Many times exist when dangerous molds can gather in your house. These fungi can produce sickness, and occasionally, even death. Molds have a tendency to thrive in stagnant water. They also love humid and isolated places. If you have had a flood lately, or maybe had a dishwasher or water heater quit, it is possible that mold is growing in your home that you don’t even know about. If you do discover mold, it is to your advantage to check into mold removal, and the sooner, the better.

Some types of mold removal can be accomplished without a professionals help, but this is only suitable for small quantities of mold. Because it is hazardous to breathe in mold spores, be sure you thoroughly research the subject before you attempt to remove it on your own. If you choose to do it yourself, gather information on how to remove it safely. You should always don protective gear such as a breathing mask and gloves when trying to remove mold.

It is possible to avoid allowing mold to build up in your home by employing a few defensive steps. If you previously had any standing water in your house, get a mold removal specialist to check it out, regardless of whether you have noticed any mold. Utilize dehumidifiers in order to prevent the air from becoming too moist, and look for gradual water leaks. A gradual dripping coming from a pipe onto floorboards located behind your bathroom wall can produce a mold breeding ground.

If you discover any mold spanning an area larger than one square foot, your best bet is to call a professional mold removal specialist. Often, the mold you can see is just the beginning. Mold is able to thrive in locations that you would never think to check, such as your heating duct system. It can also spread behind your walls, and you might not ever truly realize the extent of the growth. For this reason, professional removal is the wisest course of action regarding mold removal. Professional mold removal specialists are very knowledgeable in the realm of toxicblackmoldhelp.org/species/black_Mold_Species.html removing mold, and are also privy to all of the sneaky places mold hides. These specialists are able to seek out and destroy mold you may not have been aware of.

It is important that you have someone inspect a house for mold before you purchase it. These inspectors can locate any existing mold, and help you decide how to go forward. If mold is discovered, they can tell you whether mold removal can be done, or if you should save your money. If toxic mold expands throughout a home without any preventative measures for an extended period of time, even the most talented mold removal specialists will be unable to rescue the house, and turn it into a livable space once more.

You can also find more information at toxicblackmoldhelp.org/symptoms/health_Problems_Caused_Mold_House.html health problems caused by mold and toxicblackmoldhelp.org/symptoms/mold_Effects.html toxic black mold effects. ToxicBlackMoldHelp.org is a comprehensive resource to help individuals to test and inspect, identify health symptoms and removal of toxic black mold.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is widely used as a detergent in all types of foaming personal care products from liquid soap and shampoo to toothpaste.

As a detergent, SLS is used in cosmetic agents to break the surface tension of the skin which allows dirt and oil to wash away. All detergents act to dissolve the fats and oils from the skin but also strip it from the top layers of the skin. This can lead to thinning and permeability of the skin. The skin is a barrier to the outside world and by washing away the natural oils produced by the skin SLS reduces the effectiveness of this natural barrier.

The most common reaction seen to SLS containing products is a dry, flaky scalp. What many people think is dandruff can actually be a reaction to the stripping effects of SLS. Those at greatest risk of this effect are babies, those with any skin irritation such as in eczema, dermatitis, acne and psoriasis, those with thinning of the skin such as the elderly or those with dry skin. However, long term use will also affect those with “normal” skin.

A search of PubMed (an internationally recognised database of scientific papers) supported these claims. Numerous trials showed that SLS can cause skin irritation, particularly in those with atopic eczema or dermatitis, as well as increase transdermal water loss. Essentially this means that when applied topically SLS will irritate and dry out the skin.

Other research suggests that SLS can mimic the hormone oestrogen. Too much of this hormone in the body (or substances that mimic its effects) can have a disruptive effect on the reproductive system.
There are a range of less harsh detergent agents such as Ammonium Laurel Sulphate that are promoted as SLS alternatives, but they may also be harmful for those at risk and still have a drying effect.

So what are the alternatives? One alternative is olive oil based liquid Castile soap. It can be safely used with babies, those with skin conditions, the elderly and those with sensitive or dry skin. Third Stone Botanical Lavender Shampoo is a liquid Castile based product. It is ideal for dry and damaged hair.

Coconut based cleansers are also seen as safer alternatives. Nature’s Symphony shampoo and conditioner are based on coconut based cleansers. Good products for all hair types, feedback from users of these products say the health of their hair and scalp improves with ongoing use.

Given the potential harmful effects of SLS, both known and suspected, it is one synthetic chemical that is best avoided particularly as there are good alternatives available.

For more information about natural & organic skin care products contact Ananda Mahony ND at vitalenatural.com.au vitalenatural.com.au or at mailto:info@vitalenatural.com.au info@vitalenatural.com.au

As a naturopath Ananda has been involved in the natural skin care industry for many years. She specialises in the treatment of skin disorders such as acne, eczema, rosacea and dermatitis as well as anti-aging.

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