Some in-home dangers are easy to spot, like a cabinet door that needs to be locked shut, or steep stairs that need a helping hand getting up and down. Others, though, only show themselves after they’ve already had an effect on members of the family.
For example, mold spores hiding between walls can range anywhere from being a nuisance to being deadly, and some require intervention that includes tearing down structures completely. For some people with acute mold allergies, the symptoms can be even worse, and harder to treat.
Most people know about the dangers of mold, but there are many others that can be equally, if not more dangerous, especially when it comes to keeping skin healthy and clean.
1. Cleaning Products
Many parents, mothers and fathers both, would prefer to use clean, non-chemical bearing solutions when scrubbing floors or wiping down counters, and there’s good reason for that, too. Not only do these natural, green products keep harmful chemicals out of the environment, they also carry less risk of harming a member of the family.
Whether that be through accidental ingestion, or even just an allergic reaction after contact, it’s no wonder so many households are throwing out their traditional cleaners for those humans have been using for centuries.
Some of these earth-friendly products include baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and so on — many of which are ingredients most people are comfortable ingesting in foods, meaning they’re safe for cleaning as well. There’s a reason a number of these same ingredients are used in hand lotions and hand sanitizers: they’re safe and even nurturing to the skin.
2. Makeup
The last thing we should do is demonize makeup, which for many people is a source of enjoyment as a totally legitimate hobby — but what we should demonize are the makeup techniques that do nothing more than cause breakouts, dry skin, and irritation.
While not all cheap makeup is bad, and not all expensive makeup is great, it’s important to base purchases off of ingredients, rather than price or name brand alone. Especially for women who have sensitive skin, or mothers with children of the same who may be a little too curious for their own good, it’s easier to keep some products off the vanity altogether than risk damaging skin further.
Particularly when it comes to creams and foundations that promise coverage and moisture all at once, it’s important to take that claim with a grain of salt — and to know how applying the makeup might actually be the real culprit behind breakouts and uneven skin, as well as possible infections.
To be more specific, According to Makeup.com, “While you shouldn’t stress so much about the foundation on your face, you should be concerned about the foundation on your brushes. If not cleaned regularly and thoroughly, brushes can carry bacteria and foundation residue that can in fact clog your skin.”
3. Sheets and Pillowcases
Similar to how unwashed foundation brushes can leave you skin prone to unwanted bacteria, sleeping on unwashed bedding can pose the same risk for everyone in the family. Particularly if someone has been recently ill, eating in bed, cuddling with the dog, and so on, bacteria along with mites and bed bugs love to nestle their way down between the threads of the fabric.
Especially if you’re like me and love to sleep on your stomach, you should maybe reconsider because evidence indicates this is bad for you in several ways. From a skin perspective, you’re going to be more prone to acne breakouts and facial wrinkles, due to the pressure placed on parts of your face against the pillow and contact with fabric that might be dirty with normal dandruff and sweat that comes with long summer nights.
Along with fighting for the health of your face, choosing a laundry detergent that’s friendly to everyone in the family can be a challenge in itself, since some skin might be more sensitive to those with fragrances, softening additives, and other extras. If you find yourself spending money on special lotions that soothe sensitive, irritated skin like Zimm’s Crack Cream, it might be your laundry detergent to blame.
Simple Solutions
All in all, there’s one grand scale solution to solving a number of these pervasive issues: utilizing natural, earth-friendly products — because if they’re friendly for the earth, chances are they’re friendly for you and your family as well.
By not only buying organic products to keep your house clean, but also serving organic and healthy foods to your family at dinnertime, there’s a lifetime of issues that can be easily avoided. Not only will they avoid issues like regular skin irritation, but they’ll also have a better immune system to fight off any infections that may later stem from it.
Along with keeping track of what chemicals are being used in and around the family, ensuring surfaces and fabrics are clean will help to reduce symptoms and irritation right alongside with keeping everyone happy and healthy. So, the next time before you make a run to the grocery store, read up on healthier ways to keep your house spick and span that doesn’t include the hazardous chemicals you find lining the shelves.
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