Using certain hair care products during pregnancy can impact maternal hormone levels and pose risks to the unborn child, a new study has found.
- Use of hair dyes or bleaches is associated with lower sex steroid hormones
- In future mothers, this can lead to stunted growth for the baby or even premature birth.
Phthalates, parabens, phenols, parabens, toxic metals… The list of endocrine disruptors is long. And they hide in the products of our daily life. In particular in cosmetics and in particular sprays or hair dyes whose composition is likely to influence the synthesis, regulation, transport, metabolism and reception of hormones.
According to a new study, these risks are particularly marked during pregnancy. Conducted by researchers at New Jersey Rutgers State University and published in the journal Environmental Research, the study was performed on 1,070 pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 40 enrolled in the Puerto Rico PROTECT cohort.
The objective of this research is to study environmental exposures in pregnant women and their children who live in the northern karst zone of Puerto Rico. More specifically for this group of women, the aim was also to understand what impact the use of beauty products could have on the levels of sex steroid hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, as well as thyroid hormones.
Increased risks of premature births
After examining participants’ blood samples, the authors of the work collected information relating to their lifestyle: profession, hygiene, use of personal care products (perfumes, lotions, cosmetics, nail polish, hair products, etc.) .
The researchers found that the use of hair products (especially dyes, bleaches, relaxers and mousses) was associated with lower levels of sex steroid hormones. Disturbances that can lead to risks for future mothers and their unborn child, such as stunted growth or premature birth.
“Further research should address the public health impact of exposure to chemicals in hair products in pregnant populations“, underlines the lead author of the study, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health.
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