COSMETICS: AN ASSESSMENT OF ITS HEALTH IMPLICATIONS TO HUMAN BODY

V.J., Nzuta

Department of Home and Rural Economic,

Taraba State College of Agriculture, Jalingo

Abstract

Severe stomach irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea, while exposure to lower levels for a long time can lead to kidney damage, bone deformity, and the ability of bones to break easily, miscarriage, hormonal changes, reduced fertility in men and women, menstrual irregularities, delays in puberty onset in girls, contact dermatitis, neuro-developmental deficits in the children, cancer, mild to moderate skin and eye irritation, reduced sperm count in men and reproductive defects in the developing male foetus; liver and kidney failure in young children, increased skin aging and DNA damage, allergies, severe headache and asthma symptoms, skin irritation and systemic toxicity, allergies and skin irritation, endocrine disruption, possible reproductive toxicant, may impair human fertility, hormones disrupters, sneezing, runny nose, cough and shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritation, allergic contact reactions, severe contact dermatitis, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infection. The study further shows that bout sixteen (DEA Cocamide DEA and Lauramide DEA, Coal Tar Dyes, Lead, Cadniun, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Parabens, Fragrance, Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs), Petrolatum, Siloxanes, Phthalates, Henna dyes, Coumarin and Phethleugenol, Hydrogen peroxide solutions, and Ammonium persulfate, Nickel and Mercury  minerals found in cosmetics have one effects or the other in human body. It was also found that these adverse implications can be avoided by reducing the rate of using these cosmetic products. It was further recommended that since there is little direct protection, consumers should read labels, understand what they are buying and focus on companies with established reputations for quality products, the agencies that control the safety of cosmetic products should work hard to ensure safety of the consumers of these products; the manufacturers of these products on their part to ensure the clinical safety of their products, parents and teens should limit the amount of makeup worn on their faces to avoid skin rashes and the effects attach to it therein and individuals should limit the use of cosmetics such as powders, cleansers, eye shadows, shampoo, dyes, lipsticks, foundation, mascara, tattooing, nails decorations etc. on their body.

Keywords: Cosmetics, Health, Chemicals, Minerals, Substance, Body, Skin, Makeup, Skin Care