What Are Parabens? Do They Pose A Health Risk To Me?

You may or may not have noticed that some of your cosmetic and personal care products contain parabens. They come in different forms with some of the major ones being Butylparaben, Ethlyparaben, Methylparaben or Propylparaben.  There has been some discussion as to whether parabens are safe or not, with the major concern being whether or not they are cancer causing.

What are parabens?
Parabens are a group of chemical compounds that are used as preservatives.  Although some parabens occur in nature such as grape seed extract, the ones that are found in personal care products are most likely synthetic. Companies use parabens to maintain the integrity of products and to help to ensure that the product remains consistent.

Are parabens safe?
There are studies from both sides of the industry with one saying that the amount of paraben that is contained in most products is not enough to be harmful, where other studies report that because a majority of the products we use each contain parabens, including some food items we ingest, that accumulatively it could cause health problems.

The concern is that parabens have the ability to act like estrogen compounds in the body. It has been shown that substances that act like parabens can pose a health risk, including increased cancer risks.

What types of products contain parabens?
Almost all of our cosmetic and personal care products contain parabens; included but not limited to:  skincare, lotion, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant and haircare to name a few.  Check the labels on the products that you currently use and I'm almost certain that unless you specifically shop for "parben free" items, you will find that a majority of your products do contain some sort of paraben.

How do I find paraben free products?
If you are concerned about parabens being in your products and want to minimize or eliminate the number of paraben containing products that you own, it is fairly easy to find those which are "paraben free".  Most products will say it right on the label.  More and more companies have began producing "paraben free" products so you should have no problem finding them.  Most organic products are "paraben free" as well.

The most important thing to do is to do your research.  Know what chemicals are present in the products you purchase and how they can affect you.  This post isn't meant to scare you or to make you throw out all of the products that you currently own, but to make you aware that it is our responsibility to choose products that are safe for us, because we are not always told about the possible side effects or health risks that may or may not be present.