Is borax safe for use on the skin?

All those ‘safe’ cosmetic products you find on shelves have some borax in it. Yes, borax is not only used for laundry cleaning, but is also used in soaps and cosmetics. So now you wonder if borax is safe for your skin. Read on for the answer.

Borax is mixed with wax to improve cosmetic lotion and cream’s consistency. As it works as an emulsifier when combined with water, it is used in hand soaps as an abrasive cleaner. Moreover, its alkaline nature makes it a great cleaning ingredient.

This is why cosmetic manufacturers mix borax with other elements to form an exfoliating and cleansing cream which helps eliminate bacteria and dead skin cells, prevents acne formation and reduces oil. It is all these properties of borax which makes it a common component in cold creams and exfoliant.

It is safe to use low concentrations of borax on the skin. However most product labels advice thorough rinsing of the hands or face after the use as the increased borax levels can lead to significant skin irritation.

How safe is borax?

• The Food and Drug Administration advisory panel states that compounds containing borax should not be extensively used as it can be toxic, and cause skin irritation and allergies in many.

• EPA has warned against toxic effects of borax affecting men by causing serious problems to the testicles leading to lower sperm count and tubule atrophy. This is why borax is banned in the US; but it is still allowed in many other nations.

• Borax is illegally used as a preservative for packaged foods like meatballs, noodles, steamed rice and caviar.

• Chronic borax exposure can lead to serious skin problems like peeling and reddening of the skin, kidney failure and even seizures.

• There is an increased risk of birth defects and even male infertility if cosmetics containing borax are used during pregnancy.

• While most studies suggest short-term exposure to borax does not lead to cancer, chronic borax exposure for more than 10 years through cosmetics and food products can lead to liver cancer.

• Abnormal fetal development, even skeletal and brain anomalies is attributed to excessive borax exposure.

So if you are using a borax product, make sure it’s out of reach of children, and make it a point to rinse all surfaces and clothes where the mineral was used. It’s better if pregnant women avoided exposure to borax, or at least limited its use.

In a nutshell, using borax in small amounts and with precaution is safe for the skin; however its excessive use is not at all advised.