Are all chemicals bad or toxic? Of course not. There’s no need to panic and toss out everything in your bathroom, but there are some that needs extra attention! One of those chemicals are Hormone / Endocrine Distrupting chemicals (HDC or EDCs) that can affect our health adversely and can contribute to autoimmune diseases, reproductive disorders, obesity, weight gain, or diabetes. Read here for detailed information.
The detailed State of the science of endocrine disrupting chemicals – 2012 report from World Health Organization (WHO) states that “EDCs are present in personal care products, and their uptake through skin has been recently recognized as a significant route of human exposure.” (1).
This was the bad side of hormone disrupting chemicals. The good side is the effect is reversible!
A scientific study published in 2016 Environmental Health Perspectives by researchers from UC Berkeley and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas demonstrates even a short break from certain kinds of makeup, shampoos and lotions can lead to a significant drop in levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the body. You can read the full paper here (2).
The team focused on four Hormone Disrupting chemicals that are used in shampoos, lotions and cosmetics.
These four chemicals were:
- Parabens: A preservative used in makeup, personal care and skin care products. This chemical can mimic natural female sex hormone estrogen and bind to its receptor in the body.
- Phthalates: It’s found in nail polish, fragrance and perfumes. Companies don’t have to reveal fragrance ingredients in detail, yet majority of these ingredients can contain phthalates, a known hormone disruptor.
- Triclosan: An antibacterial and antifungal agent. It can be found in body washes, toothpastes, soft and bar antibacterial soaps, cosmetics, shaving products, deodorants and dry shampoos.
- Benzophenone-3: UV filter used in a sunscreen products.
In this study, 100 teenager girls in the Salinas area were asked to swap personal care products and cosmetics with new products that did not include the four chemicals (pthalates, parabens, triclosan and oxybenzone) in their ingredient list. Researchers took urine samples before and after the three-day test.
Reduced Exposure to Hormone Disruptors
The analysis of the urine samples showed a significant drop in the levels of these chemicals in the body after switching to products without these hormone disrupting chemicals. The phthalate (MEP) level decreased by 27%, methyl and propyl parabens dropped 44 and 45% respectively. Triclosan level was decreased by 35% and benzophenone-3 levels in the urine were decreased by 36% compared to the levels obtained when the girls were using personal care products with these chemicals.
Even switching to products without these hormone disrupting chemicals for 3 days made a significant difference! Overall, the girls showed a 25 to 45% drop in the levels of these four chemicals. This scientific study shows us that you really could reduce your exposure to these chemicals through one easy step: swapping your products with healthier alternatives.
So let’s make another important point here not all Phthalates are bad! The phthalate that shows estrogenic activity among those mentioned is mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) in this study. It’s important to note that while MEP (and its parent compound DEP) shows weak estrogenic activity, the other phthalates mentioned in the query (mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP)) are not specifically identified as estrogenic.
Following this study, new studies came out and we are refreshing this text with those scientific findings.
A recent study from 2024 published in Environmental Health Perspectives investigates the association between personal care product (PCP) use during puberty (ages 10-13) and breast cancer risk among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. This research project looking at how the beauty and hygiene products teenage girls use might affect their future health. Scientists wanted to understand if the lotions, makeup, nail polish, and other products used during puberty could potentially increase breast cancer risk.
What They Did
- They tracked over 45,000 women from different racial backgrounds
- Asked them about the products they used between ages 10-13
- Followed their health for years to see who developed breast cancer
What They Found
The good news? There wasn’t a clear, definitive link between teenage product use and breast cancer. But they did notice some interesting patterns:
- Black women who frequently used nail products or perfume showed a slightly higher (but not statistically significant) breast cancer risk
- Some hair and makeup products seemed to have a tiny potential association with cancer risk, but nothing conclusive
Why This Matters
This study is like an early warning system. It’s not saying these products definitely cause cancer, but it’s suggesting we should:
- Pay more attention to what’s in our personal care products
- Be curious about how chemicals might affect developing bodies
- Do more research to understand potential long-term health impacts
The Bottom Line of This Scientific Study
Don’t panic about your teen’s makeup bag. This study is just one piece of a much larger puzzle in understanding health and environmental influences.
