Health and medicine blog.

Cellulite - skin condition commonly situated in the hips, thighs and buttocks. It has a cottage cheese appearance and multiple dimples on the skin. It is not related to being overweight but is genetic.
The best candidates are men in women who are in good health, have good skin tone and have realistic expectations. The results will produce an improvement in skin tone, the appearance of stretch marks, and loose skin may be improved.
It is recommended to add diet and exercise to daily routine while undergoing cellulite treatments.
The cellulite area develops increased blood flow and lymphatic flow, decreased fibrous connective tissue and reduction of fat deposits. The result is smooth skin and cellulite reduction.
VelaSmooth is the latest fat removal treament. This procedure involves the use of the VelaShape mechanism that dissolves the fat and tightens the surrounding skin. This treatment is performed in our med spa and does not require any type of anesthetic. The VelaShape’s mechanism causes the fat cells to dissolve and drain away. This is removed by the body’s waste system. This causes the skin to tighten and shrink gradually in about 12-16 treatments.
The risk involved in this procedure are mild swelling, bruising or tenderness at a site of insertion. There is rarely infection and a possibility of hematoma ( collection of blood underneath the skin) following treatment. Asymmetrical results can be a long term risk.
Best results are seen after approximately 6-8 weeks. Downtime is minimal. The patient can return to work immediately after the treatment.

What Type of Doctor?

For your primary care doctor, you might want a general or family practitioner, an internist or a geriatrician.

    * General practitioners provide health care for a wide range of medical problems. They do not focus on any one area of medicine.

    * Family practitioners are similar to general practitioners, with extra training on health care for all family members, regardless of age.

    * Internists are doctors for adults. Some internists take additional training to become specialists. For example, cardiologists are internists who specialize in diseases of the heart.

    * Geriatricians specialize in the care of older adults. A geriatrician is trained in family practice or internal medicine, but has additional training in caring for older people.

Finding a New Doctor

Once you have a sense of what kind of doctor you need, ask people you know about doctors they use and like:

   1. Friends
   2. Co-workers
   3. Other health professionals

This may be very helpful. You can make it easier for them to tell you about the doctors they like by asking questions such as, “What do you like about your doctor?”

A doctor whose name comes up often might be a good one to try. It may help to have several names to choose from in case the doctor you select is not taking new patients or does not take part in your health insurance plan. If you need more help finding names of doctors, contact a local hospital or medical center, medical society, physician referral service, or nearby medical schools.

If you belong to a managed care plan, you can get a list of doctors from the plan’s membership services office. Keep in mind that our choices will be limited to the doctors who are part of the plan.

When Your Doctor Stops Seeing Patients

Often when a doctor leaves a medical practice, he or she can arrange for you to see another doctor who will have access to all your medical records. You should go for an office visit with the new doctor before deciding if you want him or her to be your physician.

What Should You Look for in a Doctor?

Well trained and capable. A doctor who takes the time to know you well may be able to help you prevent some health problems and manage problems that do come up.

Once you have chosen two or three doctors, call their offices and talk to one of the office staff to get information about the doctor’s education and training. You can say:

“Before I make an appointment, I have some questions about the office and the practice. Can I speak to an office manager or a nurse?”

The office manager or nurse can tell you about:

    * Office policies
    * Standard insurance the office takes and whether or not they file the insurance claims for you
    * Payment methods
    * Hospitals where the doctor sends patients.

When choosing a new doctor you may want to know about:

   1. Board certification. Board certified doctors have extra training after medical school to become specialists in a field of medicine such as family practice, internal medicine, or geriatrics.
   2. Communication. Because communication is important to good health care, you want a doctor who will listen carefully to your concerns, answer your questions, and explain things clearly and fully.
   3. Type of health insurance. Does the doctor accept Medicare? See the section on Medicare for more information.
   4. The location of the doctor’s office. Will it be easy for you to get there? Is there parking?
   5. Lab work. Will I need to go to another location for blood tests or are lab tests done in the doctor’s office?
   6. Group practice. If this is a group practice, who are the other doctors and what are their specialties?
   7. Coverage. Who sees patients for the doctor if he or she is out of town or not available?

How Do You Make a Good Choice?

Find out as much as you can about the doctor and the practice. Here are more questions you may want to ask the office staff:

    * Does the doctor see many older patients?
    * Does the doctor see patients who have many health problems?
    * Does the doctor refer patients to other doctors for special problems?
    * Does the doctor treat many patients with the same chronic health problem that I have (for example, diabetes)?

