Women Beware! Your Everyday Beauty Products May Have Cancer-Causing Chemicals

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Updated May 8, 2025 | 08:00 PM IST

SummaryMany everyday beauty products, including lotions, shampoos, and eyelash glue, contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives—linked to cancer risks—especially impacting Black and Latina women who use these products frequently.
Women Beware! Your Everyday Beauty Products May Have Cancer-Causing Chemicals

While beauty routines are typically associated with self-care and health, a new study paints a shocking picture of what is possibly being stored in the bottles on our bathroom shelves. A recent study found in Environmental Science & Technology Letters finds that formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, which are identified human carcinogens, are widely present in a vast array of beauty products used by women all over the world. And alarmingly, the people most affected are often unaware of the risks they face daily.

In a long-term observational study, Silent Spring Institute researchers monitored the at-home personal care practices of 70 Black and Latina women in Los Angeles for 5-7 days. The subjects provided ingredient lists and usage records for the products they used in the home and found the surprising trend: 53% of the subjects reported using products that had formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing agents present.

What Is Formaldehyde and Why Is It Used?

Formaldehyde is a pungent, colorless gas with broad use for its antimicrobial activity. In cosmetics, it is used as a preservative to increase shelf life and inhibit bacterial growth. But for all its useful purposes, it has a dark side: formaldehyde is a carcinogen according to several health organizations, including the U.S. National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like DMDM hydantoin and quaternium-15 are also commonly substituted for formaldehyde. These chemicals gradually release small amounts of the chemical, offering continued protection against contamination—but possibly releasing cancer-causing agents with each use.

Among these products were:

  • Shampoos and conditioners
  • Body washes and lotions
  • Eyeliner and eyelash adhesive
  • Hand soaps and skin lighteners

One respondent used three formaldehyde-formulated products daily: a leave-in conditioner, a rinse-off conditioner, and a body wash. Others utilized hand soaps with formaldehyde agents several times daily—indicating repeated and consistent use.

Throughout the study, the 64 women used a total of 1,143 beauty products. Each woman, on average, applied 17 different products daily, with some applying as many as 43. This amount of exposure highlights the cumulative risk of toxic chemicals in daily regimens.

"Repeated exposures such as these can accumulate and do significant harm," explained Dr. Robin Dodson, senior author of the study. "It's not hair straightener anymore—it's everywhere that these chemicals are."

This problem doesn't impact all women the same. Black and Latina women are especially at risk because of socio-cultural and economic pressures that lead to conformity to Eurocentric beauty ideals. Regular use of chemical hair relaxers, skin lighteners, and other specialized products puts these communities at increased risk for health effects—such as breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers, which disproportionately impact Black women.

"This is all of the legacy and history of discrimination," said Black Women for Wellness co-author and executive director Janette Robinson Flint. "We shouldn't have to be chemists to know whether our products will make us ill."

Even though formaldehyde was designated a human carcinogen more than a decade ago, regulatory intervention in the United States has lagged and has been inadequate. The FDA had made plans in 2023 to propose prohibiting the use of formaldehyde in hair straighteners. However, two years down the line, no concrete action has been made.

Meanwhile, the European Union prohibited formaldehyde in cosmetics back in 2009. Formaldehyde and its releasing agents are also subject to strict labelling in the UK if found in concentrations above specific levels.

Several U.S. states, such as California and Washington, have introduced or implemented bills regulating these ingredients in cosmetics—but their efficacy is uncertain.

What to Watch for on Labels?

One of the biggest problems consumers have is that formaldehyde-releasing ingredients are not always labeled clearly. Rather than "formaldehyde," you might find chemical names such as:

  • DMDM Hydantoin
  • Imidazolidinyl Urea
  • Diazolidinyl Urea
  • Quaternium-15
  • Bronopol

These are complicated and unfamiliar to most people, so it is difficult for consumers to make informed decisions.

Other Toxic Chemicals to Avoid

Formaldehyde is only one ingredient in the toxic mix in many personal care products. Other ingredients of concern include:

Benzophenone: A UV filter tied to hormone disruption

Parabens: Estrogen-mimicking preservatives tied to breast cancer

Hydroquinone: Skin-lightening agent prohibited in most countries

Triclosan: Antimicrobial now limited due to health and environmental issues

PPD (p-phenylenediamine): Hair dye ingredient tied to allergic reaction

Coal tar and mica: Identified irritants and possible carcinogens

Natural Alternatives for Your Beauty Routine

The best news is that you don't have to sacrifice safety for beauty. Here are detox tips for your beauty routine:

Go natural: Opt for products with fewer ingredients and familiar names. Ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, and beeswax are moisturizing and harmless.

