It's becoming familiar to consumers to see paraben free skin care products on the shelves of both conventional stores and natural specialty shops. Many consumers don't know what parabens are and have no idea why they should avoid these chemicals in products they use on their bodies or in the food they eat. Although there are no firm conclusions yet about the safety of these compounds, there is serious debate going on in the news and among health experts.
There are naturally occurring parabens, in blueberries for instance. However, the ones found in mainstream cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are synthesized in laboratories. They are compounds that contain alcohols and have bacteria and fungus killing effects. They are inexpensive and effective ingredients that have been used for decades with no obvious health concerns. However, new research revealed traces of these chemicals in cancer tumors.
Today there is much debate on the safety of these additives. The facts that they have been used for so long, that they are non-irritating, and that few people are allergic to them causes manufacturers to claim they have proved to be safe. Their presence in breast cancer tumor tissue makes others fear that they pose a health risk.
It may be the over-use of them that is the problem. They are added to shampoos, makeup, deodorants, moisturizers, shaving gel, soaps, sunscreens, and nail polish. This is only a partial list of products that consumers use daily that contain parabens. Sometimes one of these compounds is near the beginning of the list of ingredients, meaning that it makes up a good deal of the formula. These preservatives are among the most common of all chemicals used in industry.
Research into the safety of these chemicals have found that, in general, they are non-irritating and do not cause a reaction with continued use. However, there are many people who are allergic to anything with methy, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or heptyl in the name. Again, this is only a partial list of the many compounds in this class.
After finding traces of these chemicals in breast cancer tumors, researchers began to intensify safety tests. It is believed by some experts that they mimic natural estrogen and may disrupt the normal hormonal balance in the human body. They also may reduce testosterone and sperm production in males, and may increase the sensitivity to UV rays from the sun and heighten their aging effect on the skin. This is ironic, considering that they are used in many sunscreening products.
Many product lines today are paraben-free, but that does not mean that the ingredients are all good for your skin and system. The art of preserving shelf items for months or even years is a delicate one. Natural products often contain essential oils, herbals, and vitamins to keep them pure and stable.
Remember also that, when choosing paraben free skin care products, a 'naturally derived' ingredient might have been processed into a harsh chemical. When deciding what to put on your skin, which can absorb many substances, you need to either trust your manufacturer or become an informed consumer.
There are naturally occurring parabens, in blueberries for instance. However, the ones found in mainstream cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are synthesized in laboratories. They are compounds that contain alcohols and have bacteria and fungus killing effects. They are inexpensive and effective ingredients that have been used for decades with no obvious health concerns. However, new research revealed traces of these chemicals in cancer tumors.
Today there is much debate on the safety of these additives. The facts that they have been used for so long, that they are non-irritating, and that few people are allergic to them causes manufacturers to claim they have proved to be safe. Their presence in breast cancer tumor tissue makes others fear that they pose a health risk.
It may be the over-use of them that is the problem. They are added to shampoos, makeup, deodorants, moisturizers, shaving gel, soaps, sunscreens, and nail polish. This is only a partial list of products that consumers use daily that contain parabens. Sometimes one of these compounds is near the beginning of the list of ingredients, meaning that it makes up a good deal of the formula. These preservatives are among the most common of all chemicals used in industry.
Research into the safety of these chemicals have found that, in general, they are non-irritating and do not cause a reaction with continued use. However, there are many people who are allergic to anything with methy, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or heptyl in the name. Again, this is only a partial list of the many compounds in this class.
After finding traces of these chemicals in breast cancer tumors, researchers began to intensify safety tests. It is believed by some experts that they mimic natural estrogen and may disrupt the normal hormonal balance in the human body. They also may reduce testosterone and sperm production in males, and may increase the sensitivity to UV rays from the sun and heighten their aging effect on the skin. This is ironic, considering that they are used in many sunscreening products.
Many product lines today are paraben-free, but that does not mean that the ingredients are all good for your skin and system. The art of preserving shelf items for months or even years is a delicate one. Natural products often contain essential oils, herbals, and vitamins to keep them pure and stable.
Remember also that, when choosing paraben free skin care products, a 'naturally derived' ingredient might have been processed into a harsh chemical. When deciding what to put on your skin, which can absorb many substances, you need to either trust your manufacturer or become an informed consumer.
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