The First Appointment

Before your visit:

After choosing a doctor, make your first medical appointment. Before going to the doctor’s office, write down any questions you may have. It’s a good idea to bring a list of your medicines. Include both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, even vitamins, supplements, and eye drops. The nurse is often the first person you’ll talk to in the office. The nurse usually takes your blood pressure and asks about your medications. If you’re having a problem with a medicine, the nurse will explain how to take it.

During your visit:

During your first visit, the doctor will probably take a medical history and ask questions about your health and the medical history of people in your family. The doctor will examine you. If you go to a new doctor, be sure to bring your past medical records or have them sent. Your former doctor may charge you for this service. Make a list of any drug allergies or serious drug reactions you’ve had.

During this visit take time to ask any questions you may still have about the doctor and the practice. It will be helpful to ask the doctor the following:

    * Will you give me written instructions about my care?
    * May I bring a family member (spouse, daughter, or son) to my office visits?
    * Are you willing to talk with my family about my condition?
    * Will you maintain my privacy if I ask you not to discuss my condition with anyone else?

After the visit :

After the meeting, ask yourself if you felt comfortable and confident with this doctor.

    * Were you at ease asking questions?
    * Did the doctor clearly answer your questions? If you are not sure, schedule a visit with one of the other doctors on your list.

Once you have found a doctor you like, your job is not finished. A good doctor-patient relationship is a partnership. Both you and your doctor need to work together to solve your medical problems and maintain your good health. Finding a doctor that suits your needs is an important first step. Good communication with the doctor and the office staff is key.

Depression can be treated with medications or talk therapy, and both have supporters with countless studies to prove how effective they are.

But researchers now know that all depression is not equal, and that different people need different approaches to get better. For someone suffering from depression, the bottom line is that depression can usually be treated effectively with one or a combination of treatments. The trick is figuring out which treatments work best for which people. Researchers are making progress toward the day they can do that. They’re also developing innovative new therapies that may change the way depression is treated in the future.
Some people think depression is some kind of a personal weakness, something you can will away. Research has proven otherwise. Dr. Husseini Manji, director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), says, “If you’ve got this illness, your brain chemistry is not the way it should be. Lifestyle changes can help, but you can only do so much. You have to get treatment.”

In fact, depression takes a physical toll that doctors can measure. “We’re learning that depression is associated with a number of medical consequences,” Manji said. It raises the risk of heart disease, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. The chance of someone dying after a heart attack is 4 times greater if they’re depressed.

Types of treatments:

1. Antidepressant Medications and Talk Therapy

Antidepressant medications and talk therapy are the most common treatments for depression. Your doctor might have to try several treatments before finding the combination that’s right for you.

2. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

For those who don’t respond to conventional treatments, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been the treatment of last resort. Electrodes are placed on the head to deliver electrical impulses and cause seizures within the brain. ECT is very effective, but it has serious drawbacks: It’s costly, requires multiple hospital visits and can result in memory loss.

3. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)

This is a newer method for treating depression. It was first used for depression by Dr. Mark George of the Medical University of South Carolina and now approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. VNS serves as a sort of “pacemaker” for the brain. A surgically implanted device periodically sends small electric pulses up the vagus nerve in the neck and into the brain. George says researchers don’t fully understand why VNS works, but it does. However, it does require invasive surgery.

4. Others

Advanced brain imaging techniques showing activity within the brain are allowing researchers to design newer methods for treating depression that target particular areas of the brain. Dr. Helen Mayberg at Emory University’s School of Medicine, for example, has used a technique called Deep Brain Stimulation, in which thin wires are surgically implanted into a particular area of the brain. A small current run through the wires improved depression in 4 of 6 patients. Such surgery may be impractical for large numbers of people, but Mayberg says her study proves the principle that a small electric current in this area of the brain can help treat depression. “This research may help point the way to other effective treatments,” she said.

George’s research group and others are pursuing a technique that doesn’t require surgery called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). In TMS, a small electromagnet on the scalp induces a current in the brain. The device can be fairly well focused in the brain and doesn’t seem to cause side effects. TMS has been promising in small studies, and a large-scale NIMH-funded study is now under way to test it more rigorously.

