Even if you are using deodorant on "those places," your body stinks all over say some ads. If you stink all over, you are probably contaminating your sofa, chairs and whole house with "odor transfer" say other ads. If you launder your clothes, they likely still "stink" say more manipulative and unethical ads.

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If you are online or on TV and radio you can't miss it: personal care corporations inventing new hygiene problems to sell their products.

Even if you are using deodorant on "those places," your body stinks all over say some ads. If you stink all over, you are probably contaminating your sofa, chairs and whole house with "odor transfer" say other ads. If you launder your clothes, they likely still "stink" say more manipulative and unethical ads.

If your child is exhibiting allergies, it might be from your laundry detergent say ads--ironically from detergent makers trying to sell "free and gentle" versions of their detergents that cause allergies. And don't forget manic ads for the "softness" and "freshness" from dryer sheets--"It's the Sheets!"-- which are actually linked to toxic chemicals and even carcinogens according to some health reporters.

Certainly Madison Avenue knows that inventing personal and hygiene problems sells--who remembers "Ring Around the Collar" and "Visible Panty Line" for example?--but why "soap wars" now? Aren't the ubiquitous "ask your doctor" ads--exhorting people to inject themselves with cancer-linked "biologics" for what used to be minor conditions--doing their job?

The market for such "large molecule," injected drugs--also called biologics--is $300 billion say pharma websites. Not just because they cost more to the consumer than "small molecule" treatments (aka pills) but because they are cheaper to make--most derive from GMO hamster ovaries--and less vulnerable to generic competition.

Ask-your-doctor and "you stink" ads are more harmful than just turning people into hypochondriacs and body ashamed consumers though they certainly do that. As long as most ad revenue comes from drug maker and personal care product industries, consumers will never hear about health concerns from either one. The ads act as de facto censorship devices. Yet the health risks abound.

For example, here are some of the warnings found in prescribing information for Humira, the granddaddy of biologics which allowed AbbVie's lucrative split from Abbott in 2011:

"Serious infections have happened in people taking HUMIRA. These serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before starting HUMIRA, and check you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA, even if your TB test was negative. If your doctor feels you are at risk, you may be treated with medicine for TB.

Cancer. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults using TNF blockers. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers including HUMIRA, your chance of getting two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated; tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesn't heal."

When it comes to personal care products, "most commercial dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners are composed of noxious chemicals combined with a hefty dose of synthetic fragrance chemicals," according to Ecology Works. "Since these harsh chemicals permeate the clothing, they gradually enter the body through the skin and lungs. Alarmingly, many of these chemicals can directly affect the nervous system and endocrine system, and can contribute to respiratory irritation, asthma, and chronic illnesses,"

Ads that tell you that you stink (or need a life-threatening drug for a minor condition) are not just annoying and shameless capitalism/consumerism--though they are. They are harmful for your health.

(Article changed on Jul 23, 2024 at 11:45 AM EDT)

Authors Bio:

Martha Rosenberg is an award-winning investigative public health reporter who covers the food, drug and gun industries. Her first book, Born With A Junk Food Deficiency: How Flaks, Quacks and Hacks Pimp The Public Health, is distributed by Random House. Rosenberg has appeared on CSPAN and NPR and lectured at medical schools and at the Mid-Manhattan Public Library.