Book by Bob Root, Keys Technologist

Chemical-Free Skin Health!

Bob announced the beginning of a book focused on skin health over two years ago at the Natural Products Expo West. His book will be published in early October and Bob will officially launch the book at the 2010 California Women’s Conference. Maria Shriver chose Keys Luminos for last years Women’s Conference for the speakers gift bag. This year, she chose Keys Solar Rx for the speakers gift bag and has asked both Wendy Steele and Bob to speak to the 30,000 women attending. Maria and her team encouraged Bob to finish the book in time for the conference. The book, titled “Chemical-Free Skin Health” with a subtitle of “Stop • Challenge • Choose” will be published by Orion’s M42 publishing company and will be sold on the show floor by Vroman’s bookstore. Bob will be at the show signing the books.

Keys will be exhibiting in the newly created section called the “ECO Island” which features green sustainable products. For those attending, Bob and Wendy will be in the Keys booth along with Kathleen Beaton, Hollywood makeup artist and writer of the Foreword for Bob’s book. Kerry Malouf, motion picture makeup artist and beauty editor for Malibu Magazine will also be in the Keys booth in the ECO Island.

Bob and Wendy will open the ECO Island with a speech on the Mind, Body Soul stage for the conference at the Night at the Village on October 25th. Bob and Wendy will also lead what Maria calls “Kitchen Table” session within the ECO Island. These will be 25 minute Q&A sessions where each will offer information and answer questions.

Bob’s book is an insiders guide to safer cosmetics and skin care. His experience as a formulator of the Keys product lines and not being a trained chemist has given him insights into the why’s of the industry. The book is written to help people that are trying to get more natural in their lives to understand how to make better choices when selecting cosmetics and personal care products. It is a book full of positive intention, but may scare you to find out what chemicals are in your cosmetics and personal care products.

Bob will be also doing a Sprint 4G simulcast from the booth as well as contributing to Maria’s Twitter updates.

Some big surprises coming from the California Women’s Conference, so stay tuned. We will be writing an article on the ECO Island and what it means in the next few weeks. In the interim, check out the conference at http://www.womensconference.org/

Triclosan: The Biocide that Creates Super Bugs?

By Bob Root, Keys Technologist

Bob Root, Keys Technologist

Chemical Warfare Chapter 12:  Biocides:  Indiscriminate killers that create super bugs?

For almost two years, I have been working on a book draft titled, “Chemical Warfare.”  It is a book focused on simplifying information about personal care and household products uses and concerns for public safety.  As I studied, I realized how much hearsay there was in the industry.  Taking a scientific approach, I turned to the research community for insights and facts…as best as they are.  Part of my dedication was and is to release information that is important in real-time.  Books, after all, are merely a snapshot in time and pale in comparison to real-time information gateways like our blog.

FACT vs FUD is a chapter in this book as well as an article on this blog.  In this overly inflammatory news based society of ours, my resistance is to publish anything that is not based in research.

Definition: Biocide – A biocide is a chemical substance capable of killing living organisms, usually in a selective way. Biocides are commonly used in medicine, agriculture, forestry, and in industry where they prevent the fouling of water and oil pipelines.

A Bit of History:

One of the inspirations for this book and this article was an experience I had while in a store outside of Dayton Ohio.  Not too far from the headquarters of Protor & Gamble (Cincinnati) I was delivering a speech about the Dirty Dozen at an annual event the store promotes.  Probably 200 in attendance, I went through the Dirty Dozen chemicals created by the Marin County Cancer Project.  At the end, I provided some chemicals of concern, so I went back through my “most feared” list.  In the book, I describe that some of the Dirty Dozen are much more damaging than other, but tend to be used in only discrete segments and in only some products.  Some ingredients like parabens are much more widely used often in multiple doses during the manufacturing process elevating their concentrations in products to well beyond the called for percentages by the chemical maker.  During my speech, I invited questions as we went along and there were plenty.

At the end, I voiced my concern that Triclosan was perhaps my greatest fear because it is so powerful a biocide.  As a bit of background, Triclosan is the main ingredient in hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps.  A biocide, by design, kill gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as most all bacteria.  My concern all along has been two very important concerns.

1. If it  indiscriminately kill all bacteria, then what does it do to the flora-probiotic on our skin?
2. Will the destruction of all bacteria on the skin create super-bugs that morph and become resistant to both the biocide and antibiotics?

