Can PFAS in cosmetics be absorbed through the skin?

Rising PFAS Risks and Concerns

PFAS are chemicals called organofluorinated compounds. There are said to be at least 4,700 types. They are also called "forever chemicals" because they hardly decompose in the natural environment.

Some people may think, "I've never heard of PFAS. It doesn't concern me."
However, in reality, PFAS is found in many things around us. For example, PFAS may be found in the following items:

• Teflon-coated frying pan
• Waterproof clothing
• Take-out food wrapping paper
• furniture
• carpet
• Dental floss

PFAS used in cosmetics

PFAS has been detected in tap water, seawater, rain, groundwater and human blood , and the International Cancer Institute has stated that its risk is "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
There is also growing data pointing to other effects on the human body, including birth defects and effects on the immune system.

Despite growing concerns about the serious health effects of PFAS, they are still being used in cosmetics .
They make the skin look smoother, make the formula waterproof, and improve the spreadability and water resistance of cosmetics.

It is sometimes used in the following types of cosmetics:

• Sunscreen
• Foundation
• Manicure
• lipstick
• Eyeshadow
• Sheet Mask
• Toner
• Milky lotion

Banned in cosmetics in New Zealand

As concerns grow around the world, New Zealand has decided to ban the use of PFAS in cosmetics from 2026. New Zealand is the first country to ban PFAS in cosmetics.

In addition, bills to ban or restrict PFAS have been proposed in several states in the United States. In California, all PFAS contained in cosmetics will be banned in September 2022.

The EU is gradually moving towards comprehensive regulation.

PFAS can be absorbed through the skin

Various risks have been pointed out regarding PFAS, but in fact there is still much we do not know about their dangers and toxicity.

However, recently, it has become clear that PFAS may be absorbed through the skin .

We already know that PFAS can enter the body through the mouth and nose when eaten, drunk or inhaled, but now it appears that PFAS vapors or liquids may be absorbed through the skin when they come into contact with the skin.

What would happen if you continued to apply such a substance to your skin as a cosmetic every day? It's a bit scary to think about.

How to identify PFAS in cosmetics

It is natural to want to choose cosmetics that do not contain PFAS to avoid unknown risks. For those people, we will introduce how to identify PFAS by the ingredient names of cosmetics.

The US FDA has published the names of cosmetic ingredients that may be PFAS . There are 35 in total. Most of them have long and difficult names.
It may be difficult to remember them all, but it's a good idea to start by checking to see if the ingredient names include words such as "perfluoro" or "trifluoro."

1. Perfluorohexyltriethoxysilane
2. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
3. Trifluoroacetate Tetradecylaminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric acid urea
4. Trifluoropropylcyclotetrasiloxane
5. Trifluoropropylcyclopentasiloxane
6. Perfluorononyl Dimethicone
7. Perfluorodecalin
8. Methyl perfluorobutyl ether
9. Methyl perfluoroisobutyl ether
10. Polyperfluoromethyl isopropyl ether
11. Perfluorohexane
12. Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2
13. Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene
14. Pentafluoropropane
15. HC Yellow 13
16. Ethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether
17. Perfluorodimethylcyclohexane
18. Acetyltrifluoromethylphenylvalylglycine
19. Trifluoropropyldimethyl/trimethylsiloxysilicate
20. Trifluoropropyl dimethicone/trifluoropropyl divinyl dimethicone crosspolymer
21. Trifluoromethylalkyl (C1-4) dimethicone
22. Ethyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether
23. Perfluoromethylcyclopentane
24. Fluoro (C9-15) alcohol phosphoric acid
25. Perfluorononyl Dimethicone/Methicone/Amodimethicone Crosspolymer
26. (Acrylates/perfluorohexylethyl methacrylate) copolymer
27. Trifluoropropyl Dimethicone
28. Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxydifluoroethyl PEG phosphate
29. Trifluoroacetic acid pentapeptide-34
30. Perfluorodimethylethylpentane
31. PEG-8 Trifluoropropyl Dimethicone Copolymer
32. Octafluoropentyl methacrylate
33. Perfluoroalkyl phosphate
34. Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxydifluorohydroxyethyl
35. Difluorocyclohexyloxyphenol

*The above list of ingredients includes ingredients that are already banned in Japan.

By the way, in the United States, 578 cosmetics contained one of the above ingredients as of March 2022. One year later, by March 2023, the number of types of PFAS used had decreased to 31. However, the number of cosmetics containing at least one type of PFAS remained unchanged.

Unfortunately, in Japan, such information is rarely made public, so it is up to the consumer to choose cosmetics that they can use with confidence.

It can be difficult to remember the long ingredient names, but we should do our best to choose cosmetics that we can use with confidence.