Embarking into a hair care regimen is as important as skincare. Everyone is continuously searching for hair products that will work best for them. However, some of these products may contain elements that may be detrimental to health.
Hair care and beauty products sold to Black women often contain a group of hormone-disrupting chemicals called parabens. Based on a recent study, those chemicals are linked to breast cancer risk. Similarly, they can fuel the spread of cancer cells among Black women compared to white women.
How Do Parabens Cause Cancer?
Parabens are a group of related chemicals used as preservatives for beauty products. The parabens used frequently in cosmetics are butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. Cosmetics that may contain parabens include moisturizers, makeup, shaving products, and hair care products. Some brands of deodorant may
Preservatives are often used in cosmetics to keep mold and harmful bacteria from growing and prolong their shelf lives. But in humans, parabens can replicate the hormone estrogen, possibly activating dangerous cell growth, according to a study.
The researchers presented the study at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society on June 13, 2022, in Atlanta. In particular, the paper analyzed how parabens cause cancer cells to grow. It was administered to both Black women and white women. Researchers found parabens increased the growth of Black breast cancer cell lines. However, it did not affect white breast cancer cell lines at the same dose.
Likewise, parabens increased the expression of genes connected to breast cancer in both Black and white women.
Here’s what researcher Lindsey S. Treviño said in a press release:
“Black women are more likely to buy and use hair products containing these types of chemicals. But we do not have enough data about how parabens may increase breast cancer risk among Black women. This is because Black women have not been picked to participate in most research studies looking at this aspect. Studies to test this link have only used breast cancer cell lines from white women.“
Cancer Risk from Black Women’s Cosmetic Products
The study is part of a community-led research project,” Bench to Community Initiative.” Scientists, breast cancer survivors, hair stylists, and community advocates participated in the project. They aim to find the relationship between harmful chemicals in hair-care products and breast cancer.
Below are related studies and demographics to support the claims that parabens cause cancer:
- The Breast Cancer Research Foundation said there is a 41 percent higher death rate from breast cancer among Black women.
- The mortality rate from breast cancer of Black women aged 50 is double compared to white women.
- Other studies have also observed the link between hair care products sold to Black women and breast cancer.
- Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study in 1995 with 59,000 women participants did not find a link between moderate use of hair relaxers to a higher risk of breast cancer.
- Researchers at BU find evidence that heavy use of lye-containing hair relaxers may be linked with a more aggressive type of breast cancer.
“These results provide additional data that parabens also cause harmful effects in breast cancer cells from Black women,” Treviño said in the press statement.
FDA’s Take on Parabens and their Link to Health Problems
Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to review published studies on the safety of parabens. At this point, the agency does not have information proving that parabens used in cosmetics affect human health. FDA will use the data from the recent study to evaluate this area. With that said, FDA assured that they would advise the industry and consumers once they determine that parabens cause cancer or other health problems.
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