Chemicals in cosmetics may harm female hormones

  • 6 years ago
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA — A new study has found that chemicals in skincare products can negatively affect women's hormones.

The study showed that beauty products may even contribute to infertility or breast cancer.

A new study has found that chemicals in skincare products can negatively affect women's hormones, and may even lead to infertility or breast cancer.

According to the George Mason University study published in the journal Environment International, beauty products often contain environmental products such as parabens, which are antimicrobial preservatives, or benzophenones, which serve as UV filters.

Researchers collected over 500 samples from 143 women aged 18 to 44 who had no chronic health conditions and didn't use birth control.

Analysis of the samples indicate that those with the chemicals present in their system produced abnormal amounts of the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone, reports the Independent.

Too much estrogen has been linked to fibroids and irregular periods, but too little prevents eggs from maturing. Excessive progesterone, meanwhile, is associated with breast cancer and unusual vaginal bleeding.

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