Another approach researchers are taking is to try to develop better medications to treat depression. Many scientists have been intrigued by the fact it often takes people days or weeks to get better with antidepressant medications even though the drugs work very quickly to affect the molecules that brain cells use to communicate with each other. Manji explained that we now know these medications are starting a process inside cells to turn certain genes on and off, and that those genes, in turn, are the ones responsible for people getting better. “There’s been a lot of research into trying to find what those genes are,” Manji said.
The genes researchers are uncovering seem to be involved in helping nerve cells grow and survive. While nerve cells in the brain don’t seem to die with depression, they do sort of “shrivel up,” as Manji put it.

“It’s good news because maybe we can do something about it,” Manji said. Several drugs targeting these new pathways are now being developed and tested, and Manji is optimistic that new medications will be available within the next few years.

Depression researchers hope that understanding the genes involved in depression will ultimately help doctors make better treatment decisions as well. Manji believes that as few as 4 or 5 genes might enable doctors to predict, with a simple blood test, which treatments will work best for which people.

None of these developments changes the fact that current treatments for depression still work for most people. “Most people bounce back and get totally back on their game if they get treated,” George stressed. If you or someone you know is depressed, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible.

We tend to blame the obesity epidemic in the US on people making the wrong lifestyle choices – for example, eating a Big Mac instead of carrot sticks or Twinkies instead of an apple.
The price of healthy foods puts them out of reach for many low-income families.

New research shows, however, that the price of healthy food may be too high for many low-income families to afford, and experts say the government needs to step in.

A new study published in the journal of the American Dietetic Association finds that a low-income family would have to devote 43 to 70 percent of its food budget to fruits and vegetables to meet the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, which recommends five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

“Most Americans fall short of the recommended servings,” says Milton Stokes, a registered dietitian and a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association.

“The lower their economic status, the more of their income is spent toward food,” he says. “Someone making $20,000 is going to spend a larger percentage of dollars on food than someone making $200,000, even if they buy the same amount.”

Currently, researchers say that American families spend 15 to 18 percent of their budget on fruits and vegetables.

“It seems unlikely that consumers would be able to increase their spending on fruits and vegetables by 200 percent to 400 percent without substantial changes elsewhere in the food budget, or from other household expenditures,” the authors of the report note. “For low-income consumers this may be especially challenging, because there are few discretionary funds available in these other accounts.”

Greens May Put Poor in the Red

Fruits and vegetables tend to be more expensive than processed foods for a number of reasons.

Fresh produce has a short shelf life, which means that it spoils and therefore can’t be bought in bulk and stored in the same way processed or preserved foods can.

Fruits and veggies also lack the backing of government subsidies, such as those for products like high fructose corn syrup, and they can’t be mass produced in an automated assembly line. We just have to wait for nature to ripen the apples.

However, reducing the price of fruits and vegetables will not necessarily cause people to eat them more often. Dr. David Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at the Yale University School of Medicine, explains how the problem is cultural as well as financial.

“If you took the price of fruits and vegetables down by 10 percent, consumption would not increase,” he says. “There are barriers that go beyond the issue of price. For example, if you pay for health insurance, it doesn’t mean that health care improves.

“The same holds true with fruit consumption. If the cost of fruits and vegetables is cut in half, you are still going to have people who aren’t used to eating them and who don’t know how to incorporate them into their diets. Habits have to change. Reducing the financial barrier is only the first step.”

And even if people are able to afford produce, a bag of carrots isn’t going to fill you up the way a Snickers bar does.

“The major concern for low-income groups is not to be hungry at night,” says Adam Drewnowski, director of the Center for Obesity Research at the University of Washington in Seattle. “They gravitate to foods that fill them up — foods that are high in fat and sugar. For them, vitamins and minerals are a luxury.”

Furthermore, availability can also present a problem for low-income families.

“The neighborhood you live in affects consumption because supermarkets in low-income neighborhoods may have less-appealing produce, so people are less likely to buy it, or people may shop at a bodega instead of a supermarket where produce is less available,” says Katz.

‘Producing’ Better Habits

Experts say that the problem can be solved only by eliminating financial barriers, creating incentives to buy healthy foods, and cultivating changes in peoples’ attitudes.

“One idea is to place a small tax on foods with low nutritional value, like soda, for example, and to use the revenue collected to subsidize fruits and vegetables,” says Katz. “A tax on low nutritional foods could be the funding source to subsidize foods with a higher nutritional value.”

Another solution might be to link the purchasing power of food stamps to the nutritional quality of the food.

“For example, if people are buying junk food, a $1 food stamp is worth $1 of food,” Katz explains. “But that same $1 could be worth $2 if people are purchasing fruits and vegetables.”

