Every name-brand designer has one, every department store has a counter, and most celebrities endorse one at some point or another.

Personal care products are sold everywhere, and most women have developed a dependency on their favorite perfume, body lotion, or monthly hair dye.

What most women don’t realize is that personal care products can be bad for your health. Most of these products are filled with harmful chemicals that can actually increase your risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.

Recent studies have shown that a particular chemical found in perfume called, phthalates, has been found to increase the risk of breast cancer in women.

The problem with personal care products is that many of the chemicals found in them can easily be absorbed through the skin.

Phthalate(ˈtha-ˌlāt) in particular is used in many personal care products because they extend the life of the fragrance in your favorite perfume, or the shelf life of your daily skin cream.

Not only is this particular chemical used in personal care products, but it’s also used in plastics to maintain durability and structure.

In the video below, BistroMD’s founding physician, Dr. Caroline Cederquist, explains the dangers of personal care products, and what impact they can have on your health.