safety health Hidden hazards of 10 everyday products Some can cause minor symptoms; others can lead to major problems

ometimes it’s the little things that cause big problems. Everyday products meant to help you look and feel better can actually have the opposite effect. We’re talking about stuff like eye drops, lip balm, S and mouthwash; if you’re not careful, you can wind up bleary-eyed or dry-lipped, or with a lingering bad taste in your mouth. Fortunately, the fixes are all pretty simple. With the help of experts, we’ve put together a top 10 list of common products that can cause unintended side effects, as well as advice on what to do to set things right. buying guide Aerosol hair spray Contact lenses Not only are the chemicals used Even people who think they do a good to propel hair spray damaging to the job of taking care of their lenses often environment, but they aren’t good for have bad habits that put them at your lungs, either. Aerosol sprays of all risk for rare but potentially blinding types, including hair sprays, can trigger infections. That’s what researchers allergies and asthma attacks. And found when they questioned more using them in a small, poorly ventilated than 400 lens wearers. For example, space—yes, like a bathroom—almost many knew it was important to clean guarantees that you’ll be breathing their case but not that it needed to in the stuff. be replaced regularly. “Bacteria form Not surprisingly, a 2010 study a film that is resistant to germ-killing involving 50 hairdressers and a control solutions,” says the lead author of the group found that the salon workers had study, Danielle Robertson, Ph.D., an far more respiratory symptoms, such assistant professor of ophthalmology as coughing and breathlessness. They at the University of Texas Southwestern reported that the two most irritating Medical Center in Dallas. Also, people products they used were bleaching often underestimate the danger of powder (used to mix hair color) and water, which can transfer harmful hair spray. microorganisms to contact lenses. What to do What to do Swap aerosol hair sprays for the pump n Always wash your hands with soap type. The chemicals are more likely to and dry them before touching lenses. wind up directly on your hair rather n Clean your lens case. Dump the used than wafting around the room. And if solution, rub the case with a bit of fresh you’re sensitive to a spray, you might solution, and rinse with more. Air dry, be better off using a pump. Always and replace it every three months. close your mouth and eyes when you n Never rinse lenses in water. Don’t spray, and if you are able to, crack open shower or swim in them or wear them a window or turn on the exhaust fan. with goggles. Consider disposables.

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Mouthwash The Internet is full of reports from people who claim that swishing with a mouthwash stained their teeth brown or at least temporarily affected their sense of taste. Many blame Crest Pro-Health. According to the American Dental Association, the ingredient responsible is cetylpyridinium chloride, which is also found in other products, including Cepacol Antibacterial. Prescription rinses containing the ingredient chlorhexidine cause more severe issues. What to do If your sense of taste isn’t right, stop using your mouthwash to see if that’s the culprit. Things should return to normal fairly quickly. Also, any brown spots that appear should go Lip balm away after some good brushing. And you Can you become addicted to it? may want to rethink your dental routine. Not really, says Amy Newburger, You may not need a mouthwash. “Most a dermatologist at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt of these products are essentially Hospital Center in New York City. But worthless,” says Jay W. Friedman, if you find yourself reaching for the stuff D.D.S., M.P.H., a public-health dental often, the balm itself may be to blame. consultant. “People are spending “The product may make your lips feel a lot of money on these thinking that good in the short-term, but it’s not they will give them sweet-smelling uncommon to develop a contact allergy breath or make their mouth to one or more of the ingredients,” healthier, and that’s generally Newburger says. “You wind up using not the case.” Regular flossing, it more and more to counteract the brushing, and professional irritation; it sets up a vicious cycle.” cleaning are all that most people The worst-offending components are need to keep their teeth and usually dyes, flavoring, and fragrances. gums healthy. Chronic bad Products containing glycolic acid can breath may be due to a digestive also be irritating, Newburger says.

issue. A rinse will only mask What to do s image c/getty the odor for a few minutes and If your lips are chronically chapped, won’t address the underlying Newburger recommends trying plain problem. An exception: If you old petroleum jelly for a week. Once have gum disease or need certain the problem is resolved, if you want to dental work, your dentist may resume using a balm, look for a brand recommend a chlorhexidine rinse that has no added fragrance or color,

for a short time to help control bacteria. such as Dr. Bronner’s Organic lip balm. s h otodi Wi s bauer/p Steve left:

