Have you even checked the ingredients list printed on the back of your skincare bottles? Or tried knowing their side effects?
Did you know what side effects it has on our DNA? I know the answer already.
And somewhere, it is not entirely your fault. All of us are so influenced by social media that whatever we see on these platforms, we are supposed to believe it and we do. Without thinking about the backstory, without knowing the actual truth.
Don’t panic, I am here to let you know the truth and no, don’t worry, I am not going to tell you just to stop using them.
But I am going to tell you in this article what exactly you should take care of while using your skincare and it includes everything, creams, lip balms, serums, sunscreen, deodorants, etc.
Yes, I have heard all the big promises the MNCs make about skin radiance, anti-aging miracles and whatnot. And they are right about this, too; they do deliver all this, but at the cost of cellular stress, hormone disruption, and DNA damage.
The potential genotoxic and endocrine-disruption effects of harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, acrylates and more, found in the personal care products, are also discussed in various research and Journals.
I’ve put together some of the common beauty habits that can be silently toxic to your DNA.
Stay tuned.
Read more: Can’t Wake Up Early? Your DNA Might Be the Reason.
Key Topics:
Using aluminum-containing deodorants
There may be a connection between breast cancer risk and underarm cosmetics, according to recent results from a case-control study published in E. Bio. Medicine. According to the study, frequent use of deodorants containing aluminum may be linked to an increased incidence of breast tumors in the upper outer quadrant.
Compounds like aluminum chloride and aluminum chlorohydrate, which have been demonstrated to cause oxidative stress, double-strand DNA breaks, and even disrupt estrogen activity—a known contributing factor to the development of breast cancer—are commonly found in these products.
Although this study does not prove that aluminum causes cancer directly, it does demonstrate a compelling link that is difficult to overlook. Excess aluminum in the body can cause oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance, which are known to harm DNA and interfere with gene function.
Additionally, since early exposure can have a lasting effect on us, it may be wise to limit the use of aluminum-based deodorants, especially before the age of 30, just to be safe until we have more information.
Read more: Tattoo Ink Causes DNA Damage and Much More, Says Research.
Frequent hair dye
Aromatic amines are chemicals found in commercial hair dyes. These aromatic amines are byproducts of product manufacturing (hair dye). And the shocking part is that these aromatic amines have been classified as known, probable, and possible human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Research has shown that women who regularly used hair dyes containing these compounds had a 23% higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who didn’t. These amines are linked to DNA damage, estrogen disruption, and tumor growth in experimental models.
Simply put, frequent hair dye might be doing more than changing your hair color—it could be damaging your DNA.
A study published by Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP) titled “Aromatic Amines and Breast Cancer Risk” further highlights the dangers of these chemicals. According to the report, women between puberty and childbirth are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of aromatic amines. This exposure significantly raises their risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
Tobacco smokers, frequent hair dye users, and people working in industries like textile, dye, and rubber manufacturing are the most likely to be exposed.
BCPP also recommends limiting contact with hair dyes, reducing intake of well-cooked meats (on that note, we’ve already published an article covering how certain cooking habits can damage your DNA—check that out too), and avoiding smoke from wood chips or tobacco, which may also release these DNA-damaging compounds.
Using expired products
The heading itself should be a red flag — they’re expired for a reason. Every skincare product comes with a printed expiry date on the back, and it’s not there just for formality.
But let’s be honest — how many times have we shrugged it off with a casual “it’s just a month old, what harm could it possibly do?” Turns out, more than you think. The truth is, expired products don’t just stop working — they can actually start harming.
And it’s time we stop taking this lightly. Here’s what the science says about using skincare past its prime — and why you might want to double-check that date before your next use.
While direct genetic studies are limited, experts note that oxidized or expired ingredients can irritate skin, triggering inflammation, which can lead to DNA damage in skin cells.
Read more: Can Wi-Fi Really Damage Your DNA? Here is What Science Says.
