Revealed: the secret truth about the beauty industry (part 2)
Sun (s)creams
The number of melanoma skin cancers is rising worldwide. The malignant tumours are mostly caused by the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. That’s why so many health professionals are trying to raise awareness of the dangers of sunbathing and the importance of protecting our skin from UV radiation. They advise strongly against going out to the sun in midday, they recommend hats and other measures to prevent sunburn.Beyond spreading basic advice on do’s and don’ts, most authorities also support the use of sun lotions and cosmetics that contain UV-filters – it’s little wonder that more and more of these products are sold all around the world.
Yet some of these products aren’t healthy at all.
Centre on Endocrine Disruptors is a Denmark-based research institute specialising in the research of substances that disrupt the hormone system (i.e. endocrine disruptors or EDs). In regular intervals, the institute publishes a list of UV-filter compounds which are legal to use in the European Union even though they are noxious to human health. The list is called Substitute It Now (SIN) and it’s made up of four compounds at the moment.
- Benzophenone-3
Benzophenones are quickly absorbed (they are used in cosmetics to help absorption) and they end up in the bloodstream. Several studies have been written about the link between UV filters (detected in the urine) and certain diseases. Some of those studies associated them with endometriosis while others found that rubbed into the chest, synthetic UV-filters can lead to breast tumours or help existing tumours grow bigger.
BP-3 can eventually disrupt the balance of the hormone system and have a negative effect on growth during puberty. It can even impact on the development of the foetus: its use during pregnancy can lead to lower birth weight in girls and higher birth weight in boys. Research has also shown how it impacts on hormones: it connects with oestrogen receptors and triggers the ‘oestrogen effect’. It also has anti-androgen and anti-progesterone effects because it blocks receptors. It’s also been proven to decrease the amount of thyroxine hormone in the blood.
It’s been classified as ‘2a’ because it’s likely to affect the hormone system.
Other compounds similar to BP-3 (e.g. BP-1 and BP-2) have already been identified as ED compounds and they are no longer on the EU’s list of permitted ingredients.
- Ethylhexyl methylcinnamal
It has qualified as ‘Grade 1’, meaning that its effects have been tested on at least one live subject. This is the highest grade and it means that the adverse health effects of the compound have been proven.
- Benzylidene camphor
It’s a Grade 1 compound with proven adverse health effects.
- Methylbenzylidene camphor
Other effects on the hormone system have also been observed (the shrinking of genitals, delayed sexual maturity, changing sexual behaviour).
It’s a Grade 1 compound with proven adverse health effects.
The research institute claims that 13 out of the 18 compounds listed by the EU as ‘legal’ have anti-oestrogen effects.
Each of these compounds can be hazardous on its own. But UV-filters are used in a mix which means that the adverse effects of the ingredients can add up and even multiply. Then there are substances which become carcinogenic when exposed to sunlight – e.g. the one that you will find on sun cream labels as retynil palmitate. It’s a form of Vitamin A used in cosmetics in order to slow down the aging of the skin. It’s not useful as a UV-filter but it has been proven to morph into a toxic compound when exposed to sunrays. The new compound is carcinogenic and can lead to skin cancer. Tests by US authorities have shown that both retinoic acid and retynil palmitate (used for skin regeneration) enhance the carcinogenic effects of UV radiation.
Your skin is not the only gateway
Thanks to the mass consumption of UV-filters, these hardly degradable compounds have started to build up in our environment – especially in freshwater ecosystems. 3-/4- methylbenzylidene-camphor, 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-trimethoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3, and benzophenone-4 are now present in Europe’s lakes and rivers in measurable concentrations.
Research has pointed out that these compounds are now affecting the hormone system of fishes and marine mammals (e.g. dolphins). On top of that, UV-filters are now associated with coral bleaching and the destruction of coral reefs.
It’s not just cosmetics that contain UV-filters – paints and packaging are the other major sources and vehicles of these compounds. Therefore there is a real danger that these substances get into your food and into your body.
This story could make you scream, right?
It’s best to throw out all cosmetics which contain synthetic colours, scents and other chemicals. Take control over your skin’s health now!
Have a wonderful an chemical-free day,
Andrea Varga-Darabos