Recently, many well-known scientists have expressed the opinion that parabens in cosmetics are harmful, but at the legislative level there is no ban on their use. Large cosmetic companies are trying to independently solve this problem and gradually eliminate the use of preservatives in their products.
So what are parabens in cosmetics, is it really dangerous or just a promoted topic for discussion?
Parabens are called chemicals that, due to their properties, prevent the premature appearance of fungi and bacteria. They are used not only in cosmetics, but also in the food and medical industries. Some parabens are found even in nature, but parabens in cosmetics are synthetic products.
In many developed countries, the number of parabens in cosmetics is strictly regulated. For example, parabens such as propyl - methyl -, butyl -, ethyl parabens and their various isoforms are allowed in an amount of not more than 0.4% and should be the only paraben in the product. If a mixture of parabens is used, then its concentration should not exceed 0.8%. There is an opinion of some experts that usually about 0.2% of them in cosmetics is quite enough.
What is the danger of parabens?
In the past few years, more and more statements have appeared that they are endocrine disruptors. In this regard, in Europe it was decided that propyl paraben in cosmetics should be used less frequently, its permissible concentration should be halved, the same requirement applies to butyl parabens.
Parabens have an estrogenic effect. Therefore, the use of products in which they are present should be limited to people who have contraindications to the use of estrogen. Pregnant women should be especially careful, since excess estrogen can negatively affect the outcome of pregnancy.
Some scientists refute this statement and argue that only substances that enter the human body along with food have such an effect, and ether parabens are harmless.
With the constant use of prabens, they accumulate in the body, which can contribute to the occurrence of cancer of the breast, uterus, ovaries in women and cancer of the testes in men. But this is just the opinion of scientists, while a direct investigative relationship between the use of parabens in both food and cosmetics has not been established with the onset of cancer.
Parabens in cosmetics can slightly increase the negative effect of the sun. Products that contain methylparaben, when applied to the skin, can cause premature aging and even damage the DNA. This is due to the reaction of methyl paraben with ultraviolet rays. Also, applied products that contain propyl, methylparbenes can cause various skin irritations and even contact dermatitis, as well as allergic reactions.
But do not immediately abandon the use of products that contain parabens. All the above data is only the opinion of specialists, but there is no scientific confirmation of this, or vice versa, a refutation.
According to official science, parabens are almost non-toxic and are rapidly eliminated from the body. For healthy people, they are harmless and only in very rare cases can they cause paraben allergy. For such people, paraben-free creams are available.
Despite all this, parabens in cosmetics provide its long-term storage, in which its properties and qualities are not violated.
They are present in almost all cosmetics, as well as in many food and medical products. Since it is practically impossible to do without preservatives at present, scientists are constantly looking for an alternative to parabens. But while it is not there, work is underway to create a preservative on plant materials.