Francesca Biagioli What relationship can there be between the products we use every day to care for our body and breast cancer? One study found that eliminating cosmetics containing parabens and phthalates can reduce the risk
October is considered to be the month of breast cancer awareness, early diagnosis, prevention, and funding research to combat the disease. In this regard, we would like to bring attention to an interesting study that may hint at a cause-and-effect relationship between carcinogenic cosmetics use containing components like parabens and phthalates with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Parabens and phthalates: common active Ingrendients in Cosmetics
The active ingredients phthalates and parabens are commonly found in personal care products including shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, body washes, deodorants, facial and body soaps, moisturizers, hand and face creams, lip balms, toothpastes, dental floss, sunscreens, and even makeup.
In partnership with non-profit organization BCOT and California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, the research measured exposure to chemicals called xenoestrogens, a synthetic variety of estrogen produced externally that can act like estrogen does naturally within the body and spur on the growth of cancer cells in breast tissue.
The study: reducing exposure to harmful chemicals
Healthy women volunteers were recruited to explore the reduction of exposure to those chemicals in daily life. In 28 continuous days, these women avoided the use of any product containing parabens and phthalates. These participants had previously used personal care products containing those hazardous chemicals regularly.
Fine needle biopsies were performed before and after participants had discontinued use of the above-mentioned products, on breast tissue cells.
Results
The study indicated dramatic changes in gene expression related to cancer, reflecting a reversal of pro-carcinogenic phenotypes in breast tissue cells.
The findings, reported in the journal Chemosphere, essentially show that by stopping using products that contain parabens and phthalates, improvements on the level of breast tissue were accrued, decreasing molecular markers indicative of a predisposing factor to cancer.
Besides that, metabolites from those injurious chemicals decreased in urine samples gathered from the participants.
@Chemosphere,
Although this pioneering study has yet to be totally validated because of the relatively small sample size, it suggests something very important: that reduced exposure to xenoestrogens might have a positive effect on improved health in breasts and a reduced risk of cancer.
Although further research is needed to establish a direct link between lower levels of these chemicals and reduced cancer risk, it is a significant study in taking important steps toward unraveling modifiable risk factors. It fortifies the notion that active prevention of breast cancer should not be based only on screening and treatments but also on modification of everyday behavior.
This may be a possible example of future research into chemicals in personal care products and health effects that could be related to exposure. Due to these reasons, the replication and expansion of this study can further help explain what role chemicals play in personal care products and how they may be linked to health effects.
How to choose beauty products free of paraben and phthalate
It’s always better to opt for a product free from parabens and phthalates. Here are a few tips:
- Choose green products: Opt for brands that incorporate natural and organic ingredients in their formulation since they are more likely to avoid harmful chemicals.
- Watch for independent safety certifications: Choose products whose ingredients have been independently certified as safe by a third party.
- Research brands: Consider the brand which is transparent in their processing details and who, over time, promise to reduce or eliminate toxic ingredients.
Source: Breast Cancer Over Time / Chemosphere
