The most commonly used parabens include:
Butylparaben Isobutylparaben Propylparaben Methylparaben Ethylparaben
You must have seen these names on the list of ingredients in most cosmetic and skin care products. A single product can contain one or more types of parabens. Parabens are often used in combination with other preservatives to make sure that they can protect the product from a broad range of bacteria and microbes. Since the 1950s, parabens are extensively used in cosmetic products. Parabens are popular because they are gentle, non-sensitizing, and more effective than preservatives. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), in partnership with the FDA, concluded that parabens are safe to be used in cosmetics (1). Due to their excellent antimicrobial properties, parabens are widely used in cosmetics, food items, detergents, and even medicines. Now, the question is, what exactly is the issue with parabens?
Why Are Parabens Bad For You?
Parabens are bad for you due to the following reasons:
Researchers found that parabens get easily absorbed by your skin, and they stay in your body tissues and fluids (2). Researchers also detected parabens in breast milk, serum, urine, and seminal fluid (3). Parabens were also detected in the breast tissues of patients with breast cancer (4). One hypothesis links the increased incidence of breast cancer in the upper lateral breast area with the use of underarm deodorant (containing parabens). Parabens are considered as xenoestrogens. In other words, these chemicals can mimic the hormone estrogen in your body. Parabens bind the estrogen receptors in your body. Compared to methylparaben and ethylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben have high estrogenic activity in the human body. This estrogenic activity may lead to breast cancer development (2). Parabens can elevate cellular level damage caused by UV exposure, which may even cause skin cancer (5). Parabens can also sensitize the skin, causing allergic reactions. A study found that ethylparaben used as an antifungal agent (5%) on human skin caused contact dermatitis (6).
Due to these reasons, many cosmetic and skin care brands shifted to “paraben-free” products. However, even though these products claim that they are paraben-free, they still use preservatives. Usually, alcohol, grapefruit seed extracts, or sorbate are used as preservatives. Hence, many regulatory bodies in different countries regulate the concentration of parabens in the products.
Regulatory Measures On The Use Of Parabens
The regulatory bodies examined the concentration of parabens and limited their percentage to the extent that would be safe for the consumers to use (within the Margin of Safety). For instance, the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) suggested that in cosmetic products, individual parabens can be used at a concentration of 0.4% and the total concentration of parabens (a mixture of multiple parabens) should be 0.8% (7). The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) also recommended the same concentration as SCCP for products sold in the USA. Denmark has banned the use of parabens in cosmetic and personal care products for children under the age of 3 (8). It seems that our fears and concerns regarding parabens are valid. However, finding paraben-free cosmetics and skin care products is not difficult. Here are a few paraben-free products you can try. Is it possible to avoid parabens? Yes, but only to a certain extent. It is practically impossible to ditch every product that contains parabens. Hence, moderation is key. If you use leave-in serums, lotions, masks, and antiperspirants, avoid products containing parabens as these will transfer high concentration of these preservatives to your body. You can check for natural ingredients as alternatives. Do parabens cause hair loss? But take note that a ’paraben-free’ label does not imply that a product is chemical-free. There are still some preservatives in it. To be safe, examine the number of parabens in the products you use and try to keep it as low as possible. No, there is currently no scientific evidence that indicates that parabens cause hair loss. Is Vaseline paraben-free? No, Vaseline contains parabens. Do parabens cause wrinkles? No, there is no evidence suggesting that parabens cause wrinkles. Do blueberries have parabens? Yes, parabens are derived from para-hydroxybenzoic acid, which is present in blueberries (9). Does milk contain parabens? Yes, dairy products may contain a high concentration of parabens (10).