Select certified clean brands: Opt for brands that have been certified by EWG Verified, USDA Organic, or those meeting EU cosmetic regulations.

DIY solutions: Consider homemade masks, scrubs, and hair oils using simple kitchen ingredients.

Shop small and local: Many indie brands are more transparent about their ingredient sourcing and often offer customizable, preservative-free products.

Stay informed: Use apps like Think Dirty or EWG’s Skin Deep to scan and evaluate products before purchase.

The responsibility for knowing what's in our products cannot rest with the average consumer alone. "We need real regulatory action to protect women," stated Dr. Dodson. "Reading labels isn't enough—we need bans on toxic ingredients."

Until now, awareness, education, and advocacy are the strongest defense. Your health is more valuable than any marketing slogan—read past the gloss and select beauty that doesn't have to come at the expense of well-being.

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The Hidden Turmoil: Why Our Youth Are Quietly Crumbling and What We Can Do About It

Updated Jul 25, 2025 | 02:00 AM IST

SummaryThe mental health crisis among youth is driven by social pressures, digital overload, and emotional neglect. The expert urges bold reforms, from emotional education and peer support to tech-integrated healing, calling for a complete mental health renaissance. Read on...
Credits: Canva

In an age of endless scrolling, instant likes, and constant comparison, the mental health of young people is taking a nosedive and fast. The rise in depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, and behavioural disorders has exploded in recent years, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the real tragedy is often hidden behind filtered selfies and people who aren't paying attention.

Quoting the World Health Organisation, Dr. Monica Sood shares that one in seven adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 globally suffers from a mental health problem. Suicide is the fourth most common cause of death among teens. In India, the numbers are no less harrowing—“a student kills themselves every hour,” says the National Crime Records Bureau.

This is a generation supposedly poised to “have it all”, but as Dr. Sood says, they’re instead buckling under immense pressure, from academic demands and the need for social validation to competition with peers, family expectations, and uncertainty about the future.

While awareness is slowly improving, Dr. Sood laments that “conversations about youth mental health are still clouded by stigma, cultural denial, and a lack of resources.” Therapy remains a luxury, school counselling is scarce, and what should be called burnout has been normalised as digital fatigue.

The Root Causes Go Beyond Exams

Dr. Sood argues that to truly address the crisis, we need to dig deeper. “We need to realise that the crisis is more than just schoolwork or screen time.” Instead, it’s the result of a complicated mesh of factors:

  • Unrealistic expectations from society: The pressure to be perfect in every way is, in Dr. Sood’s words, “a psychological war zone.”
  • Dysfunctional families: Emotional unavailability, abuse, neglect, and overcontrol can deeply harm a child’s sense of self.
  • Lack of emotional vocabulary: Many young people don’t have the words to express what they’re feeling. Instead, their pain shows up as anger, withdrawal, or substance abuse.
  • Unfiltered digital exposure: Curated lives on social media fuel jealousy, insecurity, and body image issues.
  • Loss of spiritual and community ties: “The feeling of being part of something bigger is fading,” warns Dr. Sood.

A Mental Health Renaissance

But all is not lost. Dr. Sood lays out a refreshingly bold and unconventional action plan for what she calls a mental health renaissance—one that starts in schools and ends in society-wide reform.

Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy in the Curriculum

Dr. Sood urges schools to teach children how to manage their emotions just as they teach math. Weekly lessons in emotional intelligence, stress management, and nonviolent communication should begin from Class 1. “Add art therapy, journaling, breathing exercises, and storytelling,” she suggests, to make these lessons stick.

Empathy Ambassadors in Every Institution

Dr. Sood calls for a peer-led model of support—“Every school, college, and university should choose and train a few older students or peers to be ‘Empathy Ambassadors’.” These students should be trained to listen, maintain confidentiality, and support others in crisis. Sometimes, peer support can be more approachable than formal therapy.

Digital Detox Sabbaticals

“We fast for our bodies; we should fast for our minds too,” Dr. Sood says. She recommends monthly ‘silent days’ in schools and families—no screens, no judgements, just fun, creativity, and nature.

Rebuilding Sacred Third Spaces

Beyond home and school, young people need judgement-free zones to simply exist. “Think of libraries, community centres, and parks as ‘mental sanctuaries’,” says Dr. Sood. These could host music corners, open mic nights, and wellness cafés.

