Parabens are some of those ugly ingredients found in so many of the so called "Beauty" skincare products, women use everyday. Yes, I intentionally placed the quotation marks on the world beauty, because many of the most common ingredients used in the making of cosmetics and skincare products, are far from having anything to do with beauty much less been healthy. These ingredients are ugly yes, because they're toxic and dangerous to the human body and with continued use can have detrimental health consequences.
WHAT ARE PARABENS? Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as artificial preservatives in cosmetic and body care products since the 1920s. Since cosmetics contain ingredients that can biodegrade, these chemicals are added to prevent and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, increasing the shelf life of the product. The concern with these chemicals is that scientific studies suggest that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body and harm fertility and reproductive organs, affect birth outcomes, and increase the risk of cancer. They can also cause skin irritation. Moreover, studies have detected parabens in nearly all urine samples taken from adults in the U.S., regardless of demographic (Ye 2006).
Given the endocrine disruption capacity and documented female and male reproductive harm, coupled with the potential for repeated lifelong exposure, it is clear that long-chain parabens (isobutyl-, butyl-, isopropyl- and propylparaben) should not be used in personal care or cosmetic products.
A 2004 UK study detected traces of five parabens in the breast tumors of 19 out of 20 women studied.[6] This small study does not prove a causal relationship between parabens and breast cancer, but it is important because it detected the presence of intact parabens—unaltered by the body’s metabolism—which is an indication of the chemical’s ability to penetrate skin and remain in breast tissue. A more recent study found higher levels of one paraben, n-propylparaben, in the axilla quadrant of the breast (the area nearest the underarm).[7] This is the region in which the highest proportion of breast tumors is found, although paraben concentration in the tissue samples was not related to location of breast tumors in individual women. Parabens are not water soluble and can penetrate the skin. As a result, repeated application of a product or multiple products containing parabens could mean almost continuous exposure.[8]The ubiquity of parabens in personal care products makes this a reasonable scenario.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH CONCERNS OF USING PARABENS? While the chemicals in cosmetics make us look, feel, and smell better, research strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of these chemicals may contribute to the development of cancer in people. But because personal care products contain a diverse combination of chemicals, it's nearly impossible to show a definite cause and effect for any specific chemical on its own.
Still, many of these chemicals are considered hormone disruptors. Hormone disruptors can affect how estrogen and other hormones act in the body, by blocking them or mimicking them, which throws off the body's hormonal balance. Because estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer develop and grow, many women choose to limit their exposure to these chemicals that can act like estrogen.
Endocrine disruption: Parabens are potential endocrine disruptors due to their ability to mimic estrogen.[9] In cell studies, parabens have been found to weakly bind to estrogen receptors.[10]Studies demonstrate that at sufficient concentrations, parabens can increase cell proliferation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, which are often used as a sensitive measure of estrogenic activity.[11] In MCF-7 cells, isopropyl- and isobutyl parabens have the most potent of proliferative potency, but they are around 170,000 times lower than estradiol.[12],[13]
The so-called “long chain” parabens[14] (butylparaben and its alternative form, isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben and propylparaben) have the strongest estrogenic activity among those widely used in personal care products. A study of prenatal isobutylparaben exposure in rats demonstrated increased uterus weight and uterine sensitivity to estrogen in the offspring.[15]Ethylparaben showed lower levels of estrogenic activity and methylparaben shows almost no estrogen activity.[16] In addition to direct estrogenic effects, parabens can block androgens (for example, testosterone)[17] and inhibit enzymes that metabolize estrogen.[18]
The Endocrine Disruption Exchange includes methylparaben,[19] ethylparaben,[20]propylparaben,[21] butylparaben,[22] isopropylparaben,[23] isobutylparaben[24] as endocrine disruptors due the multiple endocrine effects described above.
Skin Cancer: Applying personal care product containing parabens—especially methylparaben—can lead to UV-induced damage of skin cells and disruption of cell proliferation (cell growth rate).[25],[26] Daily application, in particular, can lead to increased concentrations of methylparaben because it is not completely metabolized.[27] Parabens combined with other estrogenic chemicals may potentially influence the development of malignant melanoma, one form of skin cancer, through their estrogenic and genotoxic activites.[28]
Developmental and Reproductive toxicity: Propyl and butyl parabens appear to reduce sperm production[29],[30] and lead to reduced testosterone levels,[31] while methyl- and ethyl-parabens do not affect sperm production. These effects appear to be dose-dependent.[32] In addition, one study found that maternal exposure to butylparaben during gestation and lactation alters the development of the reproductive organs and sperm production.[33] In general, propyl- and butylparabens, specifically, appear disrupt male reproductive system and affect the reproductive organs.[34],[35] This is consistent with their estrogenic activity noted above.
Laboratory evidence suggests that maternal exposure to isobutylparaben during gestation can lead to anxiety and behavioral changes in offspring.[36],[37]
HOW DO YOU FIND PARABENS? In the most common skincare products available in the market, such as Shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial and shower cleansers and scrubs.
How many Parabens should you look for? Many and their chemical names can be quite difficult to remember, so just look for any ingredients that ends in "paraben" such as these ones, Ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, and any other ingredients ending in –paraben.
HOW TO AVOID: Look for products labeled “paraben-free” and read ingredient lists on labels to avoid products with parabens. Many natural and organic cosmetics manufacturers have found effective alternatives to parabens to prevent microbial growth in personal care products. Some companies have created preservative-free products that have shorter shelf lives than conventional products (six months to a year).
WHAT ARE THE HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES? The reason why people use toxic chemicals in their skincare and beauty products is not because they want to, but because they may don't know about the dangers of these chemicals, or they may not read ingredients in the labels and also they misinformed, but definitely not because they want to poison their body consciously. Why are Natural and Organic Skincare is so popular in the recent years? Simple, because everyday there is more information available to the public making people to be more conscious and making better choices by choosing to buy instead healthier beauty products, that can be really efficient but without the harmful toxic ingredients.
This is exactly the reason why I created my Skincare products, to offer a much healthier and better alternative to other women. You can be assured that Crystal Health Goddess Natural and Organic Skincare Products and Skin Remedies are consciously created using only the best and most natural ingredients, provided by Mother Nature itself.
Try them for yourself today, your skin will love you for that and you will notice the difference within days of use.
Hope you find this information helpful to you.
In Light, Love & Healing
Ana Satya
References: Ewg safe cosmetics org breast cancer org