Snapdragon77 asked: Everyone is afraid of PARABENS! The product line that I use (Bioelements) lists methylparaben and propylparaben as the last ingredients, and I know that they are preservatives, but what do I tell a frightened clientele who have just heard “Parabens=Bad!”
The Left Brain Responds:
What are parabens?
Parabens are preservatives used in nearly every kind of cosmetic. They are put in formulas in small amounts to prevent the growth of disease-causing microbes. Without preservatives, cosmetics would be much more dangerous to use. They have been used in cosmetics for at least 20 years and are quite effective at killing microbes.
It’s not surprising that parabens raise so many questions. Stories about these ingredients and the perils of using products that contain them are found everywhere on the net. A quick google search of parabens and cancer results in over 300,000 hits! Sites like this and this extol the evils of parabens. Of course, sites like this and this state a much different, less alarming position. So who should you believe?
Here’s what the FDA has to say about the subject. Their position is best summed up in the following quote, FDA believes that at the present time there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of cosmetics containing parabens. But they are still looking at data.
And the primary governmental agency (in the United States) that receives money to research such questions, the National Institute for Health, has this position paper. Basically, researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are not aware of any conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and the subsequent development of breast cancer.
Why do people think parabens are bad?
So where did the furor about parabens and cancer come from? In 2004, Dr Philippa Darbre at the University of Reading published a study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology that said her group tested 20 different human breast tumors and found parabens in all of them. Neither she nor anyone else could explain how they got there or why they were there. They also couldn’t say whether normal tissue had parabens. This raised the possibility that the parabens could have something to do with the cancer, but no one could explain what was going on. And since then, there still hasn’t been an explanation. This doesn’t mean parabens have anything to do with cancer. We just can’t say they don’t.
So, what do we think?
Here at the Beauty Brains, we have to side with the majority of the scientific research. Namely, at the moment there’s no significant reason to be concerned. The notion that parabens are a major cause of breast cancer is just not true! It’s possible that they might play a role in breast cancer but there is no conclusive evidence that supports this idea. No matter how bad parabens are, microbes are much worse.
Many cosmetic industry suppliers are offering alternatives to parabens. Privately, these companies acknowledge that parabens are more effective. They also do not believe there are any real safety issues, but it is an opportunity to create new products so they are taking it. Unfortunately, every other effective preservative such as DMDM Hydantoin (a formaldehyde releasing ingredient) or Kathon (synthetic) have potential safety issues. And suggested alternatives like grapefruit seed extract · phenoxyethanol · potassium sorbate · sorbic acid · tocopherol (vitamin E) · vitamin A (retinyl) · vitamin C (ascorbic acid) don’t really work too well. The available preservatives aren’t perfect, but they are the best there is. And they are certainly better than using nothing. Bacteria, yeast, and mold could really kill you!
The Beauty Brains bottom line.
Preservative alarmists may have a point and the industry is constantly on the lookout for new, effective ingredients. They just haven’t found any. But the risk posed from these ingredients is so small that it’s not worth worrying about. There are much more critical things you can do to avoid cancer like not smoking, avoiding excessive sun exposure, exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced, low fat diet. Don’t waste your energy fretting about the preservatives in your cosmetics.
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There are no parabens in my food.
I live in France and never seen that in my food:Dr. Sue Barlow, Chair of EFSA’s AFC Panel explained:”its use is very limited by the food industry in the European Union”
They are in our bloodstream because parabens are absorbed acrooss the skin:
Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Brunel University:”The physicochemical properties of the parabens indicate that they can be absorbed
across skin, and that suggests a possible estrogenic hazard to humans”
A risk about the dangerousity of parabens is not non-existent.
You don’t know whether parabens are in your food or not, but you do know they are allowed for use by European food producers. So, you can’t simply dismiss this more likely explanation.
Quoting experts is not evidence. Where is the scientifically controlled study that demonstrates parabens are penetrating the skin and are hazardous?
According to European scientists, there is no link between parabens and breast cancer.
Why are these experts wrong?
I quote experts so you know I ‘ m not mading things up.
I don’t dismiss the fact that it could be in our foods (event thought it is restricted and btw why ?) but parabens eaten are not as dangerous as when it is absorbed throught the skin ( 10 times more acually) because and let me quote please:”when parabens are eaten, they are metabolised and lose the ester group, making them less strongly estrogen-mimicking.”
The fact that it is in our foods is less likely to be the explanation and is not the problem.
What studies shows parabens are absorbed by the skin?
-Department of Growth and Reproduction shows that butyl paraben is “systemically absorbed, metabolized and excreted in urine following application on the skin in a cream preparation”
-University of Nebraska, Dept of Food Science & Technology shows that methyl paraben is:” Methyl paraben is readily and completely absorbed through the skin”
-Toxicology Department, Covance Laboratories Ltd shows that “paraben esters are reported in another in vitro study to be absorbed through
the skin as intact esters”
-Medway Sciences, University of Greenwich.
_Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Brunel University
Why are those experts wrong ?
European scientists show no link between parabens and breast cancer but it is a study just about paraben-containing underarm cosmetics.
Yes, of course I’m not surprised but this study doesn’t take in consideration the effects on a long term and the use of other skin product cosmetics applied every day on the face and body that could be accumulated throughout time so yes a short term study just about underarm cosmetics is not going to show you anything.
Since I don’t have access to the complete studies you site (pubmed links would be good), I can’t comment further on the penetration potential of parabens. Although in one you site it states parabens are metabolized and excreted which goes against your hypothesis of accumulation over time.
It is really a matter of perspective. Here is a paper published in the journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology which concludes that “…it is biologically implausible that parabens could increase the risk of any estrogen-mediated endpoint, including effects on the male reproductive tract or breast cancer.”
So, who are we to believe? The majority of experts that have access to all the same studies and conclude that this isn’t a real problem, or the far fewer experts who come to the opposite conclusion.
Since I don’t know more than them, and the best data leads most subject experts to conclude that current paraben use in cosmetics is not a problem, I’ll defer to the majority.
If more data came out to demonstrate a link, then I’d be perfectly willing to change my stance.
However, I doubt there is anything that you could read which would quell your fears about parabens. You’ve decided they are a problem and will only pay attention to data that supports that conclusion. Is there any data you could see that would convince you that parabens in cosmetics are not a problem?
You also provide no alternative. I think we could agree that selling unpreserved cosmetics is much more risky than paraben preserved ones. Right? What would you propose is a safer way to preserve cosmetics? Formaldehyde?
Yes parabens are metabolised and secreted but what do you of people who cannot metabolise and secret some chemicals properly due to many factors like a weak immune system for instance and hence lead to an accumulation of those chemicals.
We ‘ re all different, we don’t have the same genetic make up, you have no certainty that whether or not your body eliminate properly those chemicals.
Only time can tell.
Parabens wouldn’t be a problem if I know there ‘ s no accumulation of parabens in our body or that they have no bad health effects in the long term and this is a data that we don’t have.
What are the parabens’ side effects in the long term in 20 years for instance ?
We don’t know.
I agree that cosmetics are more risky unpreserved than with parabens but why don’t we have other alternatives ?
It’ s like we don’t have the choice or forced to buy products with it…..
Alternatives ? If scientifics in the cosmetic industry don’t know better alternatives ( in term of effectiveness and price)than parabens why should I know more than them ? researchs on that subject are still going on.
….but wait,they can make products that have a shorter shelf life with the help of others mild preservatives ( even thought not as effective than parabens or as effective just in hight concentration which can lead to problems like skin irritation) like Vitamins A, C & E or Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate but those products would have to be kept in a place out of bacterias and yeasts wich is not practical for manufacturers and for consumers still a risk of contamination by bacterias, fungus and so on
Anyway, there are some brands out there like for instance that are parabens free and and seem to work well among customers….. but pricey.
never heard of infections given to consumers by their products or having a shelf life so short that people are not able to finish it in time or whatever.
No problems with those kind of parabens- free product so far.
Do you have evidences parabens are safe in the long term ?
Do you mean that all that buz surrounding the use parabens is for fun
?
Knowing that parabens are found in most of cosmetics …and just few brands parabens- free and amongst them some have maybe other chemicals with potential side effects yet to be discovered…
Why are we almost forced to take the risk ?
There are no suitable alternatives to parabens, although scientists continue to look for them. The problem is that preservatives are designed to kill cells. That makes any chemical that can preserve products potentially harmful. And with a ban on animal testing, it’s very difficult for any manufacturer to produce a new preservative especially one designed to kill cells.
You already have a choice to avoid parabens. You could avoid lotions & skin products altogether if you’re so afraid. Cosmetics are not crucial to live a healthy life.
There is no demonstrated risk to using parabens (although you can never prove they are 100% safe). You can’t prove water is 100% safe either. You can’t prove anything is 100% safe.
And what is your proof that the mild preservatives that haven’t been tested for safety as thoroughly as parabens are better choices?
We have over 50 years of use of parabens with no compelling evidence that they cause problems. The evidence you site may be compelling to you, but not to the expert scientists who study these things.
I have no proof mild preservatives are safer than parabens but so far they don’t seem to have any kind of risks as dangerous as breast cancer but like parabens no proof exist they are safer in the long run.
In other hand, a lot of people in a search for safer products tend to go to suposedly totally organic products and those ones even thought parabens free have chemicals far more dangerous.I ‘m thinking partcularly of some brands that have some products containing 1.4 dioxane like Jason, Alba, Giovanni,Nature’ gate etc…you certainly have heard about it.
Yes nothing is 100% safe but you still have chemicals or compounds that are less risky and that are very less likely to present potential dangerosity as far as cancer for instance.
