When it comes to beauty products, generally we mostly focus on their effectiveness. But have you ever considered how certain chemicals might directly impact your health? Various studies point out that some common ingredients in cosmetics, particularly parabens and phthalates, may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Here’s what we need to know about the chemicals and how we can make safer choices for our beauty routine.
What is the link between these chemicals and breast cancer?
A study published in May 2023 named “Reduction of daily-use parabens and phthalates reverses accumulation of cancer-associated phenotypes within disease-free breast tissue of study subjects” highlights the potential dangers of parabens and phthalates, which are found in personal care products. These substances have the ability to mimic estrogen, causing “estrogenic overstimulation,” as researchers refer to it, which is known to play a role in breast cancer. Volunteers in the study avoided using goods that included these dangerous ingredients for a period of 28 days.
The findings were favourable: scientists saw a reversal of breast tissue changes linked to cancer. Also, participants’ urine levels of these substances significantly decreased, indicating that lowering exposure can have an impact.
What are the benefits of going chemical-free
Our risk of getting cancer-associated phenotypes in breast tissue can be reduced by removing parabens and phthalates from cosmetics. According to the study, when we stop using these substances, there is an automatic change in the cellular behaviour, particularly pathways linked to the development of cancer.
This is good news for anyone who is worried about breast health because it implies that using goods carefully can have a noticeable impact on our health.
Simple alternatives that you can consider
- Making the switch to safer beauty products doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some simple alternatives:
- Look for products made with natural ingredients like essential oils, plant extracts, and organic compounds.
- You can create your own beauty products at home! For example, try mixing coconut oil with essential oils for a moisturising body lotion or using honey and oatmeal for a gentle facial scrub.
- Choose shampoos, conditioners, and lotions that are labelled as sulfate-free and paraben-free.
- Become a label detective! Familiarise yourself with harmful chemicals and check the ingredient lists on your products before purchasing.
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