58 consumer reports shopsmart top: Turqueti/photodisc/getty images; bottom: MoMo Productions/stockbyte/getty images your doctor, who can easily flush it out. as Debrox. The safest approach: See with an over-the-counter product such is bothersome, you can try removing it it obstructsyour hearing.” Ifearwax it unless itbuildsupto thepointthat says. “There’s noreason to remove “Ear wax protects ourears,” Darrat What to do causing permanenthearingloss.” can rupture theeardrum, possibly says. “And ifplaced too deeply, they into the ear and lead to infection,” she in Detroit. “They can introduce bacteria otolaryngologist atHenryFord Hospital study’s author, Ilaaf Darrat, M.D., an eardrums. Soskipthem,says the between theiruseandruptured a recent studyfound adirect link The swabs may lookharmless, but cleaning theirears usingcotton swabs. throat doc)for any reason admitto otolaryngologist (anear, nose,and About half of the people who see an Cotton swabs bacteria upinto theuterus, fallopian an infection, douchingcanpushthe and bacterial vaginosis. Ifyou have as conditions suchasyeast infections to sexually transmitted diseaseaswell body. That leaves women more vulnerable natural acidicenvironment insidethe do iskillgood bacteria and upsetthe or “healthier.” Butwhatdouchesactually will make them“fresher,” “cleaner,” persuaded by advertisements that it of women intheU.S.doucheregularly, An estimated 20percent to 40percent time, andheathastens theprocess. Plus, thepreservatives deteriorate over bacteria anddilutes thepreservatives. kill them.Adding saliva definitely adds preservatives thatare supposedto introduce bacteria anddilute the for example—even justalittle—can introduce contaminants.” Adding water, every timeyou usetheseproducts you preservatives,” Newburger says, “but blindness. have ledto temporary orpermanent reports thatinrare cases,infections The Food andDrugAdministration you atriskfor aseriouseye infection. on easier?Any ofthosethingscanput to moisten your eye pencil so that it goes in ahotcar?Uselittlewater orsaliva months on end? Leave your makeup bag Do you hangonto your mascara for Vaginal douches Eye makeup “Eye cosmetics are required to contain ShopSmartmag.org n ShopSmartmag.org at now Subscribe that were usedonsomeoneelse. not to usethesameproducts onyou getting your makeup done, ask the stylist n Don’tshare cosmetics. Ifyou’re when you got theinfection. Discard any products you were using using cosmetics in the area until it clears. n Ifyou develop aneye infection, stop sure theroom never gets above 85°F. bathroom medicinecabinet!). Make such asabedroom drawer (notina n Store makeup inacool, dryplace them atleastonce ayear. but Newburger recommends discarding Cake eye shadow andliners lastlonger, and toss two itafter to four months. the date onitwithapermanentmarker n Whenyou buynew mascara, write your eye makeup. n Wash your handsbefore applying What to do The American Congress of What to do to pelvicinflammatory disease. tubes, andovaries, possibly leading tampons, pads, powders, andsprays. of vaginal infections, avoid scented a mildsoap. To reduce further therisk you needto doiswash carefully using and you shouldtalkwithadoctor. All it usuallymeanssomethingiswrong, If you notice astrong odororirritation, douching. V and Gynecologists recommends against aginas are self-cleaning. ov 2012 ember O bstetricians

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Acid reducers Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces and are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), persistent heartburn, indigestion, and ulcers. Prescription and OTC drugs include omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Zegerid, or generic), and lansoprazole (Prevacid and Prevacid 24HR). Those drugs are effective and relatively safe, but they can cause serious side effects. Studies have found that people who took PPIs every day for a year or more had a higher risk of fractures, possibly because the drugs decrease calcium absorption. In addition, PPIs may increase the risk of serious bacterial infections by suppressing the stomach acid that would normally kill the germs. What to do For occasional indigestion or heartburn, consider an OTC antacid such as Maalox, , , or Tums. Or consider H2 blockers, which take up to an hour to kick in, but relief lasts up to 12 hours. Nonprescription versions include cimetidine (Tagamet OTC), (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR), and ranitidine (Zantac 75 and Zantac 150); all come in generics. Also try to avoid spicy, acidic, and fatty foods, and cut down on alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinks. Stopping smoking and losing weight help, too. Also, after you eat, don’t lie down for 3 hours, and try chewing gum. If you’ve tried those treatments and heartburn is still bothering you or it happens at least twice weekly for weeks or months on end, or if you frequently regurgitate food into your throat or mouth, see your doctor to determine whether you have GERD, which is best treated with a PPI.

Eye drops Hydrogen peroxide and Eye drops such as Original, other first-aid treatments which promises it “gets the red out,” for cuts can also put the red in if you use them Do you still swab cuts and scrapes with too often. Those eye whiteners work old standbys such as alcohol, hydrogen by constricting blood vessels in the peroxide, iodine, or mercurochrome? eyes for a couple of hours, but overuse If so, it’s time to update your first-aid causes a rebound effect in which the technique. That’s because those products vessels dilate, leaving your eyes redder usually don’t clean wounds any better than ever. In addition, preservatives than plain old soap and water, and they in eye drops can cause redness and might even irritate healthy tissue. irritation in some people. What to do What to do The best way to treat a scrape is to Eye whiteners are fine clean the area with soap and water, for occasional use, making sure to flush out any debris. but if you are using Then dab on triple antibiotic ointment them frequently (such as Neosporin or a generic version) to keep redness at and cover the wound with a bandage. bay, go cold turkey. See a doctor if the area becomes red, If things don’t clear swollen, warm, or throbs with pain, up in a couple which are signs of infection. If you don’t of days, you have access to clean water, for should make alcohol or hydrogen peroxide instead, an appointment and then apply triple antibiotic ointment. to see an eye Those products might be good to take doctor. along when you’re traveling.

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