As I always do, I try to connect with the eyes of people in my audience.  It is my way of trying to figure out if I am connecting with them.  In my corporate life, I received training on how to read an audience as well.  As I call it, Squirming Around is a big flag that I have touched a nerve.  You better believe that I experienced this at every shareholder meeting.  So, this day, I was thrust back to my corporate life by a gentleman that had asked no questions, been very polite and had friendly eyes.  When I lumped Triclosan in with parabens as my major concern, his hand shot skyward as to immediately interrupt me.  I obliged by stopping to acknowledge his question.

He asked, “Why would you add the main ingredient in hand sanitizers with that of preservatives used in almost every product made from personal care, to toothpaste, to food?”

First things first, I knew immediately that this person was from the industry because the question was one I would have expected in a meeting inside a research and development process.  Not being ever deterred by confrontation, I answered both technically and emotionally.  Here is my initial response.

“I am more concerned with Triclosan than a Methyl Paraben for four primary reasons.

1. Triclosan has been used in hospital and scientific environments for many years because it is the most effect biocide.
2. The concentration of Triclosan in a function specific product like antibacterial soaps is much higher and therefore of greater concern to me because it does a much more wide reaching job of killing all bacteria on the skin including the good bugs!
3. The destruction from Triclosan is so powerful and long lived compare to parabens that I have more than a subtle concern that what bacteria arrive back on the scene will be the worst kind like staph, eColi etc.
4. I also worry that these strains of bacteria will grow back with a vengeance and become resistant to both Triclosan and known antibiotics.

The man stood straight up as if to confront me.  I could also tell that I had just scared the hell out of the rest of the audience.  Before I could temper my comments with the Fact that this was my personal concern and that I had not gathered all the facts, he spoke.

He said, “I am a scientist that works down the road.  First, I am a parent and father.  I do not care that we have the best health insurance; I worry about what we expose our kids to.  We have had an outbreak of staph in the middle schools in this area and what you are saying is that because we require our kids to wash with antibacterial soap containing Triclosan that we are exposing them to the potential of transmitted staph infections like the ones we are experiencing now?”

My only answer had to be from the heart and not my corporate training to dodge the question.  I said, Yes!”

He shook his head and sat down.  Honestly, you could have heard a mouse burp in that room!  I tried to interject some humor and my time was up.  The people filed out of the room as the other speaker got set up.  The man approached as did the sponsors from the store.

She thanked me for the informative talk and quickly said, can you send me something about this.  She offered that she was a cancer survivor and had a more than passing concern.

The man also echoed by adding that he was privileged to be able to read many documents about uses of chemicals.  He said that what he always noticed is that most have warnings of irritation when used in high percentages and that antibacterial soap using Triclosan actually exceeded the minimum percentages.  I asked if he could provide me with percentage data and he said, “no! I am not allowed to do that!”  I got the message.  I walked back to my team that was exhibiting at the health fare and told them of the experience.  I shared, that I only wish I had a study to hand to everyone that at least echoed my fears.

Over the last two years, I have shared the story with colleagues.  This morning in July of 2010, I received an email with a copy of the attached Opinion from the EU Scientific Directorate!  Being a geek, I read all 56 pages and decided to sit down to finish this chapter of the book.

Remember this is an opinion and I would encourage you to read the entire document.  There must be additional testing.  We do know that bacteria exposed to destructive agents does morph into “super bugs” in many cases.  This opinion echoes much of that concern.  In one sense, I am pleased that this concern of mine and others has now taken another step up in the process of science.

My opinion!  For what it is worth, science generally follows an orderly path.  The Mandelbrot theory says that, if that what we see occurs in a large scale, it will occur in a small scale.  If we can kill bacteria…good and bad… with a large dose of a chemical, then small doses delivered more frequently and repeatedly will have the same effect.  The other scientific principle that comes to mind here is Occam’s Razor which is the principle that “entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity” or that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.  So, to me it makes sense from a logical perspective that using a chemical like Triclosan everyday in large does will have a long term adverse effect on the flora of the skin.  Only the test of time and scientific studies will bring the concern to even higher levels.

What I can share is that I personally avoid anything on or in my body designed to kill something like germs, bacteria and microbes.  Like all of us, I have had to take antibiotics and we know from the warnings that sustained use can make them ineffective.  Following Occam’s Razor, I also believe that is true of these chemicals under various names that are designed to make my life more pure…Purity at the sake of what?

So, my mother may not have been right that eating dirt was all that bad for me J

Below is the executive summary from the study.  Attached is the pdf of the entire OPINION!

