MyPR: The Importance of All-Natural Skin Care During Pregnancy:
Pregnancy is undoubtedly one of the most exciting life events that a woman will ever go through, but too often expectant moms become preoccupied with what they put into their bodies and not enough consideration is given to what they are putting onto their skin.
“According to an Environmental Working Group survey, on average a woman uses 12 personal care products each day, exposing herself to more than 168 chemicals – many of which are known toxins. The average female may have up to 200 synthetic chemicals in her body and new chemicals are being added to the mix every year.
“Our skin is very permeable, so these products don’t only sit on the surface – they can also be absorbed into our bloodstream where they can cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of an unborn baby,” explains Lauren Lamont, the founder and developer of Natralogic, an all-natural pregnancy skincare range.
More Than 290 Chemicals in New-born Babies
Researchers have found more than 290 chemicals in the blood of new-born babies, rendering them pre-polluted before birth. This study destroys the notion that the placenta is an impervious barrier that protects the foetus from environmental contaminants. Pregnant women represent a particularly vulnerable population, as exposure to potentially harmful chemicals during foetal development may lead to altered health outcomes later in life.
Scientists are now making links between the exposures of pregnant women to toxic chemicals and many maternity and new-born disorders, as well as developmental issues with children. The effects of these chemicals can manifest in the short term as stillbirth, premature birth, miscarriage or birth defects or later in life as problems with reproduction, learning and developmental disabilities, asthma or even cancers.
“While these chemicals exist in small amounts, the exposures add up every day and in multiple combinations through a variety of skincare and personal products along with other sources in our environment. The scientific community is just beginning to uncover what these multiple and cumulative exposures mean for our health and how tiny doses of some chemicals, such as endocrine disruptors, may be harmful. We are living in an increasingly toxic world and it is becoming more apparent that the exposure to these toxins is affecting our health. We can, however, take a proactive step by exercising caution and controlling unnecessary exposure to these chemicals,” says Lamont.
Choose Natural
Ingredients derived from living organisms, such as plants, are better tolerated and absorbed by the human body as the biochemical process that occurs in plants cells is similar to that of human cells. In addition, many natural ingredients used in cosmetic products – for example almond oil and shea butter – are edible and are either absorbed by our bodies or excreted. On the other hand, the chemical compounds used in synthetic skin care products tend to accumulate in our bodies and can even begin to interact with each other.
“Unfortunately, very little is known about the long-term effect of these accumulated chemicals and how they react in combination with each other. The few studies that have been conducted reveal links to an alarming array of diseases, even at very low levels,” cautions Lamont.
Lamont’s advice to expectant mothers is to become a conscious shopper by following these guidelines.
• Look at labels and buy natural skincare and personal products. More importantly, look for products that are certified by authorized certification bodies such as ECOCERT, COSMOS or the Soil Association.
• Look for products that have been approved for use by a safety assessor or toxicologist. Safety approved products are especially important if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have young children as they are in the crucial development stages of their lives and therefore absorb more chemicals than adults.
• Simplify your beauty routine by reducing the number of products that you use. If possible, avoid nail treatments or colouring your hair during pregnancy.
• Choose an all-natural skincare range that is specifically designed to provide a multitude of pregnancy skin care treatments.
Lamont concludes, “Take personal responsibility for your health and that of your family by being informed about toxic skincare ingredients by doing your research and most importantly, reading the labels.”
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