What Are Parabens?
Parabens are preservatives that have been used in almost all body and skin care products for years to keep the formulas fresh so they don't go bad. They are listed on ingredient labels as methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. They are very inexpensive and they do their job well; so well, that for years manufacturers were adding parabens to nearly every personal care product created until the late 1990's when some suspicious medical research was discovered. Parabens mimic the female hormone, estrogen. Not good.
Dangers of Parabens for Men
Higher estrogen concentrations in males can lead to more body fat, lower muscle mass, and gynecomastia (the development of breasts in men).
More recently, Japanese research linked the estrogenic activity of parabens to male reproductive system damage, including low sperm count and decreased testosterone levels. More frightening, the damage occurred at doses well below the accepted daily intake.
Of course men aren’t the only ones in danger of paraben absorption. Women can be at greater risk of developing breast tumors, suggesting that the paraben exposure came from products routinely applied to the skin. One study found parabens in 20 human breast tumors, with methylparaben in the highest concentrations.
Breast tissue may not be the only problem sparked by parabens. In one study, benzylparaben applied to the skin of immature female mice increased the size of their uteruses, a result similar to that caused by pure estrogen. The researchers who conducted this study speculate that parabens could have the same affect in people. Since parabens have routinely been included in toiletries designed for babies and children, this could impact a girl’s reproductive health in her later years.
Parabens Can Make You Look Older
Not all the damage from paraben absorption is internal. They can also make your skin look older by decreasing skin tone (the overall tightness of your skin) and speeding up the development of wrinkles and age spots (the brown discolorations normaly seen on old guys and those who spend too much time in the sun). How do we know this could happen? Researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan discovered this when they applied methylparabens to skin in amounts similar to what you would find in cosmetics. When the skin was then exposed to ultraviolet light, 19% of the cells died compared to just 6% in untreated skin. The level of lipid peroxide, a substance that speeds up the aging process, was also three times higher in the paraben-treated skin.
The really bad news is that they don't just disappear. Parabens can sit on your skin and build up with daily application until they cause an allergic reaction like eczema, a rash or something else equally as ugly and uncomfortable.
How Can I Avoid Exposure?
Code SC, along with an ever increasing number of natural manufacturers, uses safe, non-toxic compounds to preserve products. In addition to using an active level of citrus essential oils such as lemon and orange, which are natural preservatives, we use these common non-toxic preservatives in Code SC products: •Phenoxyethanol: A nontoxic, broad-spectrum preservative used to protect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Phenoxyethanol must be used in conjunction with other preservatives like potassium sorbate to be effective.
•Polyaminopropyl biguanide: Kills a wide range of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. An excellent alternative to parabens, polyaminopropyl biguanide does not disrupt hormones or release either formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
•Potassium sorbate: Derived from the mountain laurel ash, potassium sorbate is a mild antimicrobial that also protects against yeasts. It is used in conjunction with phenoxyethanol to protect against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
How to Spot Parabens
Read ingredient labels! Parabens are most common in personal care products, including deodorant, toothpaste, and hair care products. They are also used in pharmaceutical products and foods. Be safe and stick to natural personal care products such as Code SC and organic foods whenever possible. Code SC offers free ground shipping and ships anywhere in the USA, in addition to being carried in many retailers around the country, so there's really no excuse to subject yourself to paraben danger. Be careful out there, knowledge is power!
References:Darbre PD, Harvey PW. “Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks.” Journal of Applied Toxicology. 2008;28:561-578.
Ishiwatari S, Suzuki T, Hitomi T, et al. “Effects of methyl paraben on skin keratinocytes.” Journal of Applied Toxicology. 2007;27:1-9.
Pedersen KL, Pedersen SN, Christiansen LB, et al. “The preservatives ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben are oestrogenic in an in vivo fish assay.” Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2000;86:110-113.
Routledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, et al. “Some alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (parabens) are estrogenic.” Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 1998;153:12-19.
Dangers of Parabens for Men
Higher estrogen concentrations in males can lead to more body fat, lower muscle mass, and gynecomastia (the development of breasts in men).
More recently, Japanese research linked the estrogenic activity of parabens to male reproductive system damage, including low sperm count and decreased testosterone levels. More frightening, the damage occurred at doses well below the accepted daily intake.
Of course men aren’t the only ones in danger of paraben absorption. Women can be at greater risk of developing breast tumors, suggesting that the paraben exposure came from products routinely applied to the skin. One study found parabens in 20 human breast tumors, with methylparaben in the highest concentrations.
Breast tissue may not be the only problem sparked by parabens. In one study, benzylparaben applied to the skin of immature female mice increased the size of their uteruses, a result similar to that caused by pure estrogen. The researchers who conducted this study speculate that parabens could have the same affect in people. Since parabens have routinely been included in toiletries designed for babies and children, this could impact a girl’s reproductive health in her later years.
Not all the damage from paraben absorption is internal. They can also make your skin look older by decreasing skin tone (the overall tightness of your skin) and speeding up the development of wrinkles and age spots (the brown discolorations normaly seen on old guys and those who spend too much time in the sun). How do we know this could happen? Researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan discovered this when they applied methylparabens to skin in amounts similar to what you would find in cosmetics. When the skin was then exposed to ultraviolet light, 19% of the cells died compared to just 6% in untreated skin. The level of lipid peroxide, a substance that speeds up the aging process, was also three times higher in the paraben-treated skin.
The really bad news is that they don't just disappear. Parabens can sit on your skin and build up with daily application until they cause an allergic reaction like eczema, a rash or something else equally as ugly and uncomfortable.
Code SC, along with an ever increasing number of natural manufacturers, uses safe, non-toxic compounds to preserve products. In addition to using an active level of citrus essential oils such as lemon and orange, which are natural preservatives, we use these common non-toxic preservatives in Code SC products: •Phenoxyethanol: A nontoxic, broad-spectrum preservative used to protect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Phenoxyethanol must be used in conjunction with other preservatives like potassium sorbate to be effective.
•Polyaminopropyl biguanide: Kills a wide range of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. An excellent alternative to parabens, polyaminopropyl biguanide does not disrupt hormones or release either formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
•Potassium sorbate: Derived from the mountain laurel ash, potassium sorbate is a mild antimicrobial that also protects against yeasts. It is used in conjunction with phenoxyethanol to protect against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
How to Spot Parabens
Read ingredient labels! Parabens are most common in personal care products, including deodorant, toothpaste, and hair care products. They are also used in pharmaceutical products and foods. Be safe and stick to natural personal care products such as Code SC and organic foods whenever possible. Code SC offers free ground shipping and ships anywhere in the USA, in addition to being carried in many retailers around the country, so there's really no excuse to subject yourself to paraben danger. Be careful out there, knowledge is power!
References:Darbre PD, Harvey PW. “Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks.” Journal of Applied Toxicology. 2008;28:561-578.
Ishiwatari S, Suzuki T, Hitomi T, et al. “Effects of methyl paraben on skin keratinocytes.” Journal of Applied Toxicology. 2007;27:1-9.
Pedersen KL, Pedersen SN, Christiansen LB, et al. “The preservatives ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben are oestrogenic in an in vivo fish assay.” Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2000;86:110-113.
Routledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, et al. “Some alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives (parabens) are estrogenic.” Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 1998;153:12-19.
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