WHAT ARE PARABENS?
First thing’s first, you have to understand what parabens are before we jump into whether or not they are bad for you. Parabens are preservatives that keep bacteria and other microbes out of your favorite creams, lotions, concealers, and a long list of other personal care and cosmetic products.
Parabens are commonly described as “chemicals,” which gives them a bad rap. But technically, all ingredients are made up of chemicals. Surprising to many, parabens are actually made up of an acid naturally found in blackberries and raspberries. You can find parabens in product ingredient lists by looking for the word in more complicated ingredient names, like methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben.
WHY DO COMPANIES USE PARABENS?
Companies include parabens in their personal care products to extend the shelf life of the product. When the right portion of parabens is added, bacteria and fungi cannot grow in it.
ARE PARABENS BAD FOR YOUR SKIN?
Since many skin care and cosmetic products proudly display that they are “paraben-free,” it makes sense that you might assume parabens are bad for your skin. But the real controversy doesn’t have to do with skin health. Instead, it has to do with the health of your body.
The Washington Post notes that parabens can interfere with your body’s hormones, most notably estrogen. As a result, scientists have studied the chemical’s possible links to breast cancers, developmental disorders, fertility issues, and chronic diseases.
In 2004, a small study found trace amounts of parabens in breast cancer tumors, which helped trigger a lot of the controversy you see today. But the American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that there were three big issues with the study’s findings. The study did not show that parabens caused or contributed to breast cancer, and parabens have weak estrogen-like properties. ACS continues by saying that it is much more likely that natural estrogen, or those taken as a hormone replacement, play a role in breast cancer development than parabens.
Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorants, moisturizers and shampoos. Common parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Parabens allow skin care products to survive for months or even years in your medicine cabinet; however, they also enter your body through your skin when you use these products
What are foods that contain parabens?
Parabens are used in a wide variety of food and beverage products and exposure to parabens at current levels is not a health concern.
Because of the widespread use in cosmetics, personal care products and some foods, parabens are widely consumed. A recent study reported that most foods they examined contained parabens at some level. The report states, “There are multiple sources that contribute to human exposure to parabens, and our study suggests that diet is a minor source.”
Typical food products which contain parabens for preservation, include beer, sauces, desserts, soft drinks, jams, pickles, frozen dairy products, processed vegetables and flavoring syrups. Some fruits, such as blueberries, contain parabens as a naturally occurring preservative.
https://stylecaster.com/beauty/parabens-sulfates-dangers/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/150690-what-are-the-dangers-of-parabens-in-skin-care/
ARE PARABENS BAD FOR YOUR SKIN?