Carcinogens: Cosmetics Beasts

Cosmetics is a grown business industry and the primary potential source of economic rise in some countries. More and more of the population are leaning towards beauty products for entertainment, enhancing features, improving looks, and gaining personal confidence. However, research shows that one out of five adults is potentially exposed every day to carcinogens found in cosmetic products.

What is a carcinogen? A carcinogen is a cancer-causing substance or agent. It occurs in the environment or can be generated by humans like in cosmetics. These chemicals are found in most beauty products that claim to beautify but turn out to be the beast and destroy human lives. In 2017, US Food and Drug Administration released that cosmetics cause 41% of cancer-related reports. The most common carcinogens that could be found in your beauty products are the following, talc powder, parabens, triclosan, and formaldehyde compounds. These chemicals pose a danger and expose humans to cancer diseases.

It is also best to understand the difference between cosmetics and drugs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines cosmetics as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance.” This includes skin moisturizers, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye, and facial makeup, shampoos, permanent waves, hair colors, toothpaste, and deodorants, as well as any component of a cosmetic product. It should not be confused with drugs intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease.

Though many laws and regulations protect consumers from these contaminants, it is best to READ the labels, stay SAFE, and CLEAR of all suspicious products containing the chemicals mentioned above. Take extra caution in using products you think will improve you instead of risking your lives.

Reference: https://www.fda.gov/

By: Angel Garganta