Combining AI, Ayurveda, and Psychology

Dr. Sood’s final suggestion marries ancient Indian wisdom with modern science—“Use Ayurvedic mind-body typing, psychometric tests, and AI-based behavioural tracking to make personalised mental health plans.” She envisions a future where technology aids rather than overwhelms, offering tailored, holistic mental health solutions.

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The Body’s Own Fabric Turns Fatal: What You Need to Know About Sarcomas

Updated Jul 24, 2025 | 11:00 PM IST

SummaryOften overlooked, sarcomas are rare but aggressive cancers that can affect anyone from infants to the elderly. Originating in connective tissues, they require prompt, specialised treatment. Early detection is key, as delayed diagnosis can lead to serious consequences.
Credits: Canva

When we talk about cancer, breast, lung, and colon usually dominate the conversation. But lurking quietly in the background is a lesser-known, often overlooked type: sarcomas. These rare cancers, which take root in connective tissues, don’t always get the attention they deserve. Yet, they deserve it and how.

Not Just One, But Many Types

Sarcomas are a group of cancers which arise from body tissues. It can be from bone, fat, muscle, tendons, nerves, blood and lymph vessels are the predominant ones.

Unlike most other cancers that generally strike older adults, sarcomas don’t discriminate by age. “These cancers can occur in relatively younger age groups,” Dr. Karthik K S, Consultant, Surgical Oncology at KMC Hospital, Mangalore, says. Sometimes, these are also triggered by certain genetic mutations, making them all the more complex.

The Trouble with Tumours

These tumours can quietly grow in any part of the body, which means the symptoms are often subtle and deceptive. Dr. Karthik says, “Presentations may be much simpler than the consequences. Unplanned treatment may lead to rather grievous consequences.”

Because of the wide-ranging locations where sarcomas can appear, they often call for specialists across disciplines. “The treatment of these types of cancers will need specialised doctors, often oncologist surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists,” he explains. In short, a generalist approach just won’t do.

Diagnosis: More Than Just a Scan

Before treatment even begins, the real detective work starts. “The patient will need a full evaluation,” says Dr. Karthik. That begins with imaging, but even this depends on where the sarcoma has taken hold. Once imaging has painted a picture, a biopsy is essential. “These diseases need a biopsy to prove the diagnosis and often subclassify the disease based on IHC (immunohistochemistry),” he says.

If there’s a suspicion of hereditary involvement, genetic studies may also be required. Only once everything is on the table—stage, type, and location—can doctors chalk out a treatment plan.

Surgery Takes the Lead

According to Dr. Karthik, “treatment includes surgery as a main modality of treatment.” But it’s rarely a one-man show. “Treatment may also include chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” he adds, making it a team effort from start to finish.

Kids Are Not Spared

Dr. Sachin Sekhar Biswal, Medical Oncology Consultant at Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneshwar, draws attention to another critical aspect: age is no protection. “Connective tissue is an important constituent of the human body. The cancer that arises from the connective tissue mostly constitutes sarcoma. It can be seen in all age groups, starting from infancy to geriatric populations.”

In fact, in children, sarcomas are surprisingly common. “Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of cancer in the children,” Dr. Biswal states. “Apart from that, osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are also common types of sarcomas in children.”

Symptoms

Since sarcomas can develop anywhere in the body, the symptoms can be vague or misleading. Dr. Biswal points out, “It can present as a progressively increasing swelling or a lump, bone overgrowth with pain, swelling or limitation in the range of motion, or simply a vague lump based on its location.”

Which is why early detection is tough and treatment becomes even more time-sensitive.

Teamwork Makes the Treatment Work

Dr. Biswal explains that sarcoma treatment is not a one-specialist show. “Sarcoma treatment is always a multimodality effort involving medical and surgical oncologists, orthopaedic oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, onco-pathologists and the rehabilitation team.”

He shares that the most common treatment plan includes “surgical excision followed by radiation or chemotherapy”. When it comes to bone or limb sarcomas, gone are the days when amputation was the only solution. “Limb salvage therapy rather than amputation is the new way. It can be achieved by high-quality implants or autografts,” he adds.

Speed Is Everything

Time really is of the essence. Dr. Biswal stresses, “Though rare, the tendency to metastasise is high, such that diseases like Ewing’s sarcoma are considered systemic from the very time of diagnosis.” In other words, even at diagnosis, it’s already a whole-body concern.

But with timely diagnosis and swift treatment, outcomes can be significantly improved. “A timely diagnosis and a prompt treatment can save a life and avoid much morbidity,” Dr. Biswal reminds us.

