What are Parabens?
Parabens are preservatives used in many cosmetics. They provide a protective cover against many microorganisms. When used in soaps, shampoos and other detergents they increase the shelf life of these products.
Though parabens were in use since the 1950's, the modern day consumer is questioning their usage. They want to know how safe the parabens are? This question is plaguing many a mind.
People's fears are not unfounded. Prolonged usage of parabens leads to their accumulation in the body. And accumulated parabens might cause cancer.
How harmful are parabens?
The following points prove that parabens are very harmful.
Research analyst point to the presence of parabens in the breast tissue of cancer afflicted patients. Doctors feel that prabens reached the breast tissue by penetrating the skin. Some underarm deodorants contain Parabens.
The parabens, methylparaben polyparaben, and butylparaben are toxic when consumed. They are not allowed as preservatives in food products. However, the very same parabens are being used in cosmetics. The skin might absorb these parabens contained in the cosmetics. Any substance is ten times more toxic when absorbed by the skin than when consumed.
Tests on mice have proved that butylparaben produced estrogenic activity. Estrogenic activity is known to promote the growth of tumors. In other words butylparaben promotes tumor growth.
Used cosmetics are washed down the drain. The drain water finds its way to the river, seas and other water bodies. This affects the marine life. Very soon, the same afflicted marine life ends up on our dinner plates. The circle is thus complete. We are in other words consuming fishes that contain parabens.
The real picture
The above-mentioned facts might alarm the reader. But these facts do not present the complete picture.
The presence of parabens in cancerous breast tissue has been ascertained. But, it has not yet been researched if the parabens were responsible in causing cancer. Further, the levels of parabens in other bodily tissues have not been studied.
Moreover, only 20% of the breast cancer patients had parabens in their tissues.
Cosmetics have parabens in them. But the nature of underarm deodorants is such that they do not need parabens.
Parabens, in mice produced estrogenic activity. But, in the human body our estrogenic activity is much more stronger than the estrogenic activity of the paraben.
Parabens are toxic only when their levels cross 25%. The current paraben level in our cosmetics is only 0.3%.
How safe are the consumers?
Whether cancer is caused by parabens or not is unknown. As they are found in cancerous breast tissue it's wise to be careful. Paraben containing underarm deodorants are best left unused.
In fact, paraben free cosmetics are available in the market. Using them is a far safer option.
Of late, manufacturers are giving up the use of parabens and shifting towards other preservatives. Time will prove the efficacy of these substitutes.