Cosmetics lead to breathing problems, cancer 

Manufacturers big and small go to town with their wide range of cosmetics and hair-dyes promising the moon - right from making you fairer overnight to wiping away your scars and making you look younger. But can you really rely on these publicity campaigns? The question was discussed at a national symposium on 'Safety Assessment of Cosmetics' organized at the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC) here Saturday. Experts warned against the use of cosmetics in general and hair dyes in particular, saying they may cause major health problems in the long run. Excessive use could lead to respiratory problems and even cancer, they said. Well known dermatologists also belied the common belief that herbal products are safe and without side effects. "The market is flooded with products claiming to be made with a herbal base. But what needs to be understood is that all herbal products cannot be safe," ITRC director Y.K. Gupta told the gathering. "It is important that each herbal product is evaluated on a laid down safety measure." Gupta also doubted if the products were really made up of the constituents they claimed are to be made of. "What is even more important is that the consumer knows whether the ingredients displayed on the labels were actually used in the product", he said. Prof. Hema Jerajani, head of the department of dermatology at the LTM Medical College, Mumbai, said, "People from the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, dermatologists, plastic surgeons and regulatory authorities must sit together to assess the safety norms for cosmetics and lay down strict guidelines for the manufacture of various cosmetic products." She stressed the need to create awareness among the masses about the ill-effects of cheap cosmetic products. "It is high time that the much publicised anti-ageing creams and even moisturisers were covered by some regulatory authority," jerajani said. According to her, moisturisers contain isopropyl myristrate that can lead to severe acne, fragrances in products may give birth to asthma and eosin in lipsticks causes dermatisis, while hydroquinone in whitening agents could give rise to allergies. The meet expressed concern over most manufacturers avoiding giving details of ingredients on the labels and urged consumers not to be carried away by manufacturers' claims.

Mike's rules of cosmetology. Watch out for "proprietary" and never put anything on your skin or hair that you can not safely eat.