Parabens Decoded
Parabens are a class of widely used preservatives also known as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.
They are used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products such as:
- Shampoos
- Moisturizers
- Shaving gels
- Makeup
- Toothpaste
- Spray tanning solution
- Food additives
Different Names for identifying paraben Ingredients:
- Methylparaben (E218),
- Ethylparaben (E214),
- Propylparaben (E216),
- Butylparaben and Heptylparaben (E209).
Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben
- p-Hydroxybenzoic acid
- PHBA
- 4-hydroxybenzoate
Possible effects of parabens on us:
- Breast cancer: A study shows an average levels of 20 nanograms/gram parebens have been detected in a small sample of 20 breast tumors however no link can be established from current studies and more research is called for in this area.
- Allergic reactions: In people with normal skin parabens are usually non-irritating however they can cause skin irritation and rosacea in people who suffer from paraben allergies which is a very small percentage of the general population.
- Sun exposure: Studies indicate that methylparaben applied on the skin may react with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage.
Alternatives to Parabens:
Some other commonly used preservatives include:
- Formaldehyde
- quaternium-15
- imidazolidinyl urea
- diazolidinyl urea
- dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin
However, these preservatives more often cause allergic reactions and some pose more serious health implications, such as formaldehyde and its causal link with cancer.
Natural alternatives to parabens:
Natural preservatives such as grapefruit seed extract (GSE) although available is not often used as GSE can interact with medications due to its ability to inhibit important enzymes involved in drug metabolism. Other natural preservatives include thymol, cinnamaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate, citric acid, ascorbic acid and rosemary extract.
My personal viewpoint:
After indulging in research about parabens and how they affect us I came to a conclusion that while there are no direct links between parabens and breast cancer I did not want to risk it, I am of course very worried about the ageing and damaging reaction of methyparaben with the UVB rays of the sun thus choose to be mindful about not having that as an ingredient in my sunscreen and moisturizer. I realized that paraben is a very commonly used preservative and in some consumables it is unavoidable, yet in some products it is avoidable as alternatives are available and affordable. In some cases they are available but not affordable and in some cases not available at all.
The Products I decided to switch for now:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Hair Serum
Research Resources:
Love,
Have anything you’d like to share with us? Want to say Hi? Any suggestions? Then simply leave a comment below or e-mail us directly. We’d love to hear from you.