EU Triclosan Opinion: Verbatim

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Triclosan is a biocide used in many product categories, including cosmetics. The information on environmental concentrations of triclosan in the EU is limited and bioavailability of the triclosan to bacteria in the environment is not known.

Although the present mandate concerns the evaluation of a possible association between the use of triclosan in cosmetic products and the development of resistance by certain micro-organisms, the SCCS has taken into account all evidence available from all uses of triclosan to perform its assessment.

Triclosan is the most studied biocide with respect to bacterial resistance. Such a level of information, notably on its activity against bacteria, theidentification of mechanisms of microbial resistance including genomic and proteomic aspects, is commendable and should be extended to other biocides.

Low concentrations of triclosan can trigger the expression of resistance and cross-resistance mechanisms in bacteria in vitro. In view of the concentrations of triclosan reported to trigger resistance in vitro, some of the environmental concentrations found in a number of geographical distinct areas are high enough to suggest that bacterial resistance could be triggered. It is however difficult to predict whether microbial resistance would be triggered in these environments. The few in situ studies performed to date did not show any bacterial resistance emerging following triclosan exposure. In addition, the presence of other chemicals (e.g. antibiotics, surfactants, other biocides, etc.) in the environment, which may also affect microbial populations, would preclude assessing the effects of triclosan independently.

The emergence of resistance induced/selected by triclosan is related to the genetic control on the resistance gene(s) present on chromosomal and genetic mobile elements. This represents the origin for a hazard about selection and dissemination of cross-resistance with other anti-bacterial molecules including biocides and antibiotics.

Triclosan, like any other biocide, contributes to the selection of less susceptible bacteria in a complex microcosm in vitro. The impact of such a selection is unclear, as is the fitness of the “selected” bacterial species following triclosan exposure. The few in situ studies investigating long-term triclosan exposure (i.e. at least 6 months) did not indicate changes in the resistance susceptibility in the predominant bacteria selected for monitoring, but the changes in the entire flora were not evaluated. Thus additional in situ information is needed to provide a definitive opinion.

There are, so far, no epidemiological data linking outbreaks of antimicrobial resistant human and zoonotic pathogens to exposure to triclosan.

A number of scientific and technical data gaps about the occurrence and understanding of the resistance profile of triclosan have been identified and should be addressed. In particular, where biocides, including triclosan are used intensely, monitoring for emerging resistance in the microbial flora should be conducted. A more detailed research strategy for investigating the antimicrobial resistance effect of biocides is presented in a separate opinion from the SCENIHR (2010).

There is an apparent discrepancy between in situ information that suggests the absence of induction of bacterial resistance and cross-resistance triggered by triclosan, and in vitro studies describing the mechanistic and genetic aspect of triclosan-resistance in bacteria. A better translation of in vitro findings to in situ situations is needed, making full use of molecular tools and environmental conditions used in laboratory investigations. Standardized protocols and similar parameters should be applied to both in vitro and in situ investigations.

Although triclosan resistance was not observed in situ, this is not sufficient to conclude that there is no risk. Information is still lacking to provide a risk assessment on the use of triclosan in cosmetic products, including the genetic aspects of resistance, changes in environmental microcosm, maintenance and transfer of virulence and resistance determinants in situ.

Due to the limited number of in situ studies of resistance induced by triclosan to date, SCCS can only recommend the prudent use of triclosan, for example in applications where a health benefit can be demonstrated. However, conclusions from in vitro studies cannot be ignored, notably the role of triclosan (and other biocides) in triggering resistance and in the dissemination (horizontal or vertical transfer of) resistance determinants. Research focused on triggering mechanisms of resistance, maintenance of the gene pool and the transfer of resistance and virulence determinants, and improving the translational application of laboratory results to situations in situ are needed. Hence,the SCCS appreciates that research investment from the industry will be maintained to contribute to a better understanding of the potential risks associated with triclosan applications.

Complete Report:  EU Opinion: Triclosan Superbugs

Amended 7/19/2010

Just a few hours after publishing, a number of friends commented on the article adding some noteworthy points.  Below are some additions submitted by a few of my scientific buds:  Bob

• Triclosan:  The Biocide that keeps on giving!

• Most of the free world including the US require that Triclosan be listed somewhere on the label if it is used in a product.  But how about if it is used in product packaging or molded into materials.  Unregulated therefore no requirement for listing.  Herein is the fallacy of confusing consequence with sequence.

