Chemical ingredients such as parabens and benzophenones found in some cosmetics and personal care products may be associated with an increased risk of developing endometriosis. These chemicals are found in some lipsticks, nail polishes, paints, face creams, face masks, hair sprays and hair sprays. Characteristically, they act as toxic agents for the endocrine glands and are able to mimic or block the action of some hormones. This was established by a study published in the journal Environmental Research conducted by researchers from the University of Granada and the San Cecilio Clinical University Hospital. Endometriosis is a common disease It is estimated that 1 in 10 women of childbearing age is affected by endometriosis. It is a benign pathology that occurs when the endometrium – the mucous layer that covers the inside of the uterus – grows in various areas in the abdomen and pelvis. This growth causes a number of symptoms such as painful and/or irregular menstruation, discomfort during intercourse or urination, pelvic pain, bowel problems, infertility. Although the symptoms can significantly reduce a woman’s quality of life, it is difficult to reach a diagnosis. It is estimated that it can take between 7-8 years after the onset of symptoms to determine the diagnosis. Treatment usually involves medication to relieve discomfort, and if the endometriosis is severe, surgery is required. The Role of Hormones in Endometriosis Although the exact causes of endometriosis are unknown, it is suspected that they may be diverse, including genetic, epigenetic, and environmental causes. Hormones seem to play a key role, say the authors of the study – gynecologist Olga Ocon of the University Hospital San Cecilio and professor Francisco Artacho of the University of Granada. Researchers suggest that the presence of chemicals capable of mimicking or blocking the action of endocrine glands hormones present in many products for daily use may contribute to the increase in diagnosed cases of endometriosis. Among these chemicals are parabens and benzophenones, which are widely used in the cosmetics industry. Chemicals alone cannot cause endometriosis, but they would be part of the so-called exposome, an increasingly talked about concept that refers to the non-genetic environmental factors we are exposed to throughout our lives that determine health us. Thus, parabens and benzophenones would be part of this exposome that increases the risk of endometriosis. Cosmetics and risk of endometriosis To confirm the link between chemicals in some cosmetic products and endometriosis, researchers quantified the internal levels of parabens and benzophenones in a total of 124 women, with and without endometriosis, from public hospitals in the city of Granada.Detailed information on the use of cosmetics and personal hygiene products for each of them has been collected. The results obtained show a clear relationship between the higher use of different types of cosmetics and higher internal levels of parabens and benzophenones. Internal levels of some of these hormone-disrupting agents have been found to be associated with an increased risk of developing endometriosis, Okon and Artacho said. The researchers point out that using products without these chemicals could be another measure that would help reduce both endometriosis and other diseases where there is growing evidence of the role of these chemical agents as risk factors. Sources: https://www.sabervivirtv.com/ginecologia/endometriosis-relacionan-quimicos-algunos-cosmeticos_5447 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33069703/