Endocrine disruptors: why are they being talked about so much?
It is only in the last twenty years or so that science has begun to fully measure the impact of endocrine disruptors (EDs) on our health.
According to The Endocrine Society , these substances can interfere with our multiple endocrine (hormonal) systems, including those involved in: fetal development, immunity, fertility, metabolism, weight regulation and even brain development.
What worries researchers today is that their effects do not stop at a single generation : some exposures can leave a biological imprint that can be passed on to children - or even grandchildren.
Certain periods of life are particularly sensitive, 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 the activation or deactivation of our genes.
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 cell behavior.
These mechanisms do not change the DNA itself, but modify the way cells function over time.
In the context of breast cancer, this data is particularly monitored. 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 vulnerability to certain diseases.
Even though not everything is yet predictable, the scientific evidence clearly points to a link between chronic exposure and increased risk.
How safe is a cosmetic product?
In Europe, cosmetic standards are among the strictest in the world.
But one point remains problematic: the official list of endocrine disruptors is very limited and the process of adding a suspect ingredient to the official list takes years, even decades.
That's why, at Skin Diligent, We have chosen to go beyond the regulations. All our products are tested to detect estrogenic endocrine disruption, a test called OEDT. This is 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 which have tested positive for endocrine disruptors.
In chemistry, the cocktail effect refers to the result of a mixture of ingredients.
In chemistry, the term "cocktail effect" refers to the interaction of several ingredients. An ingredient that is harmless on its own can become an endocrine disruptor when combined with other molecules.
That is why the absence of “listed” ingredients does not guarantee a truly safe product. Only a test on the complete final formula can guarantee the absence of disruptive activity.
That's why one of Skin Diligent's pillars is to test all finished skincare products for endocrine disruptors, not just ingredients.