Unfortunately, it’s not just the aluminum in deodorant that you need to be concerned about when it comes to beauty products and their potentially harmful ingredients. Companies continually flood the beauty product market with new products, and many of these contain damaging chemicals which studies have linked to cancer. So let’s take a look at some of these beauty product ingredients that may cause cancer.
Some beauty product ingredients that may cause cancer
Triclosan is a chemical that acts to stop the growth of bacteria. Because of this, you’ll find it in several beauty products. For example, you’ll see it in toothpaste, shampoos, and anti-bacterial soap. And you also find it in many deodorants because stopping the growth of bacteria is how they work. You’ll also find Triclosan in many pesticides too (which should be an indication that it may not be good for you). The class of chemicals to which Triclosan belongs is the chlorophenols. Some research linked these chemicals to cancer. For example, a study linked it to liver cancer in mice.
Parabens are commonly used in beauty products to make them last longer, due to their preservative qualities. You’ll find them in all manner of products such as lotions, creams, and deodorants. However, studies have linked parabens to breast cancer.
Benzoyl Peroxide is very successful at treating acne and indeed also preventing it. In fact, it’s probably the most effective and widely used acne treatment, even if many people don’t know they’re using it. However, it’s also an irritant that some scientific studies have linked to skin cancer.
Phthalates are chemicals added to products like nail polishes and artificial fragrances. You can find them in both perfumes and synthetic fragrances added to other products to give them a pleasant aroma. But your skin easily absorbs phthalates, and some studies have linked them to causing girls to develop breasts early, and other studies have linked this early breast development to later breast cancer.
Modern beauty products can contain many potentially harmful chemicals, some of which have been linked to cancer. While more data is needed in most cases to establish a definite link, you should be aware of the potential risks then you can make an informed decision as to whether or not to use products containing these chemicals.
Of course, if you opt for all natural beauty products, including deodorant without aluminum, then you do not need to worry about any beauty product ingredients that may cause cancer.