• Have you ever wondered why cheese seems to last longer than it used to?  Have you wondered how companies can claim that if you buy their storage products that food will last longer?  Have you wondered how a manufacture could claim that their running socks are antibacterial?

• We know that Triclosan is used in sanitizers and tooth paste as well as antibacterial soaps.  Did you ever wonder what chemical they use in making utensils, cooking equipment, cutting boards and even sport clothing to make them antibacterial.  You guessed it, Triclosan.  The white powdery substance can be molded into products to make virtually antibacterial.  Many food packages are molded with Triclosan to make them antibacterial to preserve the food longer.

• If there was any reason to buy organic and local at the farmers market, this is a dammed good one for me. Even if you are only half right.

• So, like Phthalates, Triclosan is not just in personal care.  They found phthalates in childrens toys and car dashboards.  Triclosan is in much more than antibacterial soap.  So here is a partial list of products that use Triclosan that I could find after a 10 minute Google search.

• • Sanitizers
  • Antibacterial soap (really a detergent)
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste
  • Shaving Cream
  • Mouthwash
  • Skin Care
  • Makeup
  • Acne Products
  • Antimicrobial Creams
  • Cleaning Supplies
  • Kitchen Utensils
  • Food Storage
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Trash Bags
  • Toys
  • Bedding
  • Socks
  • Sports Clothing
  • Child Car Seats

• Someone asked me if I could link a direct connection to MRSA (Methicillin Resistent Staphylococcus Aureus) and Triclosan.  I said, “honestly, I do not know!”  Do I believe that it is connected, Yes!  So you can imagine my surprise when I read an article in a medical journal prescribe sits baths for MRSA suffers in a solution of 2% Tricolsan!

• Reports have suggested that triclosan can combine with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform gas which the U.S. EPA classifies as a probable human carcinogen. As a result, triclosan was the target of a UK cancer alert, even though the study showed that the amount of chloroform generated was less than amounts often present in chlorinated drinking waters.

• Triclosan reacts with the free chlorine in tap water to also produce lesser amounts of other compounds, like 2,4-dichlorophenol.  Most of these intermediates convert into dioxins upon exposure to sun light (UVA)  Small amounts of dioxins are produced and there is more than subtle concern over this effect because dioxins are extremely toxic and endocrine disruptors. They are also chemically very stable, so that they are eliminated from the body very slowly, so they can bioaccumulate.  Therefore they persist in the environment for a very long time.

• Triclosan is chemically somewhat similar to the dioxin class of compounds. Triclosan production leads to small amounts of residual polychlorinated dioxins, and polychlorinated furans which are contained in small amounts, in the products that are using it.

• A 2006 triclosan study concluded that low doses of triclosan act as an endocrine disruptor in the North American bullfrog. The hypothesis proposed is that triclosan blocks the metabolism of thyroid hormone, because it chemically mimics thyroid hormone, and binds to the hormone receptor sites, blocking them, so that normal hormones cannot be utilized.

• Triclosan is used in many common household products including Clearasil Daily Face Wash, Dentyl mouthwash, the Colgate Total range, Pepsodent, Softsoap, Dial, Right Guard deodorant, Sensodyne Total Care, Old Spice and Mentadent.

Keys Backgrounder…About Us!

Keys Green Natural Anti-Aging Skin Therapies…Ancient Remedies & Modern Technology

Natural Beauty, Natural Hair Care, Natural Skin therapies, Natural Pet Care

“We believe that over 50% of all skin disorders in people and pets are misdiagnosed and are actually caused by chemicals in everyday products and the environment!

We offer you this backgrounder as insight into our reason for being, purpose and direction.  We are not just another natural products company.  In fact, we consider ourselves a natural medicine and therapy products company that uses natural ingredient.  I believe our Purpose and Direction statement says it all!”

Wendy Steele, Keys CEO

Keys Purpose and Direction

Keys Care designs, develops and manufactures natural healing therapies for people and pets.   The quality and quantity of our ingredients are what differentiate us.  As we say it, Pharmaceutical grade whole ingredients in therapeutic proportions.  We use ancient remedies, natural medicines, whole natural ingredients, aromatherapy and aboriginal homeopathy combined with modern technology to provide safe and effective products for people and pets with skin disorders, sensitive skin, post cancer recovery or those wanting to avoid chemicals in their lives.  Our resellers are an extension of our core team and are experts and trusted advisors in their communities.

At our baseline, we believe that all of our products must solve problems and make people feel good.  We also believe that natural and organic are not features, they are the choice we make assuring purity of purpose.