Drewnowski believes that the government needs to play a larger role in subsidizing fruits and vegetables.

“This problem no longer lies with individuals,” he says. “There needs to be a concerted government initiated policy to deal with the issue.”

In addition to a larger governmental role, the authors believe education is necessary.

“There is a need to educate consumers about the importance of increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables, yet these education programs must consider the tradeoffs required for families to purchase more fruits and vegetables,” the authors say. “Education on household budgeting and follow-up with consumers may be needed as people work to change spending habits to eat more healthfully,” they write.

In the long run, paying more for fruits and vegetables now holds long-term savings for both families and the government in the future. The reason experts recommend so many servings of fruits and vegetables is that they offer the best way to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

“The more fruits and vegetables you include in your diet, the lower your risk for all the major chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, many cancers, high blood pressure, the list goes on,” says Keith-Thomas Ayoob, associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY.

“I think of it as spending $65 every two weeks to help prevent a family of four from getting cancer, heart disease and diabetes. That’s cheap prevention. No medication can do that so this is money that is well spent.”

Katz agrees.

“Both food stamps and health insurance for the poor are government subsidized programs,” he says. “The government is paying people to eat poorly and then is paying to deal with the health consequences.

“It would be more economical to pay people to eat well so that you don’t have to treat them in the hospital when they have heart disease and diabetes.”

Healing through alternative medicine - broad subject, traditionally referred to as practices and applications not usually taught by conventional or western medical schools as treatment for illnesses. Alternative medicine is typically not covered by health insurance, although acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic have recently gotten the go ahead. For those of you interested in becoming alternative medicine providers, the practice is divided into seven major categories: Bioelectricmagnetic applications-which include magnet therapy, diet, nutrition, and lifestyle changes (homeopathic practices), herbal medicine, manual healing, ( Chinese medicine, massage, acupuncture) and biological treatments.

Alternative medicine is meant to treat the body holistically-body, mind, and spirit, and is highly based on preventative practices. That is, Alt. med. is geared toward preventing rather than simply treating symptoms of ailments. Actually, only about 30% of the world uses what we call western or modern medicine. The other 70% use holistic or alternative medicine and Americans are just now catching up. The good news is that American doctors are beginning to see the benefits of alternative forms of therapy and more of them are beginning to add some form of alternative medicine to their practice. “Mainstream” doctors are beginning to refer patients for massage therapy, surgeons are referring to chiropractors. The result is that the terms ”mainstream” and “alternative” are beginning to blur.

Alternative medicine is being used along with other alternative therapies or traditional therapies (called “complimentary”) and reflects a shift in attitude. It seems people are much more accepting of alternative medicine if it is used in conjunction with conventional methods of treatment rather than as an “alternative” or “instead of.” Professional alternative medicine practitioners are trained by accredited schools and practice in established locations-no back alley medicine here-you must meet all the entry requirements of the holistic medicine schools and maintain excellent skills to become accredited. Each health care system has its own accreditation, and includes Traditional Oriental Medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, anthroposophy, and ayurvedic (Indian) medicine.

Each system has its own theory of illness (although if you study them separately you will see that they are very much the same indeed, which is another feather in alternative medicine’s cap-to have the same principles work on either end of the world), an educational plan to teach theory and practice, a support system and a legal and ethical committee to answer to. All have the need to restore balance as a common denominator. Homeopath medicine is used world wide, and involves natural animal, plant, and mineral substances. Practitioners of homeopath medicine usually are also accredited acupuncturists and are regulated by the food and drug administration. They treat acute and chronic diseases and into preventative therapies and promoting good health in order to prevent sickness. Homeopathy very much is able to combine modern medicine with natural and herbal care. Native American alternative medicine involves much sweating and expelling of toxins which cause imbalance and disease. This is achieved by the use of herbs and teas, and a lot of heat. Ceremonial dances and chants add to the mystical properties of the healing.

Or maybe you’re interested in working in the bioelectromagnetic field of alternative medicine. Working with magnets is growing in popularity as people are beginning to discover the benefits of wearing magnetic insoles in their shoes and sleeping on magnetically charged mattress pads. The magnets increase blood flow and bring about circulatory health which lessens back pain and headaches. Chances are you’ve decided to enter the world of alternative medicine because you’ve had a good experience with it. Your current health provider can help you research the area of your choice and give you advice as to how to proceed.

