Shampoo can contain a variety of different chemicals, surfactants and emulsifiers that are used to create the "foam" produced when one cleanses the hair. Shampoo ingredients that should be avoided include, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, DEA, and Fragrances. Each of these ingredients are known to possibly be carcinogenic to the body after prolonged periods of use.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate
Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate is one the most common ingredients used in shampoo today. This synthetic formula is used as a powerful foaming agent in shampoos. It is also used in many industrial cleaning products and detergents.
SLS or SLES has been known to be a possible carcinogen. According to the material safety data sheet, or MSDS, on sodium lauryl sulfate. Tests done on animals indicate the chemical may cause mutagenic effects. Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate can also cause an acceleration of thinning hair due to its acidic nature.
DEA/Diethanolamine
DEA or diethanolamine is a chemical used in personal care products as a wetting and emulsifying agent. DEA is usually not harmful by itself, but when mixed with other chemicals and ingredients in personal care products it can create carcinogenic compounds that are harmful to health. These compounds are called NDEA or nitrosodiethanolamine.
NDEA is absorbed through the skin and can be damaging and carcinogenic to the stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder. Dr. Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental Health at Illinois University has said, "repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers: liver and kidney cancers."
Fragrance
Fragrances are added to almost all personal care products, especially in shampoo. Fragrances are made up of synthetic chemicals that mimic scents found in nature. Many compounds in fragrances are considered carcinogenic. The word "fragrance" on a product label can mean the presence of up to 4,000 separate chemical ingredients.
According to an article on Immuneweb.org by Julia Kendall, 95 percent of chemicals used in fragrances are derived from petroleum and these compounds are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. If you really love fragrances, spraying the fragrance on the tips of the hair or the bottom of a shirt that does not touch the skin is advised.
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