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Shampoo. Shaving cream. Deodorant. Makeup. Hair dye. Perfume and cologne. These and dozens of other products may be in your shower, gym bag, or medicine cabinet. But do you know what’s in them? Could any of their ingredients be risky for your health? Personal care products, including cosmetics, are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But they’re not treated like drugs. They…, What’s in That Bottle?, Most ingredients in personal care products are in a category known as “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, explains Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer, a computational toxicologist at NIH. But certain chemicals that may cause health problems can be found in many of these products. How much you’re exposed to is often what makes a chemical harmful. The amount that’s “safe” varies for each. “The general…, Which Chemicals Are Risky?, Most personal care products are mixtures of many different chemicals. This can make it hard to link specific products to health problems. But researchers have found some worrying trends. “We’ve seen [a link] between frequent hair straightener use and cancer risk,” says White. So far, this has included breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Her team has also found a link between the use of permanent…, Buyer Be Aware, Trying to keep potentially risky chemicals out of your daily life can help you and your family stay healthier. But there are times that you may want to be even more cautious. People can be more vulnerable to chemical exposures during certain times in their lives. One of these is pregnancy, says White. “It’s a time when the breast tissue is going through rapid changes and might be more susceptible…

You may have heard that breast milk is best. But what makes it so good for babies? Breast milk fills your baby’s health needs. Researchers are now learning more about what’s in it and how it changes as babies grow. “Breastfeeding is the gold standard for feeding infants,” says Dr. Dan Raiten, an NIH expert on childhood nutrition. Human milk provides nutrients and other compounds that babies need…

Bacteria that can’t be killed with antibiotics are a growing problem around the world. These cause serious infections in hospitals and other health care settings. Scientists have been looking for new ways to kill drug-resistant bacteria. One idea has been to use bacteriophages, also called phages. Phages are viruses that infect bacteria but are harmless to people. In a new study, researchers…

Kratom is a tree in the coffee family. It’s found in Thailand and neighboring countries. For centuries, people in Southeast Asia have used its leaves for both increased energy and relaxation. More recently, people around the world are using it to treat pain or manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. But kratom’s safety and effectiveness haven’t been well studied. In the U.S., kratom products are sold…

Your eyes are your windows to the world. If something clouds them, you may have trouble seeing well enough to read, drive, or do other daily activities. One common cause of cloudy vision is cataracts. These form in the lens of your eye. Cataracts are a normal part of aging. They occur when proteins in the lens break down over time and clump together. The risk of getting cataracts rises as you get…

If you’re infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, you shed virus down the drain each time you wash your hands or use the toilet. This happens even if you don’t have symptoms. Scientists have been tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater for early clues about infections in cities and towns. Wastewater tracking has some advantages over clinical tests. It’s much less expensive.…

You may have heard that an outbreak of monkeypox is spreading across the country. The virus got its name because it was first discovered in monkeys in 1958. But it likely came from other animals. Since then, the virus has also infected people. Until recently, most monkeypox infections were in Africa. But due to international travel, the illness has reached several parts of the world. Monkeypox…

For some people, a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail is an occasional treat. Others struggle to stop at just one or even many drinks. Some may drink alcohol in moderation, but still feel like they’re not in control of their drinking. How do you know if alcohol has become a problem for you? Some people should avoid alcohol completely. These include pregnant women and people who take certain…, Rethinking Your Drinking, Alcohol use disorder is when you can’t stop or control your alcohol use despite damage to your work, health, or personal life. This doesn’t look the same for everyone. It’s a complex disorder and can be mild, moderate, or severe. “Alcohol use disorder is not caused by a single thing,” says Dr. Robert Messing, who studies alcohol and the brain at the University of Texas. “Different people can have…, Changing Your Brain, You may not succeed the first time you try to quit or cut back on drinking. Relapse is common in alcohol use disorder. “If you have a slip every once in a while, we still consider you to be in at least the early stages of recovery,” Koob says. It can take many tries to regain control of your alcohol use. That’s because alcohol can actually change your brain. Researchers are trying to better…

Some babies have a yellowish tint to their skin or the whites of their eyes right after birth. This is called jaundice. It can happen to adults, too. For adults, it can be a sign of a serious health condition. Your liver helps rid your body of natural waste products and other harmful substances. If something interferes with this process, toxic compounds can build up in your body. Jaundice happens…

Experts suggest that children ages 6 to 12 get at least nine hours of sleep each day. But many don’t get that much. A new NIH-funded study shows that getting enough sleep may be especially important for preteen brains. Researchers identified more than 4,000 children, ages 9 or 10, who got at least nine hours of sleep per day, according to their parents. This group was compared to a similar number…