Parabens: After all, what are they and what do they do?

There is a lot of controversy about parabens used in cosmetics. After all, are they bad or not? ... finally, I decided to research, and here is the result of my research for you ...

Not today, women and men use the most varied types of cosmetics to give a different touch in appearance. Since ancient times, archaeologists say, signs of the use of eye paint and aromatic creams have been found in Egyptian tombs of about 3,500 BC, as perfumes and cosmetics were used to cleanse, soothe and cover up skin imperfections to help. in the art of seducing and pleasing others. Since then and to date, cosmetics, however, are derived from substances of various origins and contain preservatives that can cause harmful effects to their users, such as Parabens, which are present in over 80% of creams.

Parabens are widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as an effective preservative; that is, they kill bacteria and fungi that contaminate and spoil cosmetics. Parabens prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria in water-based products such as creams (a mixture of oil and water).

Parabens are easy and inexpensive to synthesize and therefore attractive to the cosmetics industry. Parabens are found in a variety of cosmetic products including moisturizers, sunscreen, shaving gels, personal lubricants, shampoos, toothpaste, and even food. .

The most common are:
methylparaben
propylparaben
ethylparaben
butylparaben
isobutylparaben

According to the study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, Paraben preservatives have estrogenic properties, that is, they behave as if they were estrogen, a female hormone. The news published in the US newspaper drew interest from consumers and scientists around the world, forcing manufacturers to urgently rethink formulations and to invest heavily in research. This is alarming because there is a huge use of Paraben-containing cosmetics by pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and patients under various treatments such as cancer, hormone replacement and chronic therapies.

Parabens and the deodorants:

The same newspaper reported that the use of parabens in cosmetic products intended for application in the axillary area (such as antiperspirant deodorants, for example) should be reevaluated, as recent studies have hypothesized that continued use in this region may be associated with increased incidence. breast cancer, which was confirmed in a recent test

In a Best Practice & Reserach Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism publication, it was also reported that the breast tissue region is exposed to a variety of chemical compounds applied as cosmetic products in this region or in the axillary region. These cosmetics remain on the skin for a prolonged time, promoting greater dermal absorption and greater exposure of breast tissue to estrogenic compounds.

A recent study found that parabens, when applied to the skin, react with an enzyme that is the enzyme that helps the body eliminate estrogen. So when these enzymes are deactivated, it results in increased estrogen levels in the body.

A reaction with parabens in the skin triggers increased levels of estrogen in the body in general.

Parabens when applied to the skin behave very differently than in foods, leading to premature skin aging, inhibiting collagen production, and possibly leading to premature cell aging and other changes.

Many regenerative cancers are estrogen dependent and tumor growth is fueled by an excess of estrogen. Uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, irregular menstruation. All these reproducible problems are caused by an excess of estrogen.

Parabens and the food:

Parabens are present in foods very differently than those applied in personal care products. First, in a food, other compounds are present in nature's perfect balance. We're talking about antioxidants and enzymes that work together to create a healthy overall effect for the body. Second, when parabens enter the body through food, they have a much higher chance of being metabolized because they go through the digestive system. Stomach acids and other enzymes help break them down into metabolites that are easily released out of the body. Third, parabens behave very differently when eaten in a food than when applied to the skin.

Conclusion: 

Until recently, the use of Parabens was thought to be safe due to its low toxic profile. However, new research has shown that the accumulation of parabens in the body and their interaction with other commonly used chemicals can lead to hormonal disorders and may lead to an increased risk of cancer. Paraben advocates are always talking about how poorly absorbed parabens are and how poor their estrogen activity is, but studies show that skin absorption and estrogen receptor activity are really moot points.

There are many alternatives to using parabens in personal care products, and consumers are increasingly looking for "Paraben Free" skin care products. Some manufacturers are employing other chemical preservatives such as sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate is a broad-spectrum preservative effective against bacteria, yeast and mold. It is used in extremely low concentrations, maximum 0.1% to 1%. It is active at all alkaline pH levels as well as acidic conditions. It is obtained from glycine, which is a naturally occurring amino acid. Glycine is made up of sweet-tasting crystals, which is used as a dietary supplement and as an anti-gastric acid. Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate has been tested and produced to be non-irritating, non-toxic by skin absorption, and non-mutagenic (do not damage DNA or possess the potential for damage chromosomes). Manufacturersare still working with sodium hydroxymethylglycinate to determine if it is effective enough for general use.

Other companies continue to use parabens, but describe it with another name on the ingredient list as "Japanese Honeysuckle" , a natural source of parabens, but chemically identical to the synthetic variety.

Therefore, we can conclude that the use of formulations containing parabens, preservatives that although licensed and endorsed by regulatory agencies, can cause dermatitis, sensitize the dermis and, in addition, may interfere with the hormonal process and be associated with increased adenocarcinomas. The issue here is not the effectiveness of parabens in relation to their antimicrobial action, but the safety of their use., since several studies cast doubt on the same, reporting that they may present several adverse reactions and activities that endanger the health of the population.
The fact is that there are several other preservative alternatives or even preservative systems - the possibilities are endless and growing with the advancement of chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, pharmaceutical science and current technology. Therefore, there is no logic in opting for those who leave us uncertain as to their eligibility.

Finally, there are alternatives to using parabens or other synthetic preservatives in personal care products - but these are often more expensive and require extensive changes to the manufacturing process. So, here's the question that doesn't want to shut up:


What do you think is "easier" for companies?
Raise your costs, or put consumer health at risk?