Is it safe to use nano materials in cosmetics ( nanocosmetics) ?
There is a widespread use of nanotechnology in the cosmetic industries such in nail, hair, lip, and skin care. For example hair care product includes shampoos, conditioning agents, and hair coloring. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles for example are the most effective minerals being used in sunscreen products which protect the skin . Inhalation, dermal and ingestion routes are the possible routes by which humans can get exposure to the nanoparticles .
Dear Prof. Madhukar
Thank you for your comments. I agree about the lack of information about Toxicity. Up to date No information provided about ZnO nanoparticles Acute dermal toxicity and Acute inhalation toxicity.
Dear Abdolazim
Greetings
Thank you for your reply.
Heavy metals in wastewaters are one of the most serious worldwide environmental problems. They do not degrade biologically in the environment and can accumulate in living tissues particularly in human bodies causing significant physiological disorders.
Toxicity at Nano-scale is still under exploration and it would be better to avoid products that may have penetrations to the body parts.
Dear Riza
Thank you for your reply.
Nano products are now a fact. Many products such as sun screen , toothpaste , shampoo, cosmetics , nail colors, anti aging and drugs contain nano particles. How can we avoid these products . Nanomaterials have been increasingly used in pharmaceutical industries for the formulation of cosmetics.
We should avoid toxic heavy metals.
Maybe harmful.
Nanoemulsions are nanoscaled droplets of a liquid uniformly dispersed in another liquid. These droplets provide a large contacting area with skin and can act as the carrier for cosmetic active ingredients. These products are considered safe for the formulation of cosmetic products.
Dear Abdul Hei
Thank you for your comments.
There are huge controversies regarding the toxicity and safety of the nano-materials. Details researches on the safety of the nanomaterials are required. In cosmeceuticals products, the big weaknesses are, the clinical trials are not required by the manufacturers for the approval of the cosmetics .
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The nanoparticles contained in their formulation can pass through the skin and penetrate to the point of becoming harmful. However research is on-going to ensure that the nanoparticles don’t penetrate the skin in harmful ways, and that manufacturers use the safest possible types of nanoparticles.
In terms of regulation, in the EC, starting from 2014, sunscreens containing nanoparticles must indicate so in their list of ingredients.
Source: http://nanopinion.archiv.zsi.at/en/about-nano/cosmetics.html
Prof Ahmed Moosa, Studies have indicated that low solubility nanoparticles tend to be more toxic than larger particles of the same material. However, we know very little about the potential effects on human health and the environment due to research gaps related to nanoscale materials.
Exposure to nanomaterials may happen through the skin or inhalation. The skin may be permeable to nanomaterials of different shapes and properties. Short-term inhalation may lead to exposures that are retained in the lung and other organs after six months.
There is evidence that following nasal inhalation some nanoparticles may reach the brain.Iridium nanoparticles circulating in blood can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Dear Dr. Mustafa Ismael
Thank you for your comment. Yes , we need more research in this field .
Cosmetic industry is one of the biggest industry of world. Nanomaterials can be used after proper testing.
It is safe to use nano materials in cosmetics externally with better performance due to small size of the particles.Less information is available on the toxic effects.
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