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Doctors Dismissed Her Repeated Concerns Until She Switched Gynecologists - Turns Out It Was Cancer

Updated Jul 24, 2025 | 07:00 PM IST

SummaryCancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in the world, a disease that has the ability to completely change the trajectory of a person’s life. Avi also faced the same and came out stronger and full of purpose.
Doctors Dismissed Her Repeated Concerns Until She Switched Gynecologists - Turns Out It Was Cancer

(Credit-American Cancer Society)

Receiving a cancer diagnosis changes a person’s life in many ways. The impending sense of doom, the feeling of an uncertain future as well as the constant stress about how this disease is affecting your loved ones are just a few of the things they experience. It may be fiction to us, but it is someone else’s reality.

Avi Grant's life took an unexpected turn on August 19, 2021, when she received a diagnosis of stage III cervical cancer. At the time, she was a newlywed, thriving in her career, and looking forward to starting a family.

But that isn’t all. There was a difficult diagnosis wait for her, what's worse is that it could have gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for not giving up.

Search for Answers

Avi's health journey began in September 2019 after she had a very hard miscarriage. Besides worrying about having children, Avi just felt like something wasn't right with her body. She felt like her doctors weren't giving her enough clear answers, even though she kept asking questions. So, she decided to switch to a new women's doctor.

Her new doctor quickly got to work, doing many tests. Soon, they found what others had missed: cervical cancer. Avi used an app to check her medical records, so she actually saw the cancer diagnosis online before her doctor even called her. She recalled seeing the words "squamous cell carcinoma" and knew right away it meant cancer. Although she was shocked and was grasping the reality of her diagnosis, she did not waste any time and jumped right away into her treatment. She wanted to know what she needed to do next to fight this.

What is Squamous-Cell Carcinoma?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix, which is the lower part of the womb (uterus) in women. Most cervical cancers are a type called squamous-cell carcinoma. These cancers are often caused by certain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), especially types 16 and 18.

According to StatPearl it is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, coming after breast, lung, and bowel cancer.

Can It Be Prevented?

Cervical cancer is actually easy to prevent. This is thanks to a test called the Pap smear. This test can find abnormal cells that could turn into cancer before they become a serious problem. If caught early, these bad cells can be removed. However, in many poorer countries, this cancer is still very common. This is because they don't have widespread screening programs like the Pap smear.

Tough Treatments

Avi had a very strong treatment plan. This included many medical procedures, then chemotherapy and two types of radiation – one from outside her body and one from inside called brachytherapy. The brachytherapy was especially hard for her. It caused her a lot of physical pain and emotional stress because of how it's done and its side effects.

Brachytherapy works by putting a device with radiation right inside the body, very close to the cancer.

This helps target the cancer cells directly while trying to keep healthy cells safe. For Avi, this meant a large device with radiation was put into her vagina, and she had to stay completely still while it was in place. She wants other women to know exactly what to expect with this treatment. She believes that if women understood the process and saw the equipment beforehand, it could help them feel less scared and worried. Even with all the pain and stress, Avi kept going with amazing strength.

Cancer's Impact on Feelings and Mind

Avi's fight against cancer wasn't just about her body; it also deeply affected her mind and feelings. After her treatment finished, she found herself struggling with depression and anxiety. These were feelings she hadn't expected or known much about.

She said, "I didn’t feel like myself." Even her husband noticed, asking if she wanted to go out, but she just wanted to stay home. That's when she realized something was wrong. She got professional help and learned how important it is to take care of your mental health. She feels this part is often forgotten during and after cancer treatment. She wants people to talk more about mental health, reminding everyone that "It’s OK not to be OK.”

Finding Strength in Others and Speaking Out

Throughout everything, Avi refused to let cancer make her feel negative. She looked for help and found comfort in groups like the American Cancer Society (ACS). Then, she started to speak out herself, sharing her powerful story in news interviews and at community events.

The ACS really helped her recovery. They connected her with useful resources and gave her chances to share her story and raise awareness, like at local Relay For Life events. She felt how powerful it was to share her experience and connect with other people. This also helped her find support groups and tools for life during and after treatment, which she feels is often ignored. She said, "Nobody talks about what happens after cancer. It’s like, ‘Congratulations, you did amazing. Now go live life.’ But I had to figure out how to live again."

Avi wisely puts it, "Cancer changes you. Everyone expects you to go back to the way you were, back to normal, but it isn’t like that. I’ve changed. Cancer changed me.”

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