A review by the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep website takes issue with several well known over the counter hair loss products. The EWG is an environmental lobbying group made up of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers that examines legal documents, scientific studies and their own laboratory tests to expose threats to public health and the environment and to find solutions.
The EWG examined the ingredients of 17 products in respect to the ingredient’s known potential to cause harm to people. It grouped the products into two groups of products ‘You May Want to Avoid’ and ‘Better Choices’.
Some of the more well known products that were included on their avoidance list include Nioxin Bionutrient Actives Treatment & Scalp Therapy, for Normal Hair, NuHair Thinning Serum and Osmotics Follicle Nutrient Serum.
Well known products on the better choices list include Xenna 183 Topical Solution, NuHair Hair Regrowth Tablets, and Upjohn’s Regular and Extra Strength Rogaine™ as well as other non-brand name Minoxidil 2% and 5% solutions.
The ingredients of most concern included Progesterone, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Tocopherol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Butylparaben, Ceteareth-20, Triethanolamine, Lecithin, Oleth-10, PEG-40 Stearate, Acetamide MEA, Ethylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Lauramine Oxide, Disodium EDTA and Benzyl Alcohol.
Ingredients were examined for their ability to cause cancer, contain harmful impurities, penetration enhancement (which can increase exposure to carcinogens) and allergies. It was also noted whether ingredients had been studied thoroughly for safety as well as whether they might cause other potential negative effects.
