How several cosmetics damage your nervous system
Cosmetics play a very important role in our appearance and self confidence. But on the other hand several cosmetics can damage us in different ways, one of very important fact is that several ingredients used frequently in cosmetics, can damage our nervous system.
Some of such cosmetic ingredients are:
i) Mercury: mercury inhibits melanin production that is why it is used as a skin lightning agent, but mercury can easily cross blood brain barrier and by entering central nervous system, it kills the neurons causing symptoms of tremors, memory loss and motor dysfunctions.
ii) Phthalates: phthalates are generally used in cosmetics to keep the fragrance long lasting, but it damages brain by causing oxidative stress, and interfering brain development by modifying gene expression.
iii) Parabens: parabens are used as preservative in cosmetics, but it can also interfere body hormones and cause infertility, as well as can disrupt neurotransmitters.
iv) Benzophenones: benzophenones are used as UV filters in cosmetics, but as they are fat soluble, they can cross blood brain barrier and can damage brain by oxidative stress, neuron damage(programmed cell death).
v) Lead: lead mostly exists in cosmetics unintentional impurity from mineral based pigments. It damages the nervous system by mimicking calcium, causing disruption in neurotransmitters and destroying nerve cells.
vi) Microplastics: microplastics are used to add scrubbing features, but they may cause neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and neurodegeneration.
Other ingredients like toluene, formaldehyde and heavy metals also take part in toxicity, we can minimize such toxicities by reducing the quantity of cosmetics and by reducing the time of exposure especially we should remove all cosmetics properly before sleeping.
