Personal Care Chemicals Linked to Increasing Early Puberty Rate

Read Article Here

Better article here: Better article


Hey all! I found this article interesting, because of the way it was designed... and the fact that doubling of the chemicals studied, in the mother’s blood during pregnancy, caused early milestone development in their children. The article linked above does not have the full study with it, and I have not pulled it up yet myself, to read the specifics (I.e. what milestones, how many participants, factors controlled for etc). However, I feel it still begs the question: What the heck are we exposing ourselves too?!? There are literally thousands of chemicals used in every personal care product, many of them are banned in the European Union due to their known carcinogenic, or endocrine disrupting factors (also, many are banned due to increased irritants on the skin etc).

Some excerpts from the article....

“Over the past 20 years, studies have shown that girls and possibly boys have been experiencing puberty at progressively younger ages,” the team said in a statement. “This is troubling news, as earlier age at puberty has been linked with increased risk of mental illness, breast and ovarian cancer in girls and testicular cancer in boys.”

Diethyl phthalate, which is a stabilizer chemical, is often used in fragrances and cosmetics. And triclosan is used in some toothpastes.

The researchers noted previous studies have found many of these chemicals found in personal care products, like shampoos, soaps, perfumes, interfere with reproductive development in rats. 

As scientists continue their investigations, they are advising adults to limit their exposure to the chemicals. 

“While more research is needed,” Harley acknowledged, “people should be aware that there are chemicals in personal care products that may be disrupting the hormones in our bodies.

I think it’s important to recognize the functional processes of our bodies are changing over the last few decades... puberty is developing earlier, diseases such as breast cancer are developing without genetic factors, in increased rates .... I do believe that gut health, and our over processing of foods plays a huge roll.. but, I feel I can’t ignore the link between the increased use of cosmeceuticals and increased allergies, eczema’s, asthmas, puberty onset, cancers..

What we eat, and what we put on our skin is important. It is our largest organ!

It’s also, very important that we, as consumers, take a stand for what we want/need... safer products. Beauty Counter lobby’s for law changes in this department. If you need help on how to get involved, or what to say... go to Beauty Counters website for help! Get informed, or get involved.

xoxo Naomi