Health and wellness products are aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle by catering to the physical, as well as mental and emotional aspects of health.

Health and wellness products are used to take care of the body and mind by managing stress, aiding healthy eating habits, as well as maintaining a safe environment.

When someone speaks of wellness - they are referring to what is called “alternative medicine”, which deals with the state of being healthy and health-conscious.

Well Being

When determining the well being of a person, many factors are taken into consideration. Some of these factors include nutrition, disease prevention, environmental influences, as well as public health issues.

There are health and wellness products on the market that explore and achieve this sense of well-being which alternative medicine offers.

Health and wellness products are based upon the idea and practice that the body as a whole should be taken care of after the basic living necessities are in order. This concept of wellness was developed into a popular concern during the late 19th century. This came at a time when the public began to place emphasis on self-improvement.

Many early health and wellness products were considered simple items like toothpaste, mouthwash and certain cereals, which were marketed as such at that time.

Blood pressure machines, cholesterol tests and glucose meters can also be considered a health and wellness product because they monitor some of the body’s overall state of health. Other health and wellness products include vitamins or items which avoid certain food elements that have been proven to lower a person’s well being.

Preventive Health Care

There are some people who wish to follow a variety of preventive health care methods, including homeopathy, as well as herbal medicine, which provides an array of different health and wellness product options. These practices are considered alternative because there is no concrete scientific evidence to prove whether these methods are effective.

Jewelry

Some health and wellness products can come in the form of jewelry, such as Balance Bracelets, which are supposed to decrease pain, as well as increase energy.

To ease joint pain, some will turn to the use of copper bracelets, rings and anklets for treating the discomfort caused by arthritis and tendonitis.

Another health and wellness product utilizes magnetic therapy, which can be found in the form of bracelets, rings, necklaces, bangles, as well as magnetic wraps.

Healing Energy

Plenty of health and wellness products can be found on the Internet that embraces the concept of Reiki healing energy. There are items include transformational beeswax ear candles, which are made up of herbs, flower essences and crystals. Some people use this form of alternative medicine to increase the strength of their aura.

Other health and wellness products that are available include:

- Light Therapy Products, such as portable desk lamps that offer a person 10,000 lux of diffused light that can be used to treat seasonal conditions.

- Herbal Supplements, including kava, ginseng, noni juice and energy drinks.

- Gemstone Therapy Products, including jewelry and crystals for the purpose of healing, as well as psychic enhancement purposes.

- Colloidal Silver and Zinc, which comes in the form of a pill, is used as an immune booster.

Dermatitis is a blanket term for skin inflammations and rashes. There are numerous types of dermatitis, each with its own specific set of symptoms and causes. Keep reading for an overview of the most common dermatitis varieties.

Dermatitis Causes
Some forms of dermatitis, like cercarial dermatitis (also known as “swimmer’s itch”), are caused by parasites, while others are caused by germs, as in the case of “hot tub rash,” (folliculitis) caused by the germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Poison ivy and other allergens like nickel and rubber can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Psoriasis, which often appears on the elbows and knees as silvery scales, is now believed to be caused by the immune system. Typically, only the lower legs are affected by stasis dermatitis, which is caused by a buildup of fluid under the skin. And then there are other disorders like perioral dermatitis (which affects the skin around the mouth), whose cause is unknown. Other common forms of dermatitis include eczema, nummular dermatitis (a form of eczema that often follows skin injury), psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis (a condition that affects the scalp).

Dermatitis Symptoms
Each type of dermatitis causes different symptoms. However, the most common feature of dermatitis is red, itchy and(or) swollen skin. Skin lesions are also common. Eczema is generally symmetrical – that is, it affects both sides of the body equally – which helps to differentiate it from contact dermatitis, which only affects the area that comes into contact with the allergen.

Some dermatitis conditions can be identified based on where they appear on the body. For instance, seborrheic dermatitis is found on the scalp and perioral dermatitis occurs around the mouth. Other features that help dermatologists distinguish between types of dermatitis are the shape and color of lesions and the pattern rashes spread in.

Dermatitis Treatment
Depending on the type of dermatitis, treatment can consist of oral antibiotics, corticosteroid creams, topical antibiotic creams, oral histamines, injectable corticosteroids, silver sulfadiazine cream, vinegar compresses, anti-fungal medications, oral antiviral medications, acne medications, medicated shampoos, tar solutions, oatmeal baths, ultraviolet light treatment, menthol-phenol lotions and other medications.

