Endocrine Disruptors in Your Haircare: What Are They and How Do They Affect Your Health?

Let’s talk about it…

For most, if not all people, washday and haircare is common practice. Many of us use shampoos and conditioners that contain endocrine disruptors; however, this can negatively impact our health in many ways over time. If you want to be proactive about this issue and limit your exposure to these chemicals, pay attention to these three questions as they relate to your haircare regimen.

What are endocrine disruptors?

While most people know that there are chemicals in their environment, they may not be aware of the effects of these chemicals on their health. Endocrine disruptors are toxic substances that interfere with the production or activity of natural hormones, especially during fetal development. Endocrine-safe products avoid any endocrine-disrupting ingredients by using only ingredients that have been tested & show no negative effect on the body's hormones. Products labeled as natural can still contain toxic synthetic fragrances and chemical preservatives harmful to your body. In fact, many endocrine disrupting ingredients are typically camouflaged under the name fragrance found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, creams, and other personal care products. 

What effect do they have on our health?

Hair products are one major source of endocrine disruptors. Toxic chemicals like phthalates, polycyclic musks, formaldehyde, and more can be found in hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners, mousses, and gels. Studies have shown that these common ingredients can affect our hormones as they enter our bodies through the skin and cause disruption to the endocrine system. The effects of these chemicals on our health can range from mild to severe, and can worsen overtime. For example, some may cause allergies or skin irritation, others may lead to more serious conditions like cancer or hormone disruption, and some effects can be passed on up to 3 generations. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals often don't show up on labels so it is important to be informed about your choices. Choosing an endocrine-safe product is the best way to avoid these dangerous substances.

What are some safer alternatives to conventional hair care products?

There are many safer alternatives out there that are endocrine-safe. You just have to research them carefully and be mindful of what you choose to put on your skin. Some safer options include using henna dyes instead of chemical dyes, switching from chemical shampoos to natural cleansers, or going with products that use natural ingredients like coconut (Cocos Nucifera) oil instead of synthetic chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate. manetemptation hair care products are endocrine-safe, pH balanced, and free from harmful chemicals.

Surprising ways that endocrine disruptors creep their way into your hair routine

The idea that modern haircare has become too commercialized is a bit of an understatement. Over the years we've seen more brands and products than ever come out, from “highly regulated” beauty agents, that are supposed to be safe and have less side effects. But at what cost? Is it worth sacrificing your health just to look better, or when they could actually harm you with their ingredients?

Here are some examples of endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. All these chemicals can cause harm to the health of people and pets in small amounts, and long-term exposure could increase these unwanted effects. They're also on the cutting edge of new technologies like AI that can help identify toxic compounds in products. So if you're not sure, now is the time to consider switching and finding safer alternatives to prevent harm from occurring to yourself, your children, animals, plant life, and our planet.

1. Parabens

Parabens are organic chemical substances found naturally in many plants, animals, and water. Parabens are typically used to preserve products. Parabens are commonly found in shampoos and conditioners, skin moisturizers and lotions, makeup, and shaving products. However, because our bodies don't process all parabens, overuse or prolonged exposure to one compound may upset internal functions rather than external ones. This could lead to unwanted health problems down the line, that are typically ignored or written off as normal.

Research suggests that parabens can interfere with metabolism. In 2016, though, researchers published a study suggesting that using parabens in shampoo may pose a potential risk of breast cancer. so it makes sense to avoid the stuff.

2. Phthalates

Phthalates come in different forms and often work together in combinations to create new molecules that are harmful to animals and ecosystems. Phthalates in shampoo are frequently grouped under the umbrella category of 'derivatives'. Derivatives are often sold to the public without informing the public on exactly what these derivatives do, making them very difficult to eliminate. For example, when washing hair with shampoo containing benzophenone-3-one (BPO3), the substance binds strongly to proteins in keratinocytes and causes damage to these cells. BPO3 also acts as a type of hormone, meaning it stimulates the production of hormones, and because these hormones aren't produced in sufficient amounts humans develop hormone resistance and hormone imbalances — an example of imbalance is when testosterone levels drop and estrogen levels rise. Studies of humans with hair loss show that exposure to perfluoro-benzene (PFBA) has adverse effects on hair health, especially in those with higher concentrations and longer exposure periods, especially if used excessively. PFBA exposure is also associated with inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergies, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune disease. 

3. Sulphates

Sulfate is an alkaline that produces sulfur dioxide, releasing gasses that are poisonous to fish, birds, and some mammals. When humans are exposed to large quantities, these gasses result in stomach irritation, headaches, and nausea which can take a toll on mental and physical health.

Sulfate products are widely used in shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergents, dishwashing powders, and cleaning solutions and therefore commonly used in households.

Although this means that it can often be present in everyday household items, it's not generally known to be carcinogenic. Sulfate products are sometimes labeled as pH neutral, however, most states only require the product label to reflect this. While the US Food and Drug Administration considers sulfate alone to be safe to ingest, the body requires a balance of both sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride. Therefore, when sulfates are used as preservatives and additives, you could be consuming higher amounts of hydrogen chloride than necessary. 

Remember exposures to these chemicals build up overtime, the additive effect, while one use or even lifetime use may not affect you, these exposures are passed to 3 or more generations. Everyone has a different tolerance, and our bodies may respond differently, but at some point continued exposure to these type of ingredients will affect your body’s function in some way.