As humans, we have only begun to seriously recognize the risks of endocrine disruptors in the last 20 years.
According to the Endocrine Society, our multiple endocrine (hormonal) systems, including those involved in fetal development, immune response, reproduction, metabolism, obesity, and brain development, can be targeted by EDCs (endocrine disruptors). PEs have also been associated with epigenetic modification of DNA across generations , affecting the children and even grandchildren of those exposed to the initial attack.
There are also times in our lives, such as pregnancy and puberty, when the body is more sensitive to hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (because EDCs mimic hormones).
What is the link between endocrine disruptors and epigenetics?
Endocrine disruptors can interfere not only with our hormones, but also with the epigenome, the control layer that determines whether our genes are turned on or off. Research shows that endocrine disruptors can alter this control system through mechanisms such as changes in DNA methylation, histone structure, and microRNAs, all of which regulate cellular behavior. These subtle changes don't rewrite the DNA itself, but they can disrupt normal signaling pathways and affect tissue function over time.
These findings are highly relevant to breast cancer research. Studies suggest that exposure to endocrine disruptors, including substances such as BPA, phthalates, parabens, dioxins, and heavy metals, can leave epigenetic "marks" on breast tissue that increase susceptibility to the disease. While it is not yet clear whether these changes can predict disease outcome, evidence suggests a link between long-term exposure to endocrine disruptors and a higher risk of breast cancer.
How safe is a cosmetic product?
Cosmetic regulations around the world set product safety standards. The standards set by the EU and the UK are among the highest in the world. However, the regulated list of endocrine-disrupting chemicals is still very short, and many suspect substances have yet to be listed. The process of getting a suspect ingredient on the official list takes years, if not decades.
That's why, at Skin Diligent, we've gone beyond regulations. We've diligently tested all our skincare products for estrogen-like endocrine disruption, a test called EMCDDA. It's an innovative in vitro test on living cells, developed jointly by academia and French industry.
Only 16 chemical ingredients have been confirmed as endocrine disruptors by the EU (14 of which are environmental disruptors and only 6 are human endocrine disruptors). But hundreds of ingredients (mostly synthetic) are on the list of suspected substances. We know from our own testing that there are natural ingredients that are not on the confirmed or suspected lists, but have been tested as endocrine disruptors.
In chemistry, the cocktail effect refers to the result of mixing ingredients.
The cocktail effect can create a situation in which an ingredient is "triggered" by the chemistry of the ingredient mixture and becomes an endocrine disruptor. Therefore, the absence of known endocrine-disrupting ingredients is not a guarantee that the product is free of endocrine disruption. Only testing of the final formula can certify this.
That's why one of Skin Diligent's pillars is testing all finished skincare products for endocrine disruptors. Currently, the technology for testing skincare products on live cells is limited to estrogen-type disruptors, as these have been deemed the most dangerous, affecting human reproduction.