Contact dermatitis is usually treated by identifying and avoiding the allergen. Occasionally, steroid creams may be prescribed to decrease itchiness. Lotions containing hydrocortisone are most often used to treat eczema.

Seborrheic dermatitis usually responds to medicated shampoos, which could contain salicylic acid, pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole or tar. Tetracycline is the most common treatment for perioral dermatitis.

Mild cases of psoriasis may be cured with light therapy or topical creams. There are a number of oral medications available to treat more severe or drug-resistant cases.

Many types of dermatitis can be temporarily relieved with cold compresses or oatmeal baths. The most important treatment step is identifying the type of dermatitis you have. You may need to consult a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in skin disorders.

Last years parabens have become a very hot topic. Many of you may be wondering what parabens are, where you find them and why they should be avoided.

First, lets begin with the what: Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties.

Where you find them is almost every cosmetic product. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteralpharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives
. Common parabens include methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts. These will always be listed in the ingredients section of the product you are purchasing.

Why should we care about parabens? Parabens are considered to be safe because of their low toxicity profile and their long history of safe use; however, a few recent studies have begun to challenge this view.

It seems as if parabens act as endocrine disruptors (they disrupt our hormone system), man or woman, estrogen or testosterone. What is an endocrine disruptor? Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances, primarily man-made synthetics, that interfere with the function of the endocrine/hormone system. These chemicals mimic, block or disrupt the actions of human (and animal) hormones and, unexpectedly, do more damage at low levels of exposure than at high levels.

These chemicals can also work in sinister yet subtle ways by disrupting the body’s ability to produce adequate quantities of hormones or by interfering with the body’s hormonal pathways. One single chemical can affect many parts of the endocrine system. Often minute amounts of several of these environmental hormone chemicals can combine to create effects thousands of times more potent than a single chemical.

The endocrine system regulates every function of the body. It consists of the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands, the pancreas, the ovaries and the testes, all linked to the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus is like the mainframe computer of the body, sending signals to the glands that provide the instructions for creating hormones.
When you rub body care products on your body or hair dye on your scalp you can absorb or inhale synthetic chemicals that contain endocrine disruptors which may send false signals to your body’s endocrine glands. When your glands are confused they cannot function normally and serious health problems result. In addition, when you bathe, whatever chemicals aren’t absorbed by your body are washed down the drain into the drinking water supply, where they can cause a cascade of negative environmental problems. These endocrine disruptors are affecting algae and other microscopic life, fish, whales and birds. Humans are exposed when they drink the water and eat the fish contaminated by personal care product chemicals. The government has found sunscreen chemicals in fish and human breast milk.
Endocrine disruptors are stored in a body’s fatty tissues and do not get flushed out with water, thus they accumulate over the years. It is now recognized that the dramatic increases of breast cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and thyroid cancer have been linked to exposure to environmental estrogens. In particular, parabens mimic estrogen, a hormone necessary for a healthy menstruation, reproductive system and fat cell activity.A Scottish study found parabens in human breast tumors.
In the past twenty-five years in the US, alone, thyroid cancer has increased more than 45%, with more women being affected than men, and has become the number one cancer in children under age twenty, many of whom suffered from fetal endocrine disruption.
How can you protect yourself? Read every ingredient on every personal care product label and be suspicious of every chemical ingredient.
Here is a list of common products that contain parabens:
Cosmetics Foundations, powders, concealers, eye makeup (liners, shadows, mascara), facial makeup (blushes), bronzes, makeup removers, lipstick, quick-dry nail products

Pharmaceutical Products Topical dermatological medications, eye, ear and nose drops, rectal and vaginal medications, bandages, parenteral products, including antibiotics, corticosteroids, local anesthetics, radiopharmaceuticals, vitamins, antihypertensives, diuretics, insulin, heparin, and chemotherapeutic agents

Personal Care Products Moisturizing lotions and creams, dentifrices, sunscreens, cleansers and other skin care products, antiperspirants and deodorants, soaps, including liquid hand soap and toothpastes, shampoos and conditioners, colognes, and perfumes

Food Products (E210-219) Marinated fish products, salad dressings, mayonnaise, mustard, spiced sauces, processed vegetables, frozen dairy products, jams and jellies, soft drinks and fruit juices, baked goods, and candies

Industrial Products Parabens are used industrially in oils, fats, shoe polishes, textiles, and glues.