Here are the raw scientific facts from this study summarized below:
## Key Points
Here are the raw scientific facts from this study summarized below:
- Study Population: 4,049 Black, 2,104 Latina, and 39,312 White women were included in the analysis[3]. The research was conducted using data from the Sister Study, a large prospective cohort study.
- Exposure Assessment: Participants reported their use of 37 everyday PCPs during ages 10-13, including beauty, hair, and skincare/hygiene products[3].
- Measured: Incident breast cancer (invasive or ductal carcinoma in situ) was the primary outcome[3].
- Analytical Approach was performed with:
- Race and ethnicity-specific latent class analyses to identify patterns of personal care product (PCP) use
- Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate associations between PCP use classes and breast cancer incidence
- Main Findings of this Study:
- Classes of adolescent PCP use were not clearly associated with breast cancer diagnosis among Black, Latina, or White women[3].
- Single-Product Analyses:
- Higher breast cancer incidence was associated with frequent use of lipstick, nail products, pomade, perfume, makeup remover, and acne/blemish products in at least one racial/ethnic group[3].
Implications
The study provides some support for the hypothesis that PCP use during puberty may be associated with breast cancer risk. However, the authors emphasize that more research is needed to confirm these novel findings[3].
The authors acknowledge that while their findings are not conclusive, they highlight the need for further investigation into the potential long-term health effects of PCP use during adolescence.
Another study published in 2023 Chemosphere [4] scientists were trying to understand how everyday personal care products might affect your body’s health. In this study, they wanted to see what happens when people stop using products with certain chemicals for just one month.
What They Did
- Recruited healthy volunteers (Women, who regularly used personal care products (PCPs), with no personal cancer diagnosis , and a regular menstrual cycle (28 d cycle ± 3 d) were recruited.) [4]
- Asked them to stop using personal care products with specific chemicals (parabens and phthalates)
- Took small samples of urine, blood, breast tissue before and after the 28-day break to measure the changes
- Looked at how the cells changed at a genetic level
I wanted to share the raw scientific results because there has been lots of fear mongering going on in the social media.
SO LET’S TALK ABOUT REAL SCIENTIFIC FACTS
This study investigated the effects of reducing exposure to xenoestrogens (XEs) found in personal care products (PCPs) on breast tissue health. Here’s a summary of the key findings:
Gene Expression Changes?
After participants switched to paraben- and phthalate-free PCPs, 26 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in breast tissue samples[4]. Yes there has been changes and read the next section after this very carefully!
These changes included:
- Downregulated genes (18 genes):
- Notable examples: B2M, CDKN2B, DKK1, HHEX, IRS1, PIK3CA, PLAU, TLR4
- These genes showed 30-90% lower expression ratios in the REDUXE (reduced exposure) group compared to the Control group
- Upregulated genes (8 genes):
- Notable examples: COL4A5, DDIT4, MCM7, MSH2, NRAS, SMAD4
- These genes showed 26-334% increased expression ratios in the REDUXE group
Summary of these changes
- 73% (19 out of 26) of the identified cancer-associated genes (scroll down now to read the importance of this term!) showed transcriptional shifts towards a more “normal” profile
- This suggests that reducing exposure to xenoestrogens (chemicals that can mimic the effects of estrogen in our bodies) through PCP use can reverse potentially high-risk phenotypes in healthy breast cells
Here is the kicker! DO NOT FEAR: Cancer-associated genes does not mean that they will cause cancer 100%
You are correct. The presence of cancer-associated genes does not guarantee that cancer will develop 100% of the time. Here’s why:
1. Multiple mutations required: Cancer typically results from the accumulation of multiple genetic changes [5,8]. A single mutation in a cancer-associated gene is usually not enough to cause cancer.
2. Complex interplay: Normal cell growth requires a balance between genes that promote cell proliferation and those that suppress it [8]. Cancer develops when this balance is disrupted through multiple mutations.
3. Tumor suppressor genes: Both copies of a tumor suppressor gene usually need to be mutated for uncontrolled cell division to occur [8]. Having one mutated copy doesn’t necessarily lead to cancer.
