The Truth About: MINERAL OIL

Hola Chicas/Chicos..I pray all is well with everyone.

Ok, so if we have ever used a hair or skin product, we can all say that we are familiar with the ingredient Mineral Oil. We've heard the pros, the cons and the who cares about it. We've heard that it's okay, that it's bad...but did we truly understand why?? Can we say that we truly understand what exactly mineral oil is??
Well, hang tight and let's find out the truth about mineral oil.

So..What Exactly Is Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is a byproduct of the distillation of crude oil to produce gasoline and other products made from petroleum. Also known as white petroleum, mineral oil has been widely used in skin-care products and in heavy machinery applications. Scented, mineral oil is popularly known as baby oil. It's also used to swab and clean ears safely and is recommended to trap insects that might enter the ear canal. Mineral oil is available in three grades and is refined according to its use. It is even used in heavy equipment to prevent parts from sticking together. There are three categories of mineral oil: aromatic hydrocarbons, paraffinic oils and naphthenic oils based on cycloalkanes.Because mineral oil is made in large quantities and is readily available, it is generally cheap and can be purchased at drug stores.

So..What Exactly Does Mineral Oil Look Like

Mineral oil is clear, with no visible color and no obvious scent.

So..How Is Mineral Oil Used

It is heavy and viscous and is prized for coating objects. Today mineral oil is still used to moisturize the skin, but it can cause breakouts and is not considered necessarily good for sensitive skin. Mineral oil is a paraffinic oil that has been taken internally as a laxative. This is especially true for children as they are becoming toilet trained. Adults can also use this remedy. It's an effective laxative because it prevents the stool from absorbing too much water.

So...Is Mineral Oil Bad For Hair??

Well, honestly, it's a double edged sword..
The Pros: On one hand, mineral oil is a great lubricant and therefore makes a wonderful detangler. It has fantastic smoothing and emollient properties. It decreases wet combing force, therefore slowing the damage of breakage. It coats the hair, therefore preventing moisture from escaping the hair. It doesn't allow water to penetrate the hair follicle, therefore reducing frizz. It minimizes the damage caused by chemical treatments such as relaxers and texturizers, which is why it is included in many of these products. And it does help with curl formation and clumping in hair.

The Cons: Mineral oil abhors water..the number one moisturizer. On one hand, it prevents water from escaping the hair, but on the other, it doesn't allow any moisture to penetrate the hair, making the hair dry and most times brittle. Dirt and lent are easily attracted to the molecules in mineral oil, hence why you may see a gritty appearance on the hair when products containing mineral oil are used, so the hair can look a bit un-kept.

It does clog the pores, so people who use products containing mineral oil may experience a breakout. Because it clogs the pores and suffocates the skin, which is a breathing organ, products containing mineral oil may not be the best choice.There is a clear link between using too much mineral oil, or using it during pregnancy, and pneumonia. It is strongly suggested that women who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant should avoid mineral oil altogether. Water only hair washing and conditioner only washing will not work when using mineral oil.

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Have a happy healthy day!!

This information is not intended to replace any medical conditions or to be used for medicinal reasons.
some info found at www.ehow.com/mineraloil