Parabens are Preservatives

Today's entry is about parabens (see picture of chemical structure) or preservatives used in cosmetics to add extra shelf-life to the product and make them last much longer than just the average shelf-life of a homemade cream.

1) What exactly are Parabens?

Parabens are preservatives with the main function of preventing the cream or product from getting spoiled or rancid. Nevertheless, the natural course of nature is that everything spoils or rots eventually due to bacteria or also called microorganisms. Parabens are additives that protect the cream against various microorganisms hence adding extra shelf-life to the product. A pot of cream may last for a year or much longer. I used to think that if I paid that much money (and some creams cost as much as $ 50.00 or more for as little as 1.7 oz), I want to the product to last as long as I care to use it. Today, I feel differently about that as I am making my own products without any added preservatives. Some oils as well as Vitamin E are natural preservatives that makes a product last about 3 month. This is enough time to use an ounce of facial cream twice a day.

2) How are Paraben labeled?

Parabens are commonly labeled as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, or butylparaben. They can also be listed as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy, P-carboxyphenol, P-hydroxybenzoic acid, P-salicyclic acid, 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid, or 4-carboxyphenol.

Ususally parabens are used in combination with other parabens to function as a wide-spectrum preservative against a wide variety of micro-organisms. A lower level of each individual paraben is used to increase the overall preserving activity.

3) What products can Parabens be found in?

Parabens or preservatives can be found in a variety of products: shampoo, conditioner, skin lotion or cream, anti-wrinkle creams, tooth paste, body wash, tanning lotions, exfoliants etc.

4) Are Parabens toxic or safe to use?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labels parabens safe to use whereas Skin Deep rates Parabens with level 7 (on a range of 1-10 with 10 being the highest hazard level).

5) So what is the hype about Parabens?

Several studies have been conducted with varying results. The FDA is aware that parabens have been connected to studies about cancer but they still say that the products are safe to use due to the low level of parabens used. Andrew Weill, M.D., also writes that other sources of estrogen (other than paraben) cause a much greater risk.

I have listed two studies that actually refute each other:

Darbre et al. linked concentrations of parabens to breast cancer in a 2004 study (Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24). Whereas, Golden et al. stated in a study about the implications of parabens for potential risk to human health (2005) that it was "implausibe that parabens could increase the risk" for breastcancer in connection to daily exposure of parabens and estrogen levels (Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 35).

It seems that there is almost no way around not using parabens as they are in just about everything unless you really make your own cosmetics. I only can say, be an educated consumer, be aware of what you eat, drink, or put on your skin as whatever you put on your skin is absorbed by your bloodstream. You are not only what you eat but also what you put on your skin.