How It Began

Wendy Steele & Bob Root

Wendy Steele and Bob Root are the founders and inventors of Keys Soap.  They are both ex-corporate executives: Bob was a CEO of a Silicon Valley High Tech company and Wendy a VP at Coca-Cola.

The soap and skin care connection?  Skin Cancer!

Wendy Steele, Keys Founder, was diagnosed with Melanoma and beat the deadly disease.  She could not beat the terrible reactions she had from prescription and expensive skincare products.  Told she had eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea and dermatitis her condition deteriorated.  Doctors kept prescribing more junk, steroids and cortisones.

Read the rest of this entry »

Both?

Bob Root, Keys Technologist

As a part of my ongoing series of looking at the Dirty Dozen Chemicals shown to provide elevated cancer rates in people and animals, in this article, I outline why we do not use parabens leaving the judgmental diagnosis to the NGO’s attacking them.  The Dirty Dozen Chemicals are a list of 12 developed originally by the Marin County Cancer Project which at the time, had the highest Cancer Rates in the US.  Followed by Search For The Cause and Teens Turning Green the list is now designated the Dirty Thirty.

So, are parabens good guys or bad guys?  Both it seems and there is a why we do not use them as well.

Below is a scavenged description of parabens from Wikipedia.    On the surface and from a chemical perspective they do their job.  Many chemists and companies support their use based on a belief of safety.  I believe that they are looking at the wrong reasons for safety.

Our society seems to primarily look at safety as, “will what we put on our skin hurt us directly?”  I believe that we should be looking at whether it hurts us based on contact and will it cause something else to hurt us because of it.

So first let’s try to understand what they are and why some manufacturers use them.  Here is that Wikipedia description

Paraben 2D Skeletal

effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.

Their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, their long history of safe use and the inefficacy of natural alternatives like grapefruit seed extract(GSE), probably explains why parabens are so commonplace. They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, and some organizations which adhere to the precautionary principle object to their everyday use. Read the rest of this entry »

Ingredients, Skin Deep Report  and Everything Else…

Musing from an interview with Bob Root, Keys Care CTO

Bob Root, Keys Chief Technologist Near Los Alamos National Labs

I recently took up Storm Chasing as a hobby… Just kidding although I feel like one of those guys chasing Tornado’s in the Midwest when it comes to the natural products industry.

I was recently on a conference call with various members of the Natural Products Manufacturers Association enraged about a change that the EWG had made in the rating of Vegetable Emulsifying Wax from a 1 to a 4.  The tone was angry because as Compact Signers, we were not given a why, who, what or a heads-up at all to the change.  As of the time of the call, no one knew why the ranking was changed, who provoked it or the reason for the change.  Normally, I would not address this here on our blog, but there has been so much uproar at the consumer level that our customer service, sales and marketing teams asked for some clarity.  The title of this article maybe should have been Williams Shakespeare’s,  ”Much Ado About Nothing!”

First, the process of developing products and the Skin Deep rating system could be a 400 page book.  I neither have the time or inspiration to write a book like that, so I will try to generalize some things and bring some of this into perspective.

The Skin Deep database is one of, if not, the best things that has ever happened for consumer safety regarding cosmetics.  Like anything, it must be broad and focused on its purpose.  Skin Deep is a database to help consumers understand the safety of products that they are using on themselves and their families.  It is not a database for manufacturers to use as a marketing tool.  Although it might seem that way to some, it is a tool for consumers as well as a tool for manufacturers to use in developing safer products.

Natural and organic are not features or benefits of products.  Some of us believe that it should be the basis of all that we make and consume. It should be the norm and not the niche exception that it is. Read the rest of this entry »

Click Here To View Keys Labels

We have always published our product labels on our website.  Admittedly they have been a little hard to find and took some work.  As a part of the evolution of our website and our dedication to simpler more informed content, we have created a page on our blog dedicated to our products from an informational standpoint.  The page on the main menu bars above and to the right show a new category called “Keys Products.”  As we add information, it will appear in this category and as a brief article like this one.

So, now all of our label art in flat pattern is available to be viewed by clicking this link or the label image herein.  You can also go to the category page and click the link there to see these labels.

You will also notice that we are beginning to add recycle symbols to our labels.  Many of our containers are made in the EU and do not have mold recycle marks.  These packages are fully recyclable.  We are adding the symbol to all of our labels as an assurance.  As we add the symbol, we will update the label art page above to reflect the changes.