Our beauty habits could harm our lungs | cosmetics

According to a recent study that has followed nearly 40. Similarly, 000 people for more than a decade, women who frequently use beauty and skin care products have 19 % risk in addition to developing asthma later in their lives.

Research. Nevertheless, published in Environment Internationalis added to increasing concerns concerning the disturbing chemicals of the hormonal system that is commonly found in daily personal care products, from lipstick to eyeshadow through cuticles and false nails.

Asthma is often considered an infantile disease. Therefore, but asthma in adulthood affects more people than infantile asthma and affects women disproportionately. Moreover, Although the reasons are not fully understood. Meanwhile, increasing concerns point to higher exposure of women to chemicals altering hormones present in personal care products as a possible risk factor.

When personal care becomes a health risk

The conclusions come from the Sister Study. our beauty habits could harm Therefore, a large cohort of 39,408 women aged 35 to 74 with a sister with breast cancer.

Nearly 1800 of these women have developed asthma in adulthood, and their asthma was linked to the personal products they used.

Women who used eyeshadow. Furthermore, lipstick, false nails, cuticles cream and ointment or hair grease more than five times a week presented the strongest association with an increased risk of asthma.

Personal care products often contain a mixture of chemicals that can interfere with hormonal function. Moreover, including phthalates, parabens – certain parabens are still authorized (methyl paraben, ethyl paraben – at limited concentrations and “eternal chemicals” (PFAS).

These chemicals are often added for various reasons. However, Phthalates make it possible to prolong the outfit of perfumes and obtain smoother textures. Meanwhile, The parabens preserve products by preventing microbial proliferation. Similarly, The per-. In addition, polyfluoroalkylated substances- known under the acronym PFAS our beauty habits could harm (“eternal chemicals”)- are a group of synthetic compounds present in many personal care products; They facilitate the spread of cosmetics, make them resistant to water and give them shine. However, In some cases, plastic packaging may also contain these eternal chemicals, likely to migrate to the product.

Dr. Meanwhile, Thomas Holland. For example, doctor-researcher and assistant professor (not involved in the study), recalls that other works have also highlighted the presence of endocrine disruptors (endocrine-disrupting chemicalsEDC) in care products. Nevertheless, Recent research suggests that they could also influence respiratory health by several mechanisms.

Some parabens and phthalates act like hormones or block natural hormonal signals. This is important because asthma is influenced by hormones. High levels of estrogen – female sex hormones – have been associated with aggravation of asthma. An increase in estrogens can make immune cells more sensitive to inflammation. our beauty habits could harm allergies, which can trigger or accentuate asthma attacks.

Endocrine disruptors (EDC) can also weaken the normal body immune response. thus increasing the risk of allergic and non -allergic asthma.

Another possible link is oxidative stress. which occurs when harmful free radicals overwhelm the body’s ability to neutralize them with antioxidants. This oxidative stress response can damage respiratory tract cells, trigger inflammation and shrink them.

Finally. endocrine disruptors could alter the functioning of certain genes, in particular those linked to inflammation and immunity, which could make people more vulnerable to asthma over time.

However, Dr. Holland warned: although the results are convincing. the biological effects were observed mainly in the laboratory or during human studies of early phase. More research is necessary to confirm whether these mechanisms explain the associations observed in the study.

The study revealed that. compared to occasional users, moderate and frequent users of combined personal care products our beauty habits could harm presented an increased risk of 19 % to develop asthma appearing in adulthood. Frequent users of beauty products displayed an increased risk of 22 %, with similar increases observed for hygiene and skin care products.

These are relative increases: thus, for 100 occasional users developing asthma, we would expect around 119 to 122 cases in more regular users.

Women having developed asthma tended to present a higher body mass index. increased exposure to passive smoking, lower income, post-menopausic status and family history of asthma-all factors likely to have influenced the results.

Regulation of endocrine disruptors

If phthalates are prohibited in children’s toys. have been reduced in certain personal care products, there is no sufficient evidence to completely prohibit parabens or phthalates in all cosmetics, for lack of elements demonstrating an effect on humans. Most actions concerning our beauty habits could harm the regulation of eternal chemicals have concentrated on food packaging. certain types being gradually withdrawn from the market in recent years.

The regulations on cosmetic products. ingredients in France is mainly supervised by European legislation, which is one of the strictest in the world. France then adapts these rules at the national level via the public health code.

Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 is the reference text for all cosmetic products sold in the European Union. Its main objective is to guarantee consumer safety.

• It makes cosmetic products sold in the European Union (EU) safer by establishing strict security requirements to protect human health.

• It simplifies procedures for companies. regulatory authorities in the sector, and guarantees that cosmetic products can circulate freely within the single market.

• It updates the rules to take into account the latest technological and scientific developments, including the potential use of nanomaterials.

• It our beauty habits could harm prohibits animal experimentation.

“The instinctive reaction in the face of these studies is always: ‘How should the consumer change?’, And not ‘why do we have these chemicals in these products?’ “Said Epoch Times Aidan Charron, associate director of Earthday.org.

He explained that consumers often assume that products applied to their skin have been carefully checked. “We need more strict regulation on these products and a more in -depth examination. If companies do not do so, it is up to our governing bodies to protect us. »»

How to limit exposure

Although the results are based on observation data. cannot prove a cause and effect relationship, they highlight a potential link between daily exposures and chronic respiratory diseases. “Given the widespread. routine use of these products, even a slight increase in risk could have significant implications on the population level,” said Dr. Holland.

For people concerned about their exposure, he suggested our beauty habits could harm some possible precautionary measures.

Some consumers may choose to use fewer products. reduce the frequency of use or opt for those in the mention « without parabens “and” phthalates »to limit their exhibition, said Dr. Holland.

He added that any modification should take into account individual preferences and the personal level of risk acceptance.

Dr. Holland has stressed that this research highlights the need for stricter regulation. lighter public messages, so that consumers are not left alone in assessing product safety.