Sunscreen Chemicals Cause Endometriosis?
A recent study published in Environmental Science and Technology found that certain ingredients in most sunscreen products could be contributing to endometriosis in women. Endometriosis is a painful gynecological condition that affects 5% – 10% of women, particularly during child-bearing years. Severe cases can result in lesions or cysts in the pelvic area usually treated with surgery. Other studies have shown that the risk of endometriosis is impacted by what a woman eats.
While a number of ingredients were examined, the one that showed “significant trend” towards the “odds of an endometriosis diagnosis” is a chemical known as 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (2,4OH-BP). As this is one of the first studies to look at the relationship between sunscreen products and specific ailments, care should be taken when using these products. While this study is not necessarily definitive, it could be the first in a growing list of ailments that are caused or exacerbated by chemicals that are applied to the skin and subsequently absorbed.
Applying a variety of man-made chemicals to the largest organ system of the human body (the skin), which are absorbed into the body and then processed by the internal organs sounds risky at best.