Researchers at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium reported that women who use moisturizers or lotions may be exposing themselves to additional estrogen without realizing it.

Research has not shown that absorbing estrogen through the skin increases your risk of developing breast cancer, but it may be something breast cancer patients should think about when choosing cosmetic products. Women with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer should be especially aware since estrogen encourages those types of breast cancer to grow.

Dr. Adrienne C. Olson, PharmD, presented lab test results showing several over-the-counter skin lotions contained forms of estrogen that were not listed on the item’s packaging. Several of the skin lotions tested showed small amounts of estradiol, estrone, and/or estriol, three major estrogens that occur naturally in a woman’s body.

Estrogen plays an important role in breast cancer because it can affect how fast cancer cells grow. Cells have hormone receptors around the outside of the cell. When estrogen finds a cell that has an estrogen receptor and binds to the receptor, that cell grows and multiplies itself. Not all breast cancer cells have estrogen receptors. By testing a biopsy sample, doctors can find out if a person’s breast cancer is estrogen or progesterone receptor positive.

The names of the skin lotions tested in the study were not released. If you are a hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer survivor and want to avoid estrogens, you may want to consider using baby oil or olive oil to moisturize your skin.

For more information about cancer risk or any cancer concern, contact

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center/Cancer Information Service
Phone: 800-237-1225
cancer-information@uiowa.edu
Walk-in: 200 Hawkins Drive, 4802 JPP
Iowa City, Iowa 52242