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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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ASK DR. DESAI: Tips for buying green personal care products

This is the tenth article in the series I want to cover ingredients found in a number of personal care products such as perfumes, lotions/sprays, deodorant, shampoos, soaps, etc., that you may wish to avoid. I am talking about ingredients labeled as “fragrance” or “parfum.”

What is fragrance or parfum? These are ingredients that are often a complex mixture of several dozens of compounds. Often they are protected by manufacturer trade secrets and hence are very difficult to identify. Even products labeled as unscented may contain a masking agent to make our brain not perceive the smell.

What is the purpose of fragrance or parfum? Fragrances are used to impart a pleasant smell, define a brand or to designate a distinctive line of products such as perfumes, colognes or deodorants as part of a marketing strategy.

What health risks are associated with fragrance or parfum? Health risks posed by these unlisted ingredients range from allergies, migraines, or asthmatic attacks. Some synthetic musks used in fragrances are also shown to accumulate in fatty tissues of aquatic species while being toxic to them. Perfumes are frequently cited in dermatologic (skin) related allergic reactions. In addition, agents used to improve the performance of fragrances such as diethyl pthalate (DEP) are known to be endocrine disrupters or simulating natural hormones.

So the next time you buy personal products, try and choose formulas that are fragrance or parfum free. Natural essential oils are a better alternative, although some natural oils may also cause allergic reactions. Stay tuned for the next monthly installation of this series to learn about what else you need to be on the lookout for and avoid.

Dr. Vinay Desai is a naturalist and a pharmaceutical scientist with a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Through community awareness programs, Dr. Desai helps educate people in the sustainable practices of using solar power and green personal care products.

Do you have a question about natural personal care products? Please send your questions to [email protected] or call 908-236-6742. For more information, visit DrDesaiSoap.com.

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Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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