What Are Parabens

Is their use safe and how does the media hype stack up against the facts?

Paraben’s are found naturally and synthetically are an effective preservative; because of their low cost and long history of safe use their popularity in many products has created consumer awareness. Whilst scientific studies have not proven they are harmful an increasing number of individuals and organizations are increasingly objecting to their everyday use.

Hydroxybenzoic acid is the base for Paraben’s, it is also from this that the name derived. Common paraben’s include methylparaben E218 ethylparaben E214 propylparaben E216 and butylparaben. Less common paraben’s include isobutylparaben, isopropylpararben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts. Some paraben’s are found naturally in plant sources such as methylparaben from the blueberry shrub where it acts as an antimicrobial agent. Synthetically produced Paraben’s are used in commercial applications; some are identical to those found in nature. They are produced by the estification of parahydroxybenzoic acid with the appropriate alcohol. Hydroxybenzoic acid is in turn produced industrially using potassium phenoxide and carbon dioxide.

The low toxicity profile of these Paraben’s, with a recorded history of safe use means they are considered to be safe, however, a few recent studies have begun to challenge this view. These studies have shown that they are rapidly absorbed when tested on the acute, subtonic and chronic effects in rodents, and have also found them to be practically non-toxic, rapidly absorbed and excreted. Their uses by individuals with normal skin have for the most part proved them to be both non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Paraben’s can however cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis in individuals with Paraben allergies, cases have arisen where they have been known to affect a small percentage of the general population.

Studies on breast tumors indicate a Paraben’s were found in samples but the validity of this study’s conclusions have been debated in the scientific literature, this study has been responsible for fuelling the belief that Paraben’s in underarm deodorants have migrated though the lymph glands and the breast tissue and contributed to the development of the tumors. There is no evidence to support that a link with cancer has ever been proven or indeed a link with any known form of cancer. Their effects on the male or female breast or male reproductive tract being linked to cancer is highly implausible as a recent review found it is biologically unfounded that Paraben’s could increase the risk, even in the worst-case where daily exposure to Paraben’s would present substantially less risk than relative exposure to naturally occurring Paraben’s in the diet. In conclusion there is no good scientific evidence that use of cosmetics that include Paraben’s such as antiperspirants increase the risk of cancer, this conclusion has not silenced the critics, whilst the debate continues the consensus of Public Interested bodies is that there needs to be more research. Because of the controversy surrounding Paraben’s we have selected products where their use is known to be none or to be of very little consequence
Use this link to go direct to our Bath and Body Products where you can view our range of Paraben free products.
http://herbalbasedproducts.com/