5 Common Skincare Ingredients that May Lead to Cancer

• Written by Care Health Insurance

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“The amount of benzene in the dry shampoos may cause cancer”

The news channels are ablaze with such headlines for valid reasons. Experts have recently discovered that benzene, an essential chemical present in dry shampoo, may have adverse effects on an individual’s health.

Perfumes and skincare products used in our everyday lives are filled with chemicals that, according to health experts, have a negative impact on our health. The best skincare brands in India follow strict laws while manufacturing skincare essentials. However, some carcinogens still surpass the quality tests and can be easily found on your shelf! 

Are you heading to your dressing tables to check if you have those carcinogens hidden in your skincare regime? Let us come with you!

What is Carcinogenic?

Substances, agents or organisms that can cause cancer are called carcinogenic. There are various carcinogens that may occur around you in the environment naturally such as ultraviolet rays from sunlight. Carcinogens are also found in exhausts of automobiles and cigarettes. And that’s when carcinogenic chemicals cause various kinds of cancer and other health conditions that can’t be easily cured.

5 Skincare Ingredients You Must Beware About!

Although not instantly, here are the five cancer-causing products we use everyday in our skincare regime, the prolonged use of which may lead you to the doors of cancer!

Triclosan

Triclosan is a chlorinated organic compound easily found in over-the-counter skincare products and toothpaste. The ingredient is used to prevent antibacterial and antifungal growth. According to the FDA, Triclosan can cause severe cases of cancer in case of exposure to the skin and the lining of the mouth. 

Cheaply Tested Talc

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used in makeup and skincare products such as face powder, blushes, eye-shadow, contour powders, and now even in powdered sunscreens! 

Although talc is naturally a safe ingredient, it is often contaminated with well-known examples of carcinogens (a mineral), "asbestos.” 

Mentioning the contamination of talc with asbestos in ill-filtered talc, the Food and Drug Administration in 2019 suggested young ladies avoid using cheap skincare products. 

Formaldehyde

Being in direct contact with formaldehyde may result in severe cancer cases. However, this does not change the fact that formaldehyde is an abundantly available carcinogen in our skincare products. The skincare products on which you can spot formaldehyde as one of the ingredients are nail polishes, shower gels, shampoos, and body lotions.

Coal Tar 

Coal tar is one of the types of carcinogens easily found in scalp care products such as anti-dandruff shampoos, hair dyes, and other hair-darkening products. 

When young chimney workers reported scrotal cancer, coal tar was discovered as a carcinogen.

Parabens

Before the cancerous properties of benzene were discovered, Paraben was the talk of the town. Various cosmetic companies have already started avoiding paraben in their skincare products to bring revolution.

Paraben is an antifungal ingredient used in skin care products to increase the shelf-life of the products. However, excessive skin contact with Parabens may result in breast and skin cancer.

Major Skincare Products Containing Carcinogens

Most carcinogens are added to skincare products to ensure a higher shelf life and reduce the risk of infection. The major chemical ingredients that are mentioned above are found in: 

What’s the Way Out?

Now that you have discovered the above-mentioned ingredients in most of your skincare products, don’t panic! Rather, try to reduce your interaction with these harmful chemicals by switching to organic skincare products.

Always remember what Hermione Granger said: 

“Fear of a name only increases the fear of the thing itself”

Don’t just sit back and calculate your probability of getting cancer in fear. Take a smart step forward and get yourself a Critical Illness Insurance plan by Care Health Insurance. 

Getting a critical illness insurance plan can help you rest assured of financial needs during a health crisis. The plan by Care Health Insurance is eloquently designed to cover critical illnesses such as cancer, stroke, paralysis, liver failure, and 32 other critical health issues.

>> Also Read: Why to Opt for a cancer illness plan over cancer mediclaim

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only: Policy Assurance and Claims at the underwriter’s discretion.