Chemical Toxicity In Some Acne And Rosacea Treatments

Acne and rosacea treatments can contain a variety of chemical ingredients as preservatives, stabilizers, and synthetic fragrances. Despite the manufacturer's claims, these substances may not be 100 % safe. Long-term use of such chemical ingredients can result in constant low grade irritation, dehydration, and accelerated aging of the skin. Unfortunately, lack of conclusive research in the area allows skin care manufacturers to sell potentially damaging skin care solutions.

What is even more worrisome is that the harmful effects frequently extend beyond the skin. The chemical toxins can be absorbed into the body through the skin and mucous membranes. Widespread adverse effects may be seen in the gastrointestinal system, liver and the nervous system.

Synthetic chemicals in acne treatments should be avoided as they can actually exacerbate existing skin conditions. Consumers should also be aware that some of these ingredients have been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies. A quick look at the ingredients and knowledge of common toxins (listed below) will help consumers identify noxious products.

The safety panel of the cosmetic industry periodically reviews ingredients in skin care products. These chemicals are then classified into three categories: safe, safe with qualifications, and unsafe for use. Some ingredients like Disodium dimethicone copolyol sulfosuccinate, (Glyceryl distearate) have not even been assessed for safety by the panel. Products containing unevaluated substances are best avoided.

Apart from this, consumers can also refer to some excellent resources on the Internet such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website. The EWG has reviewed scientific studies and performed their own independent laboratory tests to expose health threats from skin care products sold in the United States.

Although it is very difficult to find a brand completely devoid of harmful substances, consumers should choose a brand with the lowest risk.

Potentially harmful chemicals found in acne treatments
Propylene glycol: This petroleum derivative is used in various cosmetics as a delivery vehicle and solvent. It acts as a penetration enhancer and allows other chemicals to penetrate deeply into the skin and can be toxic to the brain, liver and kidney. Propylene glycol may cause skin irritation, including contact dermatitis, and is also blamed for premature aging of the skin.

Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea: Both of these agents are used as a preservative in various cosmetics and can cause allergic dermatitis. They are toxic to the gastrointestinal system and release formaldehyde, a potentially toxic chemical and carcinogen. In addition, diazolidinyl urea may also cause toxicity to the central nervous system. The cosmetic industry safety panel has found it safe for use when the concentration is below 0.5%.

Benzophenone-4: This ingredient is declared safe for cosmetics use, according to the industry safety panel. However, it can cause immune reactions, in the form of itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin, or severe respiratory reaction.

Sorbitol: Sorbitol requires a special enzyme (sorbital dehydrogenase) for its digestion. Systemically absorbed sorbitol can be rather troublesome in people without that enzyme. It may cause flatulence, diarrhea, and cramps in such individuals.

References: 1. Bergfeld W.F., Belsito D.V., Marks J.G., Andersen F.A.: Safety of ingredients used in cosmetics. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005; 52:125-32. 2. Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments--2002/2003. International Journal of Toxicology, 24(Suppl. 1):1-102, 200.
Dr. Brarat Sharma is a physician and writer specializing in skin care conditions including acne and rosacea.

Dermatologist Claims Tap Water May Lead To Aging of The Skin

Dr. Dennis Gross, a clinical professor at New York University Medical Center, says tap water contains heavy metals that breakdown collagen and lead to wrinkles.

Never fear: Gross has just the answer to those scary heavy metals. He has developed a product that contains chelators, which are an organic solution to the buildup of heavy radicals on the skin.There are great variations in the content of heavy metals, calcium, and sulfates from one city's water to the next. Gross claims that these elements build up on the skin's surface and cause dermatologic problems such as acne, rosacea, and aging.

"While the water is clearly drinkable, if you are unlucky enough to be exposed to bad water on a regular basis your skin can suffer the same kind of damage, although to a lesser degree, as sitting in the sun with suboptimal protection," says Dr. Gross, associate.

The Physical Pain Of Rosacea

While the effects of rosacea on facial appearance are widely known, the majority of patients also experience physical discomfort, according to a recent survey by the National Rosacea Society.
In the survey of 605 rosacea patients, 93 percent said they experienced at least some physical discomfort due to their rosacea. Among those who experienced discomfort, the most common complaints were burning (72 percent), itching (61 percent), stinging (52 percent) and swelling (41 percent).
Forty percent reported tenderness, while 36 percent said they experienced tightness in their skin. Thirty-one percent had experienced tingling, and 24 percent felt a prickling sensation.
Physical discomfort was experienced most often in the facial regions where rosacea is most commonly found: the cheeks (80 percent), nose (53 percent), eyes (48 percent), chin (40 percent) and forehead (36 percent). Interestingly, a number of rosacea patients reported discomfort in areas beyond the central face, including the ears (18 percent), scalp (20 percent), neck (16 percent) and behind the ears (11 percent).
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed said the discomfort occurred at the same time as the physical signs of rosacea, and an additional 21 percent said there was some correlation. Fortunately, 84 percent reported that medical therapy helped relieve the discomfort associated with their condition.
"The physical pain experienced by many rosacea patients is often under appreciated by others," said Dr. John Wolf, chairman of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. "Rosacea patients need to take special care to avoid substances that irritate their skin, along with other triggers that might cause irritation and lead to a flare-up."

Minerals Can Improve Rosacea Skin

Topically applied zinc has been used by medical physicians for the treatment of inflammatory acne.  Zinc  is used either as the primary ingredient or in conjunction with other anti-acne medications. Currently, zinc is found in several different active forms in hundreds of over-the-counter skin care products and anti-acne medications. Topically applied zinc has been shown to have a potent anti-septic effect (Drs. Provost and Farmer). More specifically, evidence suggests that zinc has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal actions, as well as mild anti-inflammatory actions (Drs. Rock, Wilkinson, and Ebling).

For over two decades, sulfur has been used for the treatment of rosacea, and clinical studies have demonstrated that it is extremely effective in the treatment of rosacea-related papules and pustules (Drs. Ellis and Strawiski). Many dermatologists tailor rosacea treatments to the individual by varying the concentration of sulfur in a given preparation (from 2 percent to 15 percent sulfur). Because rosacea is a chronic disease, treatment must usually be continued for a long period of time. For this reason, Drs. Blom and Hornmark were interested in a non-toxic, topically administered treatment that would be as effective as orally administered drugs such as antibiotics. To date, these medical physicians use topical sulfur as their primary anti-rosacea treatment (Drs. Blom and Hornmark). In a double-blind clinical study of 40 rosacea patients, these physicians found that rosacea-related papules and pustules responded much better to topical 10 percent sulfur than to oral antibiotics. More specifically, they found that with four weeks of topical sulfur treatment, the average number of papules and pustules dropped significantly (from 213 pimples before treatment to 17 pimples after treatment), that this clearing was much better than that attained by treatment with oral tetracycline. In a separate series of clinical studies, similar results were found by Dr. Strauss and colleagues (Dr. Strauss).

Sodium Chloride is  well known for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory actions, by which it can help reduce redness better than antibiotics, and its vascular constrictor action, which reduces overall facial redness.