The 56 toxic chemicals in your makeup and shampoo that risk breast cancer, revealed by top UK charity
MILLIONS of women could be unknowingly increasing their risk of breast cancer by using everyday toiletries, a charity has warned.
Shampoos, face creams and make-up may be harmless on their own, but when layered on the skin they could create harmful chemical combinations.
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Mixing beauty products together could potentially raise the risk of breast cancer
Credit: Getty
This can contribute to the development of breast cancer, which kills around 11,500 people a year in the UK.
A new YouGov poll for the charity found that over a quarter of UK women - around 8.5million - use at least six personal care products daily, exposing themselves to an estimated 168 different chemicals every day.
'Looking at chemicals in isolation can lead to a dangerous underestimation of their risk to public health," Gareth Lloyd-Johnson head of public affairs and policy at Breast Cancer UK said.
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"Regulations must be re-evaluated to better reflect our real-life exposure – no product can be viewed inside a vacuum.'
With breast cancer deaths in the UK set to soar by more than 40 per cent by 2050, the charity is calling on women to ditch their
"While scientific evidence is mounting, the extent of the threat posed by chemical cocktails is still being uncovered," Dr Hannah Moody, the charity's director of research, said.
As part of its Ditch The Junk campaign, Breast Cancer UK has published a list of 'no-go' ingredients - harmful chemicals commonly found in everyday toiletries
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The list also highlights which products are most likely to contain them, to help women make safer choices.
Make-up and nail varnish are believed to contain the highest number hormone disrupting chemicals which mimic the hormone
Breast cancer symptoms you should NEVER ignore, with Dr Philippa Kaye
According to the charity, many of these products include at least two of the top three EDCs to avoid:
Phthalates, often used to strengthen plastics, are found in nail varnish, shampoos and hairsprays.
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When applied to the skin, they can be absorbed into the body and disrupt normal hormonal function — raising the risk of breast cancer.
These substances are often listed on ingredients labels as 'parfum' or 'fragrance', as they are commonly added to make scents last longer.
Another category to be wary of are face creams and moisturisers, which are likely to contain a high number of parabens.
These can penetrate the skin and boost oestrogen production, linked to higher breast cancer risk.
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Who is more likely to get breast cancer?
ANYONE can get breast cancer and it's not always clear what causes it.
But the NHS says you might be more likely to get it if you:
are over 50
have dense breast tissue – you may be told this after a breast screening (mammogram)
have other people in your family who've had breast or ovarian cancer – you may have inherited a faulty gene, such as a faulty BRCA gene
have certain breast conditions, such as benign breast disease, ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ
You may also be more likely to get breast cancer if you have higher levels of the hormones oestrogen, progesterone or testosterone. This may be more likely if you:
started your periods before you were 12, or went through the menopause after you turned 55
have not given birth, or gave birth for the first time after 30
did not breastfeed your children
have used the contraceptive pill in the last 10 years, or take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – these only slightly increase your risk and for many people the benefits of taking them outweigh the risks
Many breast cancers are also linked to lifestyle, such as smoking.
While many parabens have been banned due to their hormone-disrupting effects, other endocrine disruptors still lurk in everyday beauty products, warns the charity.
Breast Cancer UK also warns against synthetic fragrances, which commonly contain musk ketone, benzyl salicylate, and diethyl phthalate - chemicals known to harm the female reproductive system and increase breast cancer risk.
To reduce exposure, the charity urges women to simplify their beauty routines and choose fragrance-free products whenever possible.
Check your breasts
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, making up a sixth of all cases.
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Three in four women survive at least 10 years after diagnosis - a rate that has doubled over the past 50 years thanks to
Women are urged to check their breasts regularly for signs such as lumps or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit, changes in skin texture, size or shape, nipple discharge (especially with blood), nipple changes, or ongoing pain.
These symptoms aren't always cancer, but anyone noticing them should see their GP to be safe.
Full list of 56 'no-go' ingredients found in beauty producs that if mixed together could increase risk of cancer
Make-up and nail varnish:
Methylparaben
Ethylparaben
Propylparaben
Butylparaben
Cyclohexasiloxane
Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
2-bromo-2 nitropropane-1, 3-diol
5-bromo-5-nitro-1, 3 dioxane
Benzylhemiformal
Diazolidinyl urea
Cyclopentasiloxane
DMDM hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl urea
Methenamine
BHA
BHT
Fragrance
Parfum
Glyoxal
Lipstick:
BHT
Creams and moisturisers:
Benzophenone-3
Benzophenone-4
Ethylhexyl dimethyl PABA
Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
Homosalate
Octocrylene
Methylparaben
Ethylparaben
Propylparaben
Butylparaben
Cyclohexasiloxane
Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclotetrasiloxane
Hair spray and dye:
Parfum
Fragrance
Fragrance
Acetyl hexamethyl tetralin (AHTN or tonalide)
Benzyl salicylate
Fragrance
Musk ketone
Musk xylene
Diethyl phthalate
Parfum
Perfume
Hexamethylindanopyran (galaxolide)
Soap and body wash:
Triclosan
Triclocarbon
Fragrance
Parfum
Shampoo and conditioner:
Triclosan
Triclocarbon
Fragrance
Parfum
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