4. Environmental factors: Gene mutations can be caused by environmental exposures, such as cigarette smoke, or occur as we age [9]. These factors contribute to cancer risk but don’t guarantee its development.
5. Protective mechanisms: The body has various protective mechanisms, including DNA repair and apoptosis, which can prevent damaged cells from becoming cancerous[8].
6. Inherited mutations: Even when someone inherits a cancer-associated gene mutation, it doesn’t mean they will definitely develop cancer. It only increases their risk[9].
Summary: It’s important to understand that these genes don’t automatically mean you’ll get cancer. Think of them more like a yellow traffic light – a sign to be more aware, but not a definite stop. Cancer develops through a mix of different factors. It’s not just about genes, but also about things in our environment and how we live our lives.
Can you decrease your exposure to these chemicals?
I would suggest reading your product’s ingredients and replacing each product as they finish with a healthier and safer skin care or personal care product without any Hormone Disrupting chemicals. After all, there is scientific proof that you can reduce your exposure to these chemicals as fast as in three days!
Conclusion: It’s All About Making Informed Choices without the Fear Mongering
In conclusion, while personal care products can contain potentially harmful chemicals like endocrine disruptors, there’s no need for panic. Research shows that reducing exposure to these chemicals can have positive effects on our bodies, even in a short time frame.
Here are the key takeaways:
1. Certain chemicals in personal care products, such as parabens (Methyl paraben, Propyl paraben (meaning not all parabens), Mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP – again not all phthalates), triclosan, and benzophenone-3, can act as hormone disruptors.
2. Switching to products without these chemicals for just 3 days or a month can significantly reduce their levels in the body based on the studies quoted above.
3. While some studies suggest a potential link between personal care product use during puberty and breast cancer risk, the evidence is not conclusive and requires further research.
4. Cancer-associated genes don’t guarantee cancer development; it’s a complex process involving multiple factors.
It’s advisable to be mindful of the products you use, particularly those that may contain high levels of estrogen-mimicking compounds. Consider avoiding or limiting use of face creams and other personal care items that are marketed as having estrogen-like effects or contain known endocrine disruptors. Instead, opt for products with simpler, more natural ingredients when possible. Remember, small changes in your daily routine can potentially make a significant difference in your long-term health.
Warmly,
Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu MSc., PhD.
Chief Scientific Officer
Scientific References
1- State of the science of endocrine disrupting chemicals – 2012 report from World Health Organization (WHO).
2- Harley KG, Kogut K, Madrigal DS, Cardenas M, Vera IA, Meza-Alfaro G, She J, Gavin Q, Zahedi R, Bradman A, Eskenazi B, Parra KL (2016). Reducing phthalate, paraben, and phenol exposure from personal care products in adolescent girls: Findings from the HERMOSA intervention study. Environ Health Perspect DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1510514. Epub: 2016 March 7.
3- Goldberg M, Chang CJ, Ogunsina K, O’Brien KM, Taylor KW, White AJ, Sandler DP. Personal Care Product Use during Puberty and Incident Breast Cancer among Black, Hispanic/Latina, and White Women in a Prospective US-Wide Cohort. Environ Health Perspect. 2024 Feb;132(2):27001. doi: 10.1289/EHP13882. Epub 2024 Feb 2. PMID: 38306193; PMCID: PMC10836586.
4- Dairkee SH, Moore DH, Luciani MG, Anderle N, Gerona R, Ky K, Torres SM, Marshall PV, Goodson Iii WH. Reduction of daily-use parabens and phthalates reverses accumulation of cancer-associated phenotypes within disease-free breast tissue of study subjects. Chemosphere. 2023 May;322:138014. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138014. Epub 2023 Feb 4. PMID: 36746253.
5-Vogt PK. Cancer genes. West J Med. 1993 Mar;158(3):273-8. PMID: 8460509; PMCID: PMC1311753.
6- The Genetics of Cancer NIH
7-Vogt PK. Cancer genes. West J Med. 1993 Mar;158(3):273-8. PMID: 8460509; PMCID: PMC1311753.
8- Cell Division and Cancer Nature
9- Genetic Changes and Cancer
