Have you unwittingly put yourself at higher cancer risk in the name of beauty? Depending on the products you employ.
“Endocrine disrupting substances found in beauty products raise concerns (EDCs). According to Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., MD Anderson professor and director of the Integrative Medicine Program, these chemicals may disrupt your hormonal system.
“Cohen notes that although a clear connection between EDCs and cancer has not yet been established, some malignancies are hormonally motivated. They consist of endometrial, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers.
Other cosmetics and personal care items include trace amounts of recognized carcinogens. “According to Cohen, even a small amount should raise red flags, especially if you take the product frequently.
But hold off on canceling your beauty appointment. There are yet no definite connections to cancer. Cohen suggests that you learn more and adopt the appropriate safety measures instead.
Nearly 5,000 chemicals, some of which have been linked to cancer, are present in hair colour products. The possible connection between cancer and researchers has been studied for decades.
Researchers discovered compounds in hair color that gave animals cancer in the middle to late 1970s. Manufacturers of hair dyes removed some of these compounds, but scientists are unsure if the substances still present are carcinogenic.
In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, there is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between using hair dye and developing cancer.
Using hair dye might increase your risk of developing cancer, but this is unknown. The 13th Report on Carcinogens from the National Toxicology Program will tell you if your preferred hair coloring has compounds that cause cancer.
Formaldehyde, a substance known to cause cancer, is present in some hair smoothing or straightening products like the Brazilian Blowout.
Be careful if you work in a beauty salon because formaldehyde exposure at work may increase your risk of developing cancer. Additionally, stylists are more at risk because the risk is greatest when the substance is being applied.
However, your risk of developing cancer is low if you use formaldehyde-containing hair straightening products.”
But according to Cohen, it’s important to be cautious and reduce exposure to recognized carcinogens. “Constant exposure may have unknown and undetermined long-term health repercussions.
Do you actually know what ingredients are in your body care and bath products? You could be harmed by what you don’t know.
In 28 percent of all personal care products, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) discovered the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane. The same chemical was discovered by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) in more than 40% of items “Natural,” abeled Shampoos, soaps, and body-firming and anti-aging creams fall under this category. Be aware that product labels do not list 1,4-dioxane. It may be present in some chemicals, such as:
- ethylene glycol, poly
- chemicals having the oxynol and eth ends
The majority of product manufacturers have eliminated recognized carcinogens from baby care items, however adults may still be at danger. Remember that there is currently no proof that personal care products cause cancer.
You should be concerned about more than simply carcinogens, though.
According to Cohen, the majority of personal care products contain EDCs such phthalates and parabens. Additionally, anything that comes into contact with your skin is absorbed into your circulatory system and may have an impact on your hormones and immune system.
Endocrine disruptors have been linked to altered neurodevelopment, aberrant growth patterns, altered male and female reproductive function, and even a higher risk of breast cancer.
Additionally, perfumes are typically used to mask the smell of harmful substances in personal care products. Additionally, a lot of them contain neurotoxins, allergies, and EDCs.
UV nail lamps are used by nail salon dryers to hasten the drying of lacquer. Furthermore, such lights are unsettling.
According to Deborah F. MacFarlane, M.D., a professor of dermatology at MD Anderson, “It appears that exposure to UV nail lamps is a risk factor for getting skin cancer. Two women who had both used UV nail lights reportedly developed skin cancer on their hands, according to MacFarlane in a JAMA Dermatology paper.
Another recent study claims that the amount of UV light exposure varies from salon to salon and that it would take at least eight visits to a salon for damage to develop. Skin cancer risk is still minimal even then.
According to MacFarlane, “More research is required to confirm a connection between UV nail lamps and skin cancer. For the time being, she advises against using UV nail dryers, especially if you frequently go to salons.
So, until additional information is available, do your research (use the EWG’s cosmetic database), read product labels carefully for ingredients and warnings, and make an effort to steer clear of anything that has proven carcinogens.
A good rule of thumb is to proceed cautiously and seek further information if you are unsure of the identity of a component and are unable to pronounce it, according to Cohen.
Call 877-632-6789 to make an appointment at the Lyda Hill Cancer Prevention Center at MD Anderson.
In This Article...
What cosmetics are the most hazardous?
