Personal care products like makeup, hair treatments, and nail polish often contain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds—often called “forever chemicals"—are linked to serious health risks, including cancer, heart disease, and immune dysfunction. A recent study found that using certain personal care products during pregnancy and breastfeeding raises PFAS levels in the body, exposing developing infants to these toxic compounds.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 women in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Study to examine how personal care product use affects PFAS concentrations in blood plasma during pregnancy and in breast milk postpartum. Participants reported how often they used eight personal care products, including nail polish, hair sprays, and fragrances, throughout pregnancy and after delivery. The researchers compared personal care use to PFAS levels in blood and breast milk samples collected at specific points.

They found that using certain products frequently—such as daily fragrances or weekly nail care products—was associated with PFAS levels 10% to 20% higher in blood during early pregnancy. Similarly, mothers who used permanent hair dye shortly after delivery had 15% to 20% higher PFAS levels in their breast milk. These patterns were consistent across multiple personal care product categories and for PFAS chemicals known to persist in the body for years.

These findings suggest that personal care products increase PFAS exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding. PFAS are also found in plastics, which can break down into microplastics and enter the human body. Learn more about microplastics and PFAS exposure in this episode featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.