Cosmetics and Breast Cancer: Is Beauty Only Skin Deep?
... major brands of antiperspirants and deodorants don't contain parabens). Parabens are absorbed through the skin and exhibit weak estrogen-like properties. And some conditions that increase the body's exposure to estrogen (like not having children, late menopause, obesity, etc.) have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. - Phthalates (for example, DEP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP) are chemicals commonly used to hold color and reduce brittleness in nail polish and hair spray. Fragrances in personal-care and cleaning products also contain them. As hormone disrupters, phthalates do not mimic estrogen, but they can disrupt the balance of other ... spur growth of estrogen-dependent tumors. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence of a harmful effect," he told WebMD in 2004. "These chemicals are being directly applied daily, by very large numbers of people, and the long-term health effects of exposure are essentially unknown." Risk Minimal? American Cancer Society epidemiologist Michael Thun, MD, says even if the parabens do promote estrogen-dependent tumor growth, the risk from cosmetic use is "minuscule" compared with other known tumor promoters. Dr. Harvey cited animal studies suggesting that paraben exposure is 500 to 10,000 times less potent as a tumor promoter ...
Tags: breast cancer | parabens | phthalates | safe cosmetics | breast survivor | skin care products |
Tags: breast cancer | parabens | phthalates | safe cosmetics | breast survivor | skin care products |