands contain SLS. This is used to break down the skin’s natural waterproofing and get the moisturiser into the skin, which seems like a reasonable idea in theory, but not if you then find you’re allergic to SLS and get eczema from it! A real lesson in it-always-pays-to-read-the-label.