Lyle Hurd: We’re back with Dr. Flora Stay who is a formulator of both oral and personal care products. I have a stumper or a question for you. I hope that you could answer.
The other day my wife was cleaning out the medicine cabinet or actually the cabinet where we keep all of our hair products and our skin products and bath products. And had a whole box of things that going to throw out. And I said, “Well, you can’t throw those out.” And she said, “But some of them are two years old.”
Now, how long can we expect or how much should we turn over or even if there’s something left in a bottle or a jar? The products that we buy that we know are verifications when we stat out with them?
Dr. Flora Stay: That’s a good question to. There are many factors that have to be taken into consideration. One is where the product stored was. If it’s stored somewhere where it’s hot like in a bathroom where you have the shower on and you take baths were the temperature does tend to go up and down then you really pay a close attention to the expiration date on the product.
The preservative that used makes a big difference. If it’s a preservative that’s very adequate for preventing mold and other contaminants from affecting the product, again you can use it longer.
So keeping it in a direct heat, sunlight, that type of thing can affect the shelf life and also the preservative or lack of preservative can make a difference.
If it’s a milder preservative or no preservative, then the product really should be used in a refrigerator, placed in a refrigerator and really, it would only last for about a week or so.
So if a product says, “It’s totally natural.” But it doesn’t say, “Keep in the refrigerator and throw out after a week.” Then I really question if that’s really an all natural product.
Products that you actually touch with your hand are going to be more likely to be affected with mold and bacteria versus one that you’re not touching and you just squeezing out of a container or you’re using something to get the product out. So that also is a factor.
Lyle Hurd: So it really boils down to something we’ve talked about a number of times and that is you really need to be a student of everything that has to do with your health. Whether it’s ingested, whether it’s put on your skin and I appreciate you giving us that information.
Dr. Flora Stay: Well of course and that’s why iHealthtube is so important because it’s about education.
Lyle Hurd: I agree with you heartily. Thank you again.
Dr. Flora Stay: Sure. Thank you.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services