“According to Norden, some of the most harmful and hazardous products used by women every day are deodorant, body wash, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. “These may include substances like parabens, triclosan, sulfates, scent, and aluminum, to mention a few.
Of course, it’s still up in the air whether or not many of the substances listed above are harmful to us even in small amounts. But if you were to replace just three of your existing beauty products with natural alternatives, Norden would advise doing so initially out of caution rather than regret:
1. Body spray
“According to Norden, conventional deodorant frequently contains a number of harmful substances, such as aluminum, perfume, pthalates, triclosan, and propylene glycol. ” In addition to charcoal and oils chosen for their anti-bacterial and odor-control properties, there are currently several efficient clean deodorants on the market. The most well-liked natural deodorants from Clean Beauty Market are
What components in cosmetics are carcinogenic?
Some products, like keratin hair straighteners, purposefully include formaldehyde. In order to stop bacterial growth, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) are frequently used in personal care items such nail polish, eye shadow, mascara, nail treatment, shampoo, and blush. In order to serve as a preservative, FRPs are made to emit formaldehyde gradually and continuously over time.
Formaldehyde is categorized as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and California’s Proposition 65 (Prop 65). Concerns about irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system due to formaldehyde exposure are also expressed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Japanese cosmetics regulations forbid the use of formaldehyde, while the European Commission limits the amount of formaldehyde in cosmetics to no more than 5% of the final product.
Moisturizers: might they cause cancer?
Dr. Darrell Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, said: “I was sitting in a room full of dermatologists at a dermatology conference in North Carolina when I heard about this study, and not one of us could come up with a logical reason why a skin moisturizer would increase your risk for skin cancer.”
According to Dr. Steven Feldman, a professor of dermatology, pathology, and public health sciences at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, “Moisturizers don’t have any risk of skin cancer in other models.” “Moisturizers’ ingredients are put to the test. There is no proof that this is an issue in people.”
However, other experts point out that baby oil, a substance that is frequently used as a replacement for tanning oil, can be used to boost the skin’s ability to absorb sunlight. They suggested that possibly some skin moisturizers possess comparable light-absorbing qualities.
According to Dr. Alice Pentland, professor and department head of dermatology at the University of Rochester, moisturizers increase skin’s ability to absorb UV rays. “Skin changes can occur from absorbed light but not from reflected light. So the results aren’t really shocking.”
However, in this study, moisturizer was only used after exposure to UV rays. Numerous experts also pointed out that the study’s other confounding elements make it difficult for them to accept the results seriously.
What component of lotion is carcinogenic?
The preservatives, known as parabens, are extensively used in everything from body lotions and sunscreen to shampoos and cosmetics. However, because the compounds mimic estrogens, which have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive issues, health worries about the chemicals have grown.
According to lead researcher Dale Leitman, a gynecologist, molecular biologist, and adjunct associate professor of nutritional sciences and toxicology at UC Berkeley, “Although parabens are known to mimic the growth effects of estrogens on breast cancer cells, some consider their effect too weak to cause harm. “However, if parabens are mixed with other substances that control cell proliferation, this may not be the case.
According to him, parabens are only examined singly in current chemical safety tests that gauge how chemicals affect human cells. They neglect to consider how parabens can interact with other signaling molecules in cells to raise the risk of breast cancer.
Leitman and his colleagues examined breast cancer cells that expressed estrogen receptors and HER2 to better resemble what occurs in real life. HER2, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, is highly expressed in about 25% of breast tumors. In comparison to other forms of breast cancer, HER2-positive tumors frequently develop and spread more quickly.
Heregulin, a growth factor naturally produced by breast cells, was used by the researchers to activate the HER2 receptors in breast cancer cells while also subjecting them to parabens. The estrogen receptors were activated by parabens through activating genes that led to cell proliferation, and the effect was substantial. At concentrations 100 times lower than in cells devoid of heregulin, parabens in the HER2-activated cells were able to promote the proliferation of breast cancer cells.
The study shows that parabens may be more effective at lower concentrations than previous research has suggested, which may prompt researchers and regulators to reconsider the effects of parabens on the growth of breast cancer, particularly in breast cells that are positive for HER2 and estrogen receptors.
The results also raise concerns about the effectiveness of current safety testing procedures, which may not accurately reflect the true potency of parabens and their impacts on human health.
