Should Consumers Search For Paraben Free Skin Care Products?

By Ann Jordan


Why would anyone bother with finding paraben free skin care products, when these chemical substances are so widely used by mainstream manufacturers? Surely the government watchdogs have deemed them safe for our use. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. The cosmetic industry is self-regulating, and no studies have been done to show that parabens are safe for extensive and long-term use by humans.

Used as preservatives, different forms of chemicals known as parabens have been used for decades. The cosmetic and personal topical products industry is not required by the government to have exhaustive 'no harm' rest results for the ingredients they use. The government does have a list of prohibited substances, but beyond that the industry is self-regulating.

There is also no research that definitively shows that the use of parabens is harmful, either. Concern stems from the fact that breast cancer tumors have been analyzed and found to contain traces of parabens. Studies show that parabens are weak estrogen mimics and that the human body may absorb them in the same way it does natural and artificial hormones.

An 'all-natural' statement on the label does not mean that a product will be paraben-free, because these substances are derived in a laboratory from natural sources. They do not exist 'as is' in nature, but are a result of chemical processing. Consumers should check the label of any bottle or jar they are thinking of buying to check the list of ingredients. They are added to check the growth of mold, fungus, and bacteria in containers that will sit on a shelf for one to three years.

You may not see this actual term on the label. Any listing for a substance with ethyl, methyl, butyl, or propyl in its name will be one of these chemicals. If you check labels, you will find very few main-line products without one or more of these terms in the list of ingredients.

Almost all big-brand shampoos, deodorants, make-up lines, skin cleansers and moisturizers, and nail polishes contain these chemicals. Although they have not been proved to be harmful by definitive studies, there is more and more evidence to show that the day may come when these substances will be banned. Especially for women and children, caution might be advisable.

Tests have shown that the use of products that contain these chemicals can worsen asthma, trigger allergies, heighten hyperactivity in children, irritate eyes and skin, and cause stomach distress. Those who suffer from one or more of these conditions could be paying a high price for clean hair and soft skin. There are also studies that suggest that long-term use of these chemicals can hasten the effects of aging on skin and hair.

To find paraben free skin care products, go online and do a simple search. There are brands that you can find in your regular drug or grocery store, and many others in health food stores or specialty shops. In fact, the variety of product lines is very extensive, and you can also find directions for making your own body care items at home, where you are in charge of the ingredients.




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