4 Common Ingredients Linked to Breast Cancer in Your Personal Care Products

We’re guessing you’re well aware of the surprising variety of common skincare ingredients that can actually damage your skin, but did you know that there is research that strongly suggests some of these chemicals might contribute to the development of breast cancer?

It may sound hard to believe that chemicals in a product you use on your face could lead to such a serious condition under the surface of your skin somewhere else on your body, but research indicates that this is a possibility. This is just another reason to be more vigilant and pay attention to what’s actually in the products you’re applying. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a fitting time to explore this topic further.

What ingredients to avoid

Before identifying the specific ingredients that may contribute to breast cancer development, it should be noted that it can be next to impossible to show a definitive cause and effect or link between cancer and any specific chemical. This is a result of the fact that personal care products have such a diverse combination of ingredients in them, making it hard to pick out just one of them as responsible for any given issue. Additionally, the research around this phenomenon is still relatively new, so this is by no means a comprehensive list of every ingredient that has the potential to contribute to the development of breast cancer.

So, what ingredients should you avoid? Our list contains a few of the usual suspects, you might say, that you may already know to avoid already – parabens, phthalates, heavy metals, and talc.

Parabens: Parabens are a group of chemicals commonly used as artificial preservatives in a wide variety of cosmetic and beauty products, but they are considered to be hormone disruptors. This means that they can affect the relationship between estrogen and other hormones in the body, either blocking them or mimicking them. This throws off the body’s natural hormonal balance and worse, may spur the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers.

Phthalates: Commonly used in products like nail polish and hairspray, phthalates are another hormone-disrupting ingredient. They don’t mimic estrogen like parabens can, but they do disrupt the balance of other hormones that interact with it, including testosterone. You can also find phthalates in personal care and cleaning fragrances.

Heavy metals: Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, iron, zinc, and chromium are in a surprising amount of cosmetic and beauty products. They’re best avoided because they can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, accumulating in the body and having toxic effects on various organs. While they are not explicitly linked to breast cancer, they’re potentially very harmful to your overall health.

Talc: Sometimes called talcum powder, talc is another common, key ingredient found in a number of different cosmetic products that can be very dangerous to your health. Talc is known to sometimes contain asbestos, a type of mineral that can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other cancers. While it’s not linked to breast cancer specifically, we wanted to include talc on this list because it can put you at risk for developing lung, ovarian, and laryngeal cancer.

Dedicated to creating clean products

This should hopefully go without saying, but at Oxygenetix, we never use any of these ingredients in any of our products! For over a decade, we’ve been dedicated to creating clean products that are free from cancer-causing ingredients.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Join us in our annual campaign to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation and raise awareness around the impact of this disease. With every purchase this October you’ll receive an awareness ribbon so you can show your support.