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For years I have been warning about sex hormones that are found in plastics ^[2] and how they can cause pain especially low back pain. They also increase the chance of breast and skin cancers as well as low sperm count in men and other hormonal problems.  This weekend, I learned that many skin care products also contain estrogen compounds. Water follows estrogen, so it used on purpose for anti wrinkling products.

The most common names of environmental estrogens to watch out for are:

• Parapens including butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben.
• Placental extracts which are used in Used in hair shampoos and conditioners, facial moisturizers and astringents, and body and skin creams
• UV Screens including benzophenone-1, benzophenone-2, homosalate, octinoxate, oxybenzone (when hit by sunlight,
  oxybenzone breaks down to an estrogen mimic), and sulisobenzone.  These are found not just in sun tan lotion but also fragrance and perfume, hair spray, shampoo, conditioner, styling gel, face cream, foundation, moisturizer, lipstick, liquid hand soap, body wash, insect repellent, nail polish and polish remover, and aftershave and shaving creams.

While I believe that everyone should avoid these ingredients, people that I’ve given selenium and Vitamin E to should be especially cautious, as well as anyone who has a family history of breast or skin cancer, hormonal problems, or even if you suffer from low back pain.

You can read more how environmental estrogens cause breast cancer at Cornell University’s Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors ^[3].

Here is a video that they produced with animation explaining the dangers: