title: Cosmetics use and age at menopause: is there a connection?
abstract: Cosmetics contain a vast number of chemicals, most of which are not under the regulatory purview of the Food and Drug Administration. Only a few of these chemicals have been evaluated for potential deleterious health impact: parabens, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and siloxanes. A review of the ingredients in the best-selling and top-rated products of the top beauty brands in the world, as well as a review of highlighted chemicals by nonprofit environmental organizations, reveals 11 chemicals and chemical families of concern: butylated hydroxyanisole/butylated hydroxytoluene, coal tar dyes, diethanolamine, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, parabens, phthalates, 1,4-dioxane, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, siloxanes, talc/asbestos, and triclosan. Age at menopause can be affected by a variety of mechanisms, including endocrine disruption, failure of DNA repair, oxidative stress, shortened telomere length, and ovarian toxicity. There is a lack of available studies to make a conclusion regarding cosmetics use and age at menopause. What little data there are suggest that future studies are warranted. Women with chronic and consistent use of cosmetics across their lifespan may be a population of concern. More research is required to better elucidate the relationship and time windows of vulnerability and the effects of mixtures and combinations of products on ovarian health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Erika T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: shruthi.mahalingaiah@bmc.org.
authors.forename: Shruthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahalingaiah
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000818:Animals; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors
keywords: Menopause; cosmetics; ovarian aging; personal care products; reproductive senescence