While this study concentrated on parabens, co-author Chris Vulpe, a toxicologist now at the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, noted that it’s also possible that the potency of other estrogen mimics has been underestimated by current testing methods.
The Silent Spring Institute’s Leitman, Vulpe, and colleagues published their research online on October 27 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. This study was supported in part by the California Breast Cancer Research Program.
- Cross-Talk between Parabens and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Ligands in Breast Cancer Cells (Environmental Health Perspectives)
Which cosmetics brands are hazardous?
- Carolina Tilbury
- Too Faced’s Born This Way
- A Clinique (by Estee Lauder)
- Cosmetics by IT (by Lancome)
- By CoverGirl (by Cody)
- Roberta Brown Estee Lauder
- Diva Fenty (by Rhianna)
- By Mills, Florence
- Argon oil by Josie Marin
- M.A.C (by Estee Lauder)
- Magnus Factor (by Cody)
- Cosmetics by Milani Amore
- New Chapter (by Johnson & Johnson)
- The Melaleuca (by the Wellness Company)
- A NuSkin (NOT affiliated with Nu Skin)
- its beginnings (by Estee Lauder)
- Minerals by Signature
- Tarte’s Sugar Rush
- Break Box (by Estee Lauder)
- L’Oreal’s Urban Decay
What cosmetics are safe to use?
The time has arrived to switch to makeup companies and their non-toxic, organic products.
In this article, I’ll expose you to the top 15 non-toxic cosmetics brands available now, in 2021, with the awareness that what you put on your body and face affects your health.
The use of terms like “clean,” “organic,” or “natural” by cosmetics manufacturers continues to cause a lot of confusion.
We’ve selected over 100 non-toxic makeup brands and our personal favorites for this article in order to keep things straightforward for your mind and your wallet.
The top 15 makeup brands were then chosen from the 100 non-toxic makeup products based on their superior quality and reasonable price.
Here are the top 15 non-toxic cosmetics companies that will make your skin glow with health and beauty, without further ado.
Could Cerave lead to cancer?
They have been identified in breast tissue, but no evidence linking them to breast cancer has been provided. Parabens have not yet been directly connected to any diseases, despite the Food and Drug Administration’s claim that it is still investigating them.
Can using skincare make you sick?
There are many different products used in cosmetics. Some of these, such those that irritate the skin or eyes or trigger allergic reactions, can lead to health issues in some people. If use of the product is discontinued, symptoms of this nature typically disappear quickly.
It is unclear if cosmetics or specific components in them contribute to more subtle or long-term health issues. Since many components and products have not undergone extensive testing, uncertainty exists. Even when cosmetic components have been put to the test, the results may not always be straightforward or definitive. For instance, it has been discovered that some cosmetic components are harmful when used in significant quantities (or at high concentrations). However, the concentrations of these compounds in cosmetics are often far lower than those that in research had negative effects. Additionally, the use of the substance in a cosmetic may differ from the way it was used in the experiments. There is frequently minimal information about the components that are administered to the skin during actual product use and how much of those compounds are absorbed into the body. Due to these factors, the chemical could not have the same negative effects when used in a cosmetic product.
There is little evidence to suggest that using cosmetics or being exposed to their ingredients during regular use of these products increases the risk of developing cancer because human studies of the long-term effects of the majority of cosmetics (with the possible exception of hair dyes) do not exist. Little is yet known regarding the health implications of prolonged exposure to numerous cosmetic compounds because there are no long-term studies in this area. As a result, we are unable to guarantee that these items won’t result in health issues for some consumers.
Can wearing lipstick cause cancer?
That doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything in your makeup bag, though. A few compounds are being investigated for potential ties to breast cancer even though cosmetic items contain a variety of ingredients:
- Parabens. An example of a preservative used to extend the shelf life of lipstick and other cosmetics is parabens “Breast surgeon Renee Armour, M.D., claims that parabens can interfere with hormone function by acting like estrogen. “After menopause, increased estrogen has been shown to encourage the development of tumors and breast cancer.
- Phthalates. To keep color in cosmetic items, this hormone-disrupting component is used. Phthalates can alter the ratio of hormones that interact with estrogen, despite the fact that they do not imitate estrogen.
According to breast imaging specialist Harriet Borofsky, M.D., “some women choose to restrict their exposure to these chemicals and look for products that are paraben- and phthalate-free, including mineral cosmetics.
