SUNDAY, March 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Allergic skin reactions to a preservative used in pre-moistened wipes and liquid soaps are on the increase, a doctor says. ...
The chemical preservative, methylisothiazolinone, is found in many water-based products, including pre-moistened wipes, cosmetics, liquid soaps, hair products, sunscreen, and laundry and cleaning products.
For the news story, please click this link -- http://www.myfoxny.com/story/25049029/r ... n-the-rise
With manufacturers trying to avoid formaldehyde and other known toxic preservatives in body products, other chemicals designated as GRAS (generally known as safe) are turning out to be not so safe as people develop rashes.
I have switched to new products to try to avoid all these preservatives. However, I have no clue when it comes to shampoo. Most are loaded with chemicals that cause itching and hives.
When I was at summer camp many years ago, we had a course in survival skills where it was recommended that we use baking soda to brush our teeth, wash our bodies, and wash our hair followed by either lemon water or apple cider vinegar to rinse the hair. Lemon water was recommended for blonde hair, while vinegar was recommended for darker colors of hair. Both leave the hair squeaky clean and manageable. The instructors said that washing with baking soda and then applying a solution of baking soda to the underarm area helps prevent body odors. This was especially helpful information when taking long back packing trips, as the weight of the back packs were substantially reduced, and the risk of liquids leaking was minimized.
While I was in the convent for three years, the nuns were told to brush their teeth, to bathe in baking soda, and also to use it as a deodorant. We were not permitted to use commercial deodorants as they were too expensive and not very healthful either. Since very few nuns have ever come down with cancer, baking soda must be good for the body. I read an article years ago that showed a correlation between the use of underarm commercial deodorants and breast cancer in men and in women due to the close proximity of the breasts.