This is about reducing as far as possible
health risks.
Use of parabens over than 50 years ?
For you it’ s enought ?
Do you know amiant? It has been used massively for more than 130 years and was used since 2500 years ago.
Do you know health effects of amiant ?
Cancer of the lungs,digestive cancers,mesothelioma, Asbestos, pleural plaques..
The health effects apear after 15,30,50 years after exposition.
We had a big case here in one french university in paris with teachers ill.
But no one said anything of course amiant ‘ s been used for more than 50 years and no compeling scientific evidence of dangerosity so far… No, no problems with this compound…. until later.
50 years of use of parabens means nothing as far as concerning the safety of parabens.
there are safer products, a lot of natural ingredients have a shelf life over than one year. We ‘re already used to use products that have expiratory date like foods, why not with cosmetics products ?
Those evidences I cited are not just compelling to me but other expert scientific as well.
Over 50 years experts scientific studying those things come up with nothing else than parabens?
they study nothing, some of those scientifics seachers have a big ego and don’t give a damm.
But wait the majority is always right, right ? I’m just an alarmist anyway…
Go say this to the women who have breast cancer if they are still alive.
There’s nothing that can be said, no study that could be conducted, no experiment that could be run that will change your mind. You’ve decided you are right & are unable to consider any evidence to the contrary. This is not a rational position. Further discussion is pointless.
I could be convinced & appreciate the scientific studies you’ve directed me to. (I’m still reading and trying to figure out what it means).
But emotional appeals, dismissal of evidence, and unproven conclusions are not convincing. You want to prove you’re right, go get the scientific proof.
The fact remains there is no proven link between parabens and breast cancer. No matter how much you wish it to be true, there’s no proof that it is.
I have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome, and I make a conscious decision to avoid parabens, as well as a number of other chemicals, that may have any affect on my hormone levels.
I already deal with facial hair, obesity and irregular periods, and have very little choice but to stay on birth conrol. I’d rather not take the chance with chemicals that may sabotage my hormones any further.
Hi
Based on what I have read. I wouldn’t use anything with parabens purely because there is not enough evidence to suggest that its good for you let alone that it might cause cancer. When I hear controversies on ingredients I tend to avoid them in case the worse is true!
Guilty till proven innocent I say!
@Epifany – then you shouldn’t use any ingredients because it’s impossible to prove anything is safe. Even water can kill you.
What preservative would you suggest cosmetic chemists use? Unpreserved cosmetics have been proven unsafe.
“But emotional appeals, dismissal of evidence, and unproven conclusions are not convincing”
emotional appeals ? yeah I’ m not unsunsitive to breast cancer even thought it shouldn’t concern me I ‘ m a man
“dismissal of evidence” you mean of evidence of safety? parabens have not been proven safe so far
“unproven conclusions” conclusion based on studies I cited by other expert scientifics
“there ‘ s no proven link between parabens and breast cancer” the studies about that didn’t go further; they just observed parabens in breats tumors but that’ s all. That just a constat.
So of course you can’t make a conclusion just with that.You can’t say there’ s a link.You can’t say there’ s no link.
I didn’t decide to be right but you did.
You made an article here saying parabens are safe, no problems no risks and everything’ s ok with parabens and knowing that this article is read by a lots of people, I just typed “parabens dangerous” on goog and your link come up…. the article is not well balanced like pros & cons or bad or good aspects of parabens you know ?
I’ ve never denied the effectivity of parabens as preservetives for instance but i also talk about a risk that is based on studies go take a look on google scholar….
Water (clean) doesn’t disturb hormonal activity as far as we know
“Water (clean) doesn’t disturb hormonal activity as far as we know”
And paraben preservatives are not responsible for cancer, as far as we know.
You misunderstand my position on parabens. Let me clarify. The best evidence about parabens indicate that they are not a significant concern in personal care products. This is not just my opinion but the opinion of the majority of scientists who study this issue. I am open to the possibility that they could be unsafe and am willing to consider further evidence. However, without evidence to the contrary & with no better tested alternative preservatives, I don’t believe they are unsafe.
You may disagree. You probably believe yourself smarter than the majority of scientists who have looked at all the evidence, understood it and have decided the ingredients are safe. Without more evidence, my opinion stays with the scientists…parabens are a safe preservative.
Oh my this is ridiculous. And why does quoting an expert not count as evidence? Do they not know what they are talking about or something…isn’t that what expert means? We should all just try and live without the chemicals, people did it for hundreds of years before they even knew what preservatives were!
@becky – and people died by the time they were 35 years back then. Would you rather live in a world like that?
Since everything is a chemical, it’s impossible to live without them. Water is a chemical!
Expert opinions are not evidence. They are merely opinions. They might be more right than others but it is only evidence that is true knowledge.
If you would’ve asked experts at the time of Galileo, they would’ve all said that the Sun rotates around the Earth. They would’ve all been wrong.
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