Grooming product such as hair gel does not seem harmful on our eyes. This simply because you do not know what it is capable of, not only harden or make your hair shinny it can also makes damage to you.
It is simply because of some hair gel use a particular potentially harmful chemical. Surprisingly the damage range from light to severe decease you can not imagine is caused by harmful chemical disguised in a hair gel product.
We have told you the fact that some chemical known to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity are also found in toiletries product. These harmful chemical by some country like Canada has been banned (read more : list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients in canada) to use freely and has to be used under a strict supervision.
As well is one of states in United State America that is California, there is a list called Proposition 65 which contain the list of Chemical Banned In California which function is to inform consumer or user of the product that certain chemical is potentially cause harm to the user.
Harmful Effects of Chemicals in Hair Gel
In this article we will show you what are the harmful effects of hair gel, what are the chemical that makes the hair gel and a few insight of how to avoid the effect. Below are the effects that could be done by harmful chemical in hair gel :
1. Hair loss
Hair loss is most likely to be associated with men but it is not impossible that woman exposed by this damage. One of the major reason in hair loss is the exposure of chemical in hair product. You have to be aware if your hair gel contain DHT, peroxide and ammonia.
In long term usage this chemical to be likely bring damages to hair root and in some case give side effect such as scalp burns, itching, irritation and scalp redness. To avoid this effect do not use these chemical contained products daily, try not to use this product excessively and if it is possible do not use any of these chemical contained products. You may also read about Chemicals Used in Japanese Hair Straightening
2. Headaches
A certain amount of harmful chemical in hair gel or other hair products could give you headache. This likely to be happened to some people who has chemical sensitivity. The chemical odor, or physical reaction could trigger and stimulate the nerve system which associated with head pain.
Isopropyl alcohol is the one of the chemical to blame, this chemical with formula of C3H8O used in hair gel to make it able to do the hold hairstyle look. To avoid this effect most of Isopropanol is denatured before it is used in product by adding denaturant substance. You may also read about List of Chemicals in Shampoo (Harmful Ingredients)
3. Dry hair
It must be really annoying to have a dry hair. Your hair become more fragile and breakable. As we know most of hair product using Alcohol in as the substance and as it absorb oil, then alcohol is likely the one to blame for your dry hair. To avoid this effect it is better to use hair gel which contain no alcohol or regularly using hair moisturizer.
4. Reduced hair regrowth
Some chemical could cause damage in hair regrowth. It is found that chemical used in hair gel such as Isopropyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, PEG-Polyethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol (PG), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Chlorine and others chemical among other effect they give also caused detaining in hair regrowth. As these chemical only effected in long term and excessive use, we could avoid this effect is to fight it with hair tonic or another hair vitamin.
5. Nausea
The other effect that Isoprophyl could give you is nausea. Since the chemical has strong odor some people might feel nausea directly because of inhaling the odor. Try not to inhale the odor of hair gel to avoid this effect.
6. Asthma
Propylene Glycol (PG) is not only cause itchy scalp, eczema, and hair regrowth damage it also trigger asthma when it is inhaled in excessive amount. Although it is not carcinogenic, it is suggested not to inhale the odor of this chemical contained product.
7. Itchy scalp
Do not browse itchy scalp on google image unless you have a strong stomach. Yes it does look so terrible you do not want to catch it, but the terrible images you found on google are the severe ones. At early stages you will feel itch on your head then if you do not treat it could be worse. The cause of this decease is vary but one of them we are talking about is because of the harmful chemical in hair gel.
Propylene Glycol is the harmful chemical that caused this problem. This chemical with formula of C3H8O2 has been highlighted by The United States Environmental Protection Agency as being one of the top 10 hair care ingredients that can damage your health. Hair gel using this chemical to give sooth and shinny effect on hair. To avoid this chemical it is better not to use any product that contained above the suggested concentration of 4 g/L .
7. Eczema
When you feel your scalp itch getting severe and it appears to give you another symptom like redness, scaly patches, swelling, burning sensation on your scalp, you might be getting this Eczema. This decease could be cure by medication with OTC or prescription corticosteroid cream or another topical steroid like mometasone (Elocon), betamethasone (Bettamousse) and flucinolone acetonide (Synalar).
A study said that some chemical like zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, sulfur, coal tar, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole which found in hair product are one of the main cause of the decease.
8. .Hormonal Disruption
As it is known Paraben which is chemical labeled as carcinogen could mimic the hormones and the disturb it system. This chemical is rarely use in hair gel but mostly used in other hair product such as shampoo (read more : list chemicals in shampoo) . It is also included in Proposition 65 as harmful chemical. To avoid the bad effect of this chemical always use product with label paraben free.
9. Cancer
Am I being serious, do all product lead to cancer now ? The answer of the question is depend, as we already know that government trough its related authorities has published carcinogen chemicals list, we should realize that even in at glance not harmful product like hair gel it may contain carcinogen.
Paraben that mentioned before is one of chemical known to be in hair gel, this chemical is certainly related with breast cancer. So be smart not to use this chemical contained products.
More Bad Effects of Hair Gel Substances
Among other above there are more harmful effects of chemicals in hair gel , some of them are :
- Hair thinning
- Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin
- Dry skin
- Damage to organs including kidneys and lungs
- Pneumonia
- Irritation of the mucous membranes
- Accumulation of toxins in organs and tissues, including the brain
- Destroyed hair shafts
- Skin damage
- Hives and allergic reactions
- Hair breakage
- Asphyxiation
- Blackheads and other skin impurities
- If ingested, depletion of vital nutrients in the body
- Dandruff
- Discoloration and damage
Meanwhile, we used to always use hair gel everyday to make it beautiful but we never know that there are many harmful effects of chemicals in hair gel. It would be a serious health issue if we keep continuously us bad chemicals in hair gel. So, please check your hair gel ingredients before you use it carefully.