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. Subscribe now at ShopSmartmag.org NOVember 2012 57 health safety 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. S gums healthy. Chronic bad Products containing glycolic acid can breath may be due to a digestive also be irritating, Newburger says. C/GETTY IMAGE C/GETTY issue. A rinse will only mask WHAT TO DO S the odor for a few minutes and If your lips are chronically chapped, OTODI won’t address the underlying Newburger recommends trying plain H problem. An exception: If you old petroleum jelly for a week. Once BAUER/P have gum disease or need certain the problem is resolved, if you want to S 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. WI STEVE LEFT: 58 COnsumer REPOrts SHOPSMART Cotton swabs About half of the people who see an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat doc) for any reason admit to cleaning their ears using cotton swabs. The swabs may look harmless, but a recent study found a direct link between their use and ruptured eardrums. So skip them, says the study’s author, Ilaaf Darrat, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. “They can introduce bacteria into the ear and lead to infection,” she Eye makeup says. “And if placed too deeply, they Do you hang on to your mascara for WHAT TO DO can rupture the eardrum, possibly months on end? Leave your makeup bag n Wash your hands before applying causing permanent hearing loss.” in a hot car? Use a little water or saliva your eye makeup. WHAT TO DO to moisten your eye pencil so that it goes n When you buy new mascara, write “Ear wax protects our ears,” Darrat on easier? Any of those things can put the date on it with a permanent marker says. “There’s no reason to remove you at risk for a serious eye infection. and toss it after two to four months. it unless it builds up to the point that The Food and Drug Administration Cake eye shadow and liners last longer, buying guide it obstructs your hearing.” If ear wax reports that in rare cases, infections but Newburger recommends discarding is bothersome, you can try removing it have led to temporary or permanent them at least once a year. with an over-the-counter product such blindness. n Store makeup in a cool, dry place as Debrox. The safest approach: See “Eye cosmetics are required to contain such as a bedroom drawer (not in a your doctor, who can easily flush it out. preservatives,” Newburger says, “but bathroom medicine cabinet!). Make every time you use these products you sure the room never gets above 85° F. introduce contaminants.” Adding water, n If you develop an eye infection, stop for example—even just a little—can using cosmetics in the area until it clears. S introduce bacteria and dilute the Discard any products you were using preservatives that are supposed to when you got the infection. kill them. Adding saliva definitely adds n Don’t share cosmetics. If you’re bacteria and dilutes the preservatives. getting your makeup done, ask the stylist Plus, the preservatives deteriorate over not to use the same products on you TOCKBYTE/GETTY IMAGE TOCKBYTE/GETTY S / time, and heat hastens the process. that were used on someone else. S RODUCTION P Vaginal douches O M O An estimated 20 percent to 40 percent tubes, and ovaries, possibly leading M of women in the U.S. douche regularly, to pelvic inflammatory disease. persuaded by advertisements that it WHAT TO DO ; BOTTOM: ; BOTTOM: S will make them “fresher,” “cleaner,” The American Congress of Obstetricians or “healthier.” But what douches actually and Gynecologists recommends against do is kill good bacteria and upset the douching. Vaginas are self-cleaning. natural acidic environment inside the If you notice a strong odor or irritation, C/GETTY IMAGE C/GETTY S body. That leaves women more vulnerable it usually means something is wrong, OTODI to sexually transmitted disease as well and you should talk with a doctor. All H as conditions such as yeast infections you need to do is wash carefully using and bacterial vaginosis. If you have a mild soap. To further reduce the risk URQUETI/P T an infection, douching can push the of vaginal infections, avoid scented TOP: TOP: bacteria up into the uterus, fallopian tampons, pads, powders, and sprays. Subscribe now at ShopSmartmag.org NOVember 2012 59 health safety 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.