The truth about Parabens
Wednesday 16 April 2014So, there is a lot of hype with paraben free products, now popping up everywhere around us.
The real question we need to know, is what are parabens and are they bad for us?
Parabens
Parabens are chemicals that are used as a preservative in many skincare products and cosmetics. They are designed to stop fungus, bacteria and other microbes from growing and spoiling our products. A lot of commercial parabens are similar to those found within nature, however they are synthetically produced for companies to add to their products.
A product that does not contain parabens usually have a clear label stating that they are paraben free. If there is no label, look for the following ingredients on the back of the product:
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Butlyparaben
Ethylparaben
Isobutylparaben
Isopropylparaben
Why are parabens bad for you?
Concerns have arisen about the side effects of ingesting parabens or putting these chemicals on the skin, as parabens have been linked to certain cancers (specifically breast cancer). Parabens have a weak ability to mimic estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone, and increased levels of estrogen have been linked to cancer.
Studies are continually being performed on parabens and their effects on the body and endocrine system; until parabens are proven to be safe,