WE spend a lot of time thinking and talking about what we put into our bodies, but not nearly as much on what we put on them.

Indeed, the skin is the largest organ of the human body. The skin is visible. Its health can be seen. After all, we have long known that we could actually "feed" the skin by applying substances directly on it.

As it is an external organ unlike the liver, you can interact with it directly. You can also detect problems and remedy them easily. The most obvious is adding oil to dry skin. The skin perks up and feels as well as looks less dry immediately. However, this does not change the nature of the skin and neither does the oil "travel" across the skin.

However, there are many advances in transdermal delivery and many drug companies use this method to deliver drugs beyond the skin into the blood.

Among the most stunning examples are hormone (male and female), a drug of angina pain and nicotine used to beat the smoking habit.
For cosmetics, there are advances in lipsome delivery technology and nanotechnology that make the skin application a real advance in skin health and care.

But there are a lot of potential hazards hiding in lotions, cremes, and cosmetics that we use on a daily basis. Five of the most common ingredients in these products and their risks are:

> Parabens: You'll see this ingredient listed after prefixes like "butyl", "ethyl", and "methyl" on many skin, body and hair products. Parabens has been linked to hormonal imbalances because they interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine gland.

> Sodium lauryl sulfate: This chemical is present in almost every soap and shampoo and is responsible for the foaming action of the products. It can cause skin damage and rashes or other sensitivities.

> Fragrances and dyes: Their actions are self-explanatory, but the aromas and colours they impart may come at a cost. They are a primary culprit in allergic reactions and may also have harmful effects on the immune system. Indeed, some of these fragrances affect your nasal passage and lungs -- not just on the skin.

> Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone: Aside from just being nearly impossible to pronounce, these chemicals also have negative effects on the immune system and can trigger allergic reactions. You want to avoid them in formulas for your kids. Also avoid them in night creams and sun block lotions.

> Triclosan and triclocarban: These chemicals are used for their antibacterial effects, but they have also been associated with thyroid problems.

So what do you do? It is becoming almost impossible to avoid creams and lotions in modern day living. Here are a few things you can look out for when choosing these lotions:

a) Products are certified organic -- There are several independent certifying bodies in many different nations. These include Australian certified Organic (A.C.O) and U.S.D.A Organic (United States Department of Agriculture).

b) Products contains 100 per cent natural ingredients -- This is a necessary parameter because some products may contain all natural ingredients without actually being certified organic.

c) Does not contain synthetic chemicals -- This important parameter establishes whether the product contains any chemicals. These substances are not derived from natural sources.

d) No pesticides involved -- This determines whether pesticides were used in the production of plant source ingredients. A product being certified organic is the only reliable way to rule out the use of pesticides.

e) No genetically modified organisms (GMO) found -- This parameter determines whether any plant sources have been corrupted with GMO. A product being certified organic is the only reliable way to rule out the use of GMO.

This should at least give you some peace of mind when choosing and using cosmetics. Be beautiful. Making the skin look good does not mean hurting the body.

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Datuk Dr Rajen M. is a pharmacist with a doctorate in holistic medicine. Email him at health@po.jaring.my