Side effects of Camphor in skin products
Camphor is an active ingredient in many medications and skin products,
while also being a well established folk remedy. It has a characteristic
pleasant smell and is commonly used to treat problems associated with breathing
and sinus as well as those related to poor blood circulation and pain in the
joints. Camphor is also used as a rubefacient when applied on the skin and it causes
a cooling effect. When applied to skin, it acts by stimulating the nerve
endings for relieving the pain and itching, while the irritation that it can
cause on the skin can also block the pain by a counter-irritation at the
nervous system level. Camphor has local anesthetic effects as well. Topical use
of camphor can even treat respiratory tract and heart disease symptoms and is also
used for treatment of fungal infections of toenail and warts.
Side effects of Camphor in
skin products
Exposure to camphor, whether by absorption through
skin or by oral consumption, can however have serious health implications such
as respiratory problems, chest pain, skin irritation and rashes and even be
fatal in certain situations. But it is generally safe when absorbed through the
application of creams and lotions on the skin or when inhaled, as it is present
here in small amounts. Undiluted or concentrated camphor products should however
be strictly avoided as it can cause toxicity and irritation. Also, camphor
containing products should never be heated or micro-waved, as this is likely to
cause an explosion and lead to severe burns.
Camphor toxicity
Camphor can easily penetrate
through the skin, the placental barrier and the mucous membrane, and this may
lead to a serious condition of hepatotoxicity. Laboratory tests also indicate
that a generalized damage of the body tissue can occur due to camphor exposure
and toxicity.
Side-effects on children
Further, even small doses of
camphor exposure in children can have serious health implications and can also
cause death in small, malnourished infants.
Even though the relatively lower
concentration of camphor in cold medications such as Vicks Vaporub is not toxic
enough and a very large exposure is needed to cause any health problems. The
implication of using such medication on children is still debatable though, and
even if these are not recommended for infants below 2 years, most parents are
totally unaware of the possible issues with camphor toxicity and nevertheless
use it on children as a cold remedy.
Application on broken skin
Particular care should be taken
to not apply camphor (or any product having significant of camphor
concentration) to broken skin, as this will accelerate the process of body
absorption and therefore much easily cause camphor toxicity related health
problems.
Side-effects on Pregnancy
Health effects of camphor application on the skin of
pregnant women or at the time of breast-feeding are not known, although oral
consumption can definitely be unsafe for both the mother and the baby. It is
therefore recommended that camphor containing products in any form should be
avoided during this period.
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