Sunscreen dilemma
Let’s be honest — sunscreen has become the hottest skincare topic on the internet. Everywhere you scroll, someone’s telling you, “Don’t even open the door without SPF!” And honestly? I’m one of them.
I’m a big-time sunscreen freak myself — I never skip it. But at the same time, there’s growing scientific chatter that’s hard to ignore.
Yes, skipping sunscreen can damage your DNA. But on the other side, some studies are raising red flags about certain chemicals found in sunscreens, which could themselves be genotoxic or hormonally disruptive.
So what do we do? Wear it or toss it? Don’t worry — I’ve got you. Let’s decode this sunscreen dilemma with actual science — and help you make a smarter, safer choice for your skin and your genes.
So yes, of course — don’t step out into the sun without sunscreen. And no, I’m not just saying that. This advice comes straight from Dr. Elizabeth Buzney, a well-known dermatologist and professor at Harvard Medical School, in an interview featured by Julie Bain for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Sun & Skin News.
According to her, sunscreen is one of the best tools we have for protecting our skin — and more importantly, our DNA — from the harmful effects of UV rays. Consistent exposure to UV radiation has been directly linked to mutations in skin cell DNA, which may eventually lead to skin cancer. Sunscreen, when used properly, can act like a barrier between you and that cellular damage.
Also, research shows chemicals like oxybenzone, homosalate, octocrylene, and octyl methoxycinnamate can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, with detectable levels in urine, blood, and even breast milk.
Lab studies in cell cultures and animals have linked certain chemicals to neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and oxidative stress.
Another research paper published in the Belgian Journal of Oncology showed the side effects of two common cosmetics and sunscreen chemicals on our cellular DNA, particularly for the cells with estrogen receptors, such as breast cells.
The chemicals in question are benzophenone (BP-3) and propylparaben (PP). The first is mostly used in sunscreen, cosmetics and lotions. PP is a preservative that prevents bacterial decay in food, cosmetics and other skincare products.
Now the question is, what should we do?
I’ll answer this for you- use sunscreen whenever you step in the sun, but in your sunscreen, look for these harmful chemicals, choose your products wisely, and opt for mineral-based products if possible.
Easy right? Sometimes we just have to be a little smart before applying or using anything on our body and this is not only for sunscreens but an overall advice.
Read more: How Your DNA Decides What is Best for You?
Nail polishes and UV manicure lamps
We already discussed the side effects of the chemicals used in sunscreens and skin creams, but what about our hands?
The pretty nails for which we make a salon trip almost every week and recently it has become very common, but have we ever paused and asked: what are we exposing our hands to?
Living in an Indian household, eating with our hands is more than just a habit–it’s part of our culture. But have you ever paused to think: while eating a simple meal, could we be accidentally ingesting a bit of that pretty nail paint too?
It’s just nail polish, right? What harm could it possibly do? Well.. do we even know what’s inside it?
Lamps that emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation have become a standard in nail salons. This has heated several debates about skin cancer risks while getting a manicure. These lamps are used to speed-dry manicures and to set gel manicures. They produce UVA rays that have been linked to DNA damage and skin cancer.
Nail polishes contain harmful chemicals like toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). These chemicals play a significant role in better nail coloring with enhanced flexibility and durability.
According to a study published in the Iranian Journal of Public Health by Yongbum Kwon, despite the remarkable performance of these chemicals,
“The exposures to toluene, DBP and formaldehyde are reported to cause damage to the central nervous system, respiratory irritation, reproductive complications, as well as cancer, and thus these chemicals are nicknamed the ‘toxic trio’.
And when TPhP is absorbed into the body, it is rapidly metabolized into diphenyl phosphate (DPhP), including several other metabolites, and excreted in urine.”
However, emerging toxicological literatures indicate that TPhP exposure is closely associated with endocrine-disrupting, developmental/reproductive harm and genotoxic problems.
