Chances are if you frequent the organic beauty section at your local drugstore, you'll notice some products are labeled "paraben free." However you may also notice that other products in the same section contain ingredients ending with the word paraben (ie. propylparaben). So what exactly are parabens and is it really important to avoid them?
Parabens are chemical compounds that are used as preservatives, usually in cosmetics, but additionally may appear in pharmaceutical products and as food additives. Whether or not they are actually harmful is still up for debate, however there are concerns they may actually pose a safety hazard.
Parabens are used in cosmetics to preserve them and keep things like molds, fungi and bacteria at bay. Generally the level of concentration in parabens is less than one per cent, and a combination of different parabens is often used to generate the most effective preservative effect.
Parabens act similarly to estrogen and can pose health risks if ingested in large quanitities So what are some of the common ones and what are they used for?
Types of parabens
Methylparaben - This paraben prevents fungi from invading cosmetics, drugs and food. Methylparaben is commonly found in skin and face products. It is easily absorbed through the skin or via the gastrointestinal tract, but is rapidly discharged without building up in the body. Toxicity studies demonstrate methylparaben is non-toxic when asorbed by orally and parenterally, and is not known to irritate skin. Methylparaben is also frequently used as a component of fragrances.
Propylparaben - Though propylparaben is found naturally in many plants and insects, for use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food, it is synthetically produced. This is the type of paraben you will typically find in water-based products including creams, lotions, shampoos and bath products. Propylparaben is soluble at a level of one per cent in water and oil and water solutions.
Butylparaben - Butylparaben is used to extend the shelf life of cosmetics, and prevents the occurrences of mold, fungus and bacteria, though it is also used in several medications. It is oil-soluble and considered non-toxic and non-irritating when used at .05 of one percent, but could irritate the skin if greater than five per cent is used in formulation.
The risks
There is no clear consensus on the risks of parabens, however studies have linked it to several ailments, including breast cancer. Some reports claim parabens are a carcinogen that can disrupt normal hormone function and can mimic the effects of estrogen. This exposure to external sources of estrogens is what increases the risk of breast cancer. Though cosmetic companies argue that parabens used externally in products are not absorbed by the body, one study found the chemicals in breast cancer tissue of 19 out of 20 women studied.
Urine samples of 100 adults were also studied by The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and nearly all contained parabens.
The ability to mimic estrogen may also mean parabens cause birth defects in infants, more commonly males.
In other words, the jury is still out on the verdict regarding parabens. The European Union already banned the use of sodium methylparaben in fragrance because it can strip pigment from the skin, and while the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. has regulations regarding the use of parabens in food and drinks, the same regulations do not apply to the use of parabens in personal care products.
Like so many other things, the information surrounding parabens is mixed. Could it eventually kill you by way of cancer? Possibly. But it seems like that may be the case of almost everything we eat, drink, use or breath in these days. In other words, exercise caution. While converting to paraben-free products may not be high on your list of priorities, replacing some of the items in your daily beauty routine may not be such a terrible idea.
» WiseGeek