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Cosmetics. Everyone uses them, women and men alike. Cosmetics include many different materials with various roles that determine the activity, texture, color and smell of the final product. People are not aware of the fact that, unlike medications, cosmetics are not tested as rigorously by the regulatory authorities and the included chemicals may be harmful. The external placement and targets for use should not distract us from investigating potential systemic ill-effects. For example, ingredients in cosmetics may have an effect on a variety of hormonal pathways. A recent review, which analyzed possible associations with age at menopause, concluded that there is lack of data on the relevant risk outcomes of cosmetic use [1].

Author(s)

  • Amos Pines
    Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Citations

  1. Chow E, Mahalingaiah S. Cosmetics use and age at menopause: is there a connection? Fertil Steril 2016;106:978-90
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27545020
  2. Witorsch RJ, Thomas JA. Personal care products and endocrine disruption: A critical review of the literature. Crit Rev Toxicol 2010;40(Suppl 3):1-30
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20932229
  3. Nishihama Y, Yoshinaga J, Iida A, et al. Association between paraben exposure and menstrual cycle in female university students in Japan. Reprod Toxicol 2016;63:107-13
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27189314
  4. Patel S, Zhou C, Rattan S, Flaws JA. Effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the ovary. Biol Reprod 2015;93:20
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26063868
  5. Al-Saleh I, Elkhatib R. Screening of phthalate esters in 47 branded perfumes. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016;23:455-68
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26310707
  6. Dhanirama D, Gronow J, Voulvoulis N. Cosmetics as a potential source of environmental contamination in the UK. Environ Technol 2012;33:1597-608
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22988620
  7. Darbre PD. Environmental oestrogens, cosmetics and breast cancer. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006;20:121-43
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16522524
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