Toxic Lube

Parabens: Parabens are synthetic preservatives that can be absorbed through your skin. They can mimic estrogen in your body, and may be linked to increased risk of breast cancer.

Petroleum or petroleum-derived ingredients: Whenever possible, refrain from using products with petroleum-based ingredients, including multipurpose lubricants like Vaseline petroleum jelly, on your genitals. They may contain impurities linked to cancer and other health conditions; they can also coat your skin, impeding its normal functions and not allowing it to “breathe.”

Silicone oils: Silicone oils may have toxic side effects, and as with petroleum-based products, they may coat your skin, affecting its normal functions and permeability. Silicone can have many names on product labels, including dimethicone, highly polymerized methyl polysilozane, methyl polysiloxane, mirasil DM 20, and viscasil 5M.

Phenoxyethanol: At high concentrations, phenoxyethanol can be harmful if absorbed through your skin, cause reproductive damage, and according to the FDA, depress the central nervous system in newborns. The breakdown of phenoxyethanol in your body releases phenol, which can adversely affect your immune system.

Glycerin and glucose: As sugars, glycerin and glucose may feed candida, a yeast that’s normally present in small amounts in the healthy vagina, but which can proliferate and cause vaginal yeast infections in women who are prone to them. It can also cause an imbalance in skin pH levels.

Propylene glycol: Propylene glycol may cause burning or tissue irritation in some people. It is used as an antifreeze. Astroglide, a common over-the-counter lubricant, contains this ingredient.

Chlorhexidine: A synthetic compound used as a mild antiseptic and an ingredient in some multipurpose lubricants, such as K-Y jelly, chlorhexidine can be irritating to some people and can kill the good bacteria of the skin.