While accidentally ingesting trace toxins and exposing our hands to UVA rays, our DNA is exposed to several stresses, like oxidative stress, strand breaks, and epigenetic eruptions.
Again, my advice to you is to choose your beauty standards wisely!
Read more: 7 Daily Tech Habits That Might Be Hurting Your DNA.
Lipsticks and lip balms
Several studies reveal the presence of heavy metals like lead, aluminum, cadmium, chromium, titanium, and manganese in lip care products. Although the levels in which these toxins are present are normally standard.
However, we need to take into consideration the long-term use and, most importantly, lip ingestion. Ingestion and long-term use of these heavy metals can result in genotoxic effects like DNA damage, oxidative stress, cellular stress and even cancer.
In the Journal of Clinical Dermatology and Therapy, SS Agrawal and Namita Kaushik reveal that lead present in lip balms and lipsticks can enter in the brain and damage neurons and can also induce oxidative stress and DNA damage.
Yet again! You don’t have to stop using all these products, but look into them, other than flavour and color pigment, and read the chemicals present on the backside.
Read more: Things Your DNA Can’t Control.
Wrapping up:
These are just a few of the common skincare habits that might be silently harming your DNA, but they’re certainly not the only ones. You don’t need to panic or throw away your entire skincare shelf, but you do need to be mindful.
Start by reading the ingredient lists. Just flip your products around and look at what they contain. If something you use regularly has known harmful compounds or potential genotoxic ingredients, it’s better to be safe and skip it.
Your skin absorbs more than you think — and sometimes, what goes on your skin ends up inside your body, your cells and damages your DNA.
Pro tip:
Before using any lotion, cream, or sunscreen, always wash your hands. Never leave skincare residue on your lips before eating, nor eat with fingers covered in product. Even in trace amounts, these products are not intended for ingestion, and using them frequently may raise your risk of internal exposure to dangerous chemicals.
Resources:
- Groot, M. (2020, February 13). Cosmetics and sunscreen may cause DNA mutations in breast cells – BJMO. BJMO. https://www.bjmo.be/chemicals-in-cosmetics-and-sunscreen-may-cause-damage-in-dna-of-breast-cells/.
- Bain, J. (2018, June 6). Sunscreen Safety. The Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sunscreen-safety/.
- Aromatic Amines. (n.d.). Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP). https://www.bcpp.org/resource/aromatic-amines/.
- Linhart, C., Talasz, H., Morandi, E. M., Exley, C., Lindner, H. H., Taucher, S., Egle, D., Hubalek, M., Concin, N., & Ulmer, H. (2017). Use of Underarm Cosmetic Products in Relation to Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study. EBioMedicine, 21, 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.06.005.
- Faber, S. (2020, May 5). The Toxic Twelve Chemicals and Contaminants in Cosmetics | Environmental Working Group. Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/the-toxic-twelve-chemicals-and-contaminants-in-cosmetics.
- Alnuqaydan, A. M. (2024). The dark side of beauty: an in-depth analysis of the health hazards and toxicological impact of synthetic cosmetics and personal care products. Frontiers in Public Health, 12(1439027). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1439027.
- Ruszkiewicz, J. A., Pinkas, A., Ferrer, B., Peres, T. V., Tsatsakis, A., & Aschner, M. (2017). Neurotoxic effect of active ingredients in sunscreen products, a contemporary review. Toxicology Reports, 4(4), 245–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.05.006.
- Kwon, Y. (2022). Assessing an Overall Toxicological Implication of Nail Care Product for Occupational and Consumer Health Improvement. Iranian Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i5.9436.
- Skin Cancer Foundation. (2020, December 2). Ask the Expert: Are the UV Lamps in the Dryers at the Nail Salon Safe to Use? The Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-are-the-uv-lamps-in-the-dryers-at-the-nail-salon-safe-to-use/.
- Liu, S., Hammond, S. K., & Rojas-Cheatham, A. (2013). Concentrations and Potential Health Risks of Metals in Lip Products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121(6), 705–710. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1205518.
