Parabens
WHAT'S THAT PARABEN DOING IN YOUR SKIN CREAM?
Research being carried out in institutes around the globe is questioning the safety of the most common group of cosmetic preservatives called parabens &their possible link between breast tumours in women & infertility in men.
Parabens are synthetic preservatives-enzyme inhabitants derived from petroleum. Their function in cosmetic products is to preserve the cream. Combining easily, an inexpensive component that people aren't usually sensitive to, makes paraben the perfect but possibly most harmful preservative.
Researchers from the Department of Biology & Biochemistry of Brunel University it the UK have conducted a study & found that alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (methyl, ethyl, propyl & butyl paraben) are weakly oestrogenic. In simple terms, they have the ability to mimic oestrogen in the body (oestrogenic), with butyl paraben being the most potent.
Brunel University researcher professor John Sumpter is an expert on oestrogenic chemicals in the environment. Sumpter says oestrogen mimickers may be responsible for the noticeable increase in male reproductive disorders & the falling of sperm counts in men over the last 50 years.
He believes the results of these studies could be significant due to the widespread use of products. He says everyday products such as deodorants & skin creams may be partly responsible for massive reductions in male fertility.
Researchers are reported to say that the chemicals could be absorbed through the skin of a pregnant women, making their way into the womb where they may act as an alien female hormone. Once there they could impair the development of male foetus, causing reproductive problems later in life.
On equal par is the concern that breast cancer in women is on the rise & becoming an increasing threat. Many breast cancers are oestrogen dependant & in the presence of an oestrogen mimicker will actually grow faster.
It is estimated that 99 per cent of all skin care & cosmetic products contain parabens.
In a burgeoning industry of beauty products, we, the consumer, need to start questioning what is really in our cosmetic products. Be a smart shopper & look for preservative free alternatives.
