What's Lurking in
Your Lubricant?
by Thomas "T-bone" McGowian

During a massage session a couple of years ago, I grabbed a bottle of lubricant to begin an effleurage stroke. Then several ingredients on the label caught my eye: propylene glycol, dimethicone, stearic acid, cyclomethicone, triethanolamine, sorbitan stearate, polysorbate 60—to name a few. Pausing for a moment, my mind flashed back to biochemistry class and some of the molecular structures of these chemicals and their ability to be toxic in certain environments.

But wait—as massage therapists we deal with muscles. We are soft-tissue specialists. The skin is simply a barrier between our hands and the targeted goal. Right?

Unfortunately, we often approach massaging the body from this standpoint when choosing the types of lubricants used to massage our clients. But are we doing harm? Do we really care enough do a little research to supply our clients with better options?

The first point we should understand is that what we place on the skin has potential to be absorbed into the body. The skin plays a role in thermoregulation, invasion protection, synthesis of vitamin D, and excretion and elimination of metabolic waste produced by the body. Despite the skin's almost waterproof nature, lipid (fat) soluble or solvent materials penetrate it. For example, vitamin A, also known as alpha-tocopherol, is fat-soluble and is easily absorbed. But so are some toxic ingredients, such as acetone (found in some nail-polish removers), or carbon tetrachloride (found in dry-cleaning fluid).

Many of the oils and creams we use are fat-soluble and encourage the transport of possible toxic chemicals or preservatives that may be added to stabilize and increase a product’s shelf life. We call these “coma” products, such as the bottle of lotion that’s been sitting on your shelf for the past five years without spoiling. While not as long lasting, many natural, organic lotions and creams made with aloe, plant oils, beeswax and other natural ingredients can last up to a year, and bit longer with refrigeration.

Here are a few ingredients to avoid in your massage lubricants:

• Dimethicone. It supplies the cream with a rich, smooth texture, but dimethicone is cited as poisonous when ingested. For this reason many lotions and creams carry the warning, “Keep Away From Children.”

• Propylene glycol. This chemical is used as a humectant, helping retain water and moisture. Would you be surprised to know that it is used in industrial lubricants, antifreeze and plasticizers? Propylene glycol is a difficult substance to escape because it’s used in numerous cosmetic and skin products.

• Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben). These are synthetic preservatives used to reduce mold, bacteria and fungi. They are absorbed through the skin and can be allergenic. It’s wise to test a small area first for allergic reaction.

• MEA (monoethanolamine), DEA (diethanolamine) and TEA (triethanolamine). These substances are amino alcohols. The Environmental Working Group reports TEA may form carcinogenic compounds, called nitrosamines, on the skin or in the body after absorption. Once again, these are prevalent in many cosmetic products. Many of these chemicals have been banned from use in the European Union due to studies associating them with liver disorders.

What is a massage therapist to do? Follow a few guidelines and do your best. The next time you're getting ready to purchase a lubricant:

1. Ask yourself, are the ingredients naturally edible? I know this sounds silly, but some synthetic and artificial chemicals in lubricants that we put on our skin are not allowed in our foods because they are considered toxic. If you can't eat it, don't feed it to your clients' skin. If this is not totally feasible, try step two.

2. Identify the number of harmful chemicals in the product. This is not a complete solution, but if you can find products that have fewer chemical stabilizers, that’s better than one with dozens. Do a little research.

3. Find out what artificial substances are lipid or fat-soluble. These products readily cross the skin barrier into the body. Therefore, water-soluble products will present more of an absorption challenge.

4. Don’t let inconvenience be an excuse. As a society we have decided that inconvenience is worse than caring for our health. We would rather purchase a product that will last longer on the shelf than be inconvenienced with special storage requirements of a natural product. Choose a product that needs refrigeration over one that can sit on a shelf for three years.

5. Learn how to make your own products. If you have the time this is great, because you know exactly what goes into the product. Our clients love that I make lotions from organic herbs grown on my farm. They notice the wonderful change in their skin because I am feeding it in the process of the massage.

Finally, remember my motto: “People do not always care what you know, but they always want to know that you care.”

Thomas "T-bone" McGowian is a licensed massage therapist and herbalist, and the owner of Sweet Pea Botanicals in Kenmore, Washington.