Whenever someone says the word “parabens”
in our office, editors start scurrying in all sorts of directions.
Brands developing paraben-free lines have got us all thinking about why
this stuff is even in our beauty products. Not to mention that alarming 2012 study
that made the correlation between parabens and incidences of breast
cancer is starting to push us in the all-natural direction with our
skincare regimen.
We’ve gone dizzy trying to delve into medical reports
to get the lowdown on parabens. Luckily, we have a much clearer concept
after taking our concerns to two board-certified dermatologists and a
cosmetic chemist. Here’s what we uncovered.
Parabens are chemical preservatives used to extend the shelf life of beauty products and prevent the growth of microorganisms.
Parabens were introduced as a preservative back in the 1930s, according to Dr. Naana Boakye,
a New Jersey-based dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at
St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Commonly found in
shampoos, moisturizers and lipsticks, they are colorless, odorless and
tasteless.
Parabens are
attractive to the cosmetic industry because they limit the development
of bacteria, mold and yeast. Methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl parabens
are the most commonly used parabens.
Nikita Wilson, chemist and chief executive officer of Catalyst Cosmetic Development,
told us that parabens are commonly found in all types of beauty and
personal care products because they are effective, inexpensive and
require very low usage levels (which are typically 0.01 to 0.3 percent).
Parabens have been linked to cancerous breast tissue, however, the studies that support these findings are limited.
While both dermatologists agree that parabens have been shown to have estrogenic activity (specifically in a study observing the enlargement of breast tissue in young boys),
Dr. Boakye believes that the association between parabens and breast
cancer in women is limited and lacks strong epidemiological evidence.
“It appears
that there may be a relationship to the proliferation of breast tissue,
but it is complex,” says Dr. Boakye. “There is evidence that it has been
detected in rivers, drinking water and soil. Some studies have shown
that after applied to the skin, the parabens were seen in urine, blood
and human milk samples. However, there is no causal relationship between
parabens and breast cancer development.”
Wilson adds,
“Even as a phytoestrogen, parabens are weaker than estrogen and are no
more harmful to the body than soy, licorice or ginseng.” (FYI: soy isn’t linked to breast cancer.)
Not all labels marked “paraben-free” are safe. There are other preservatives that could potentially cause skin allergies.
If your skin becomes red, itchy or inflamed after using a new product containing parabens, Dr. Eric Schweiger,
the founding dermatologist of Clear Clinic Acne Treatment Center,
suggests that you refrain from using it. People with sensitive skin
types or acne-prone skin should pay very close attention to how they
react.
“Using
unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil are good options for
moisturization and are preservative-free,” says Dr. Boakye. She also
cites grapefruit seed extract, essential oils of thyme, oregano and tea
tree, as well as rosemary and neem extract among a list of natural
preservatives.
Although there
are many “paraben-free” products, do yourself solid and always read the
ingredients label first. “If one is still unsure, consider calling the
company or emailing and asking if it contains the four parabens,” says
Dr. Boakye.
0 التعليقات: