Much of the controversy surrounding parabens stems from a small study conducted at the University of Reading, United Kingdom, back in 2003. The study found parabens in breast cancer tissue in 18 out of 20 tumors.
But first, let’s back up a bit… exactly what is a paraben? The chemical name is Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate Preservatives.
Phew! That’s a mouthful.
Parabens are the most commonly used preservative in personal care products. They are widely used in everything from shampoo to personal lubricants.
Actually, parabens are hiding in over 13,000 products!
A surprising piece of information is that parabens are added to food products and prescription drugs. The sobering fact is that most of us are exposed to numerous parabens on a daily basis.
Parabens and Cancer – the Estrogen Connection
Suspicions concerning parabens and cancer first appeared back in 1998. At that time, studies began to expose the estrogen-like property of parabens. Twelve studies have confirmed estrogen-like activity in laboratory rats injected with parabens. The results indicate a weak form of estrogen, but it’s there.
On a positive note, the researchers found that parabens ingested orally show no estrogen activity. It appears that parabens in food and medications are insignificant. (Well that’s good news!)
So what are the concerns?
The “Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association” maintains that parabens are safe. Scientists from the international community, however, are not so sure. Many experts believe the issue requires further study before such a declaration can be made.
Why worry?
To begin with, the estrogen-like activity relates to the research findings of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT studies established a connection between estrogen and breast cancer.
Note: the estrogen activity in parabens is weak compared to HRT.
Next, consider the fact that parabens are used in the majority of personal care products. Just look in your own bathroom cupboard. Even many so called natural skin care products use these preservatives.
This translates to widespread, daily use over the course of many years. The significance of this raises a cautionary flag.
Consider this…
Personal care products expose the typical adult to an average of 126 unique chemicals daily! This raises other questions, such as:
– What is the risk of combining parabens with other chemicals?
– What is the cumulative effect of exposure day after day?
Good questions, but no answers.
At this time, the research has not been conducted to state conclusively that such combined, prolonged chemical use is safe.
University of Reading Study
It’s important to know that this study does have its critics. And frankly, it was not flawless.
Here are the facts…
- The study was small – samples were taken from only 20 women.
- There were no controls – normal breast tissue was not investigated for comparison.
- No other parts of the body were studied – theoretically, parabens may lurk elsewhere in the body.
- The source of the parabens was not identified – no one knows if they came from antiperspirants, other personal care products, or possibly a household source.
The bottom line…
A Proven Link to Justify Paraben Free Skin Care?
This one study does not prove a cause and effect relationship between parabens and cancer. It sheds just enough suspicion to indicate that more research is needed.
Ar you confused?
You’re probably wondering what to do with all this information. Should you change your personal care product habits?
Unfortunately there are no easy, clear-cut answers. But to help you make sense of it all, here’s a list of what we know and what we don’t know at this time.
We can say parabens…
- are contained in some breast cancer tissue
- are absorbed by the body
- appear to enter tissue via the skin, rather than ingestion
- promote estrogen-like activity in lab animals
We can not say…
- parabens cause cancer
- deodorants or antiperspirants cause cancer
- parabens inhabit the body only in breast tissue
Parabens, Cancer, and All Natural Skin Care Products
What products should concern you the most? The greatest potential risk comes from so called “leave on” products… ones that remain on your skin. These have more time to penetrate and enter the bloodstream. Some examples are…
- Moisutrizers, body lotions, and skin creams
- Make-up
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
Products that are on your body for only a short time before being rinsed off are less likely to be absorbed…
- Soaps
- Shower gels and cleansers
- Shampoos and conditioners
Of course, you may want to just eliminate all skin care products that contain parabens and follow…
The “Precautionary Principle”
The Precautionary Principle states: if there is the potential for harm, it’s best to err on the side of caution. This public health principle promotes preventative action, rather than waiting for scientific “proof.”
The good news is that many manufacturers are listening to the public and eliminating parabens from their products.
If you’re still concerned about parabens and cancer, it’s easy enough to avoid this controversial chemical. Read labels… look for ingredients such as ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isopropyl and isobutylparaben, or parahydroxybenzoate. They all indicate the product contains this preservative.
An alternative is to find companies that sell only 100% all natural skin care products.
We use and recommend the Usana Sense line of skin care and personal care products. They are free of paraben and formaldehyde releasing agents and also don’t contain irritating “Natural” oils to preserve the products. They use a patented technology to preserve the products.
from Natural Skin Care Secrets.