Dangers of Parabens and Are Parabens Bad For You

While the extent of the dangers of parabens in our personal care products such as shampoos and lotions is still being researched, one thing is known, they can be unsafe. Despite the lack of evidence to fully answer the question are parabens bad, there is enough analysis to indicate that they probably are. In some cases, they definitely are.

This is not a single compound, but a group of compounds that include some type of alcohol; methyl, ethyl, propyl, etc. They will be listed on the ingredients label of youe skin anti aging product along with the alcohol they contain.

In this day and age, when our bodies are subjected to harmful sunrays, contaminants in our drinking water, artificial preservatives added to our foods, we now have one more concern because of the dangers of parabens. The biggest problem is that they are used in so many different products, so we have multiple sources of exposure.

So, are parabens bad? Well, they are not good. The dangers of parabens have been outlined by scientific researchers.

They mimic estrogen. Externally produced or duplicated estrogen has been linked with an increase in breast cancer. Major cosmetic companies will try to convince you that there is no connection because the amount of the preservatives in their products is minimal and it is not absorbed through the skin.

Researchers have shown that many chemicals are absorbed through the skin. A paraben easily passes through the skin and gets stored in bodily tissues.

As consumers, we are faced with a constant barrage of confusing, sometimes conflicting health facts. Are parabens bad? Are parabens good? Given the number of external factors I cannot control, switching to paraben-free products is one small adjustment I can easily make.

On the other hand, switching to paraben-free skin anti aging products can be expensive and it certainly requires some detective work to track them down. But, in my opinion, it's worth the effort to avoid the dangers of parabens.

Here are another couple of questions. Are parabens bad for men? Are parabens bad for our children? The answer to both questions is "yes". Not only do the dangers of parabens include an increased risk of breast cancer, they can cause changes in a developing child's reproductive system and cause fertility issues in a man.

If nothing else, you should know that they are some of the strongest irritants and most common allergens known to man. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, you should avoid skincare products that contain them.

The most hazardous is sodium methyl-paraben. This ingredient is banned in the European Union; considered unsafe for use in cosmetics. Yet, companies including Neutrogena, Avon and Dove still use it.

If you are concerned about your appearance, you should know that chemical preservatives increase production of free radicals, the root cause of wrinkles and sagging skin, as well as skin-cancer. Safer skin anti aging products are available.

Now that you know the dangers of parabens, you should take the time to shop for safer ingredients. Natural vitamin E and grape seed oil are effective preservatives, free of any health risks.