Are paraben free products really necessary? What is paraben, anyway, and why should I care? Parabens are actually a group of chemical compounds commonly used as preservatives in skincare creams and other health and beauty aids.
There use has become controversial, because researchers have shown that they act like estrogen within the human body.
Chemicals that act like estrogen disrupt the normal production of hormones, within the body, thus, they are referred to as endocrine disruptors.
The endocrine system is composed primarily of the organs and glands that secrete hormones.
Paraben free products came on the market in response to the published research.
Consumer safety advocates and other groups want everyone to know the answer to what is paraben and why we should all care.
Many synthetic chemicals are endocrine disruptors.
Most of them are know to cause cancer in humans.
Parabens have not been fully evaluated as carcinogens, but research may eventually show that they can increase the individual's risk of cancer.
The research that first provided information about what is paraben was released after a study of breast cancer tumors were all found to contain them.
THMs have also been found in breast-cancer tumors and they are known carcinogens that people are exposed to because of our chlorinated water supplies.
Researchers are primarily concerned because we are exposed to so many different carcinogens on a daily basis.
Some exposure is unavoidable.
But, we can easily buy paraben free products, install water filters to remove THMs and make other changes that protect our long-term health.
The key is cancer-prevention research.
We need to find out what causes it and what we can do to avoid those things.
Marketing can be misleading, though.
Once you find out what is paraben, you may want to rush right out and buy paraben free products.
Please, finish reading this article first.
Most of the companies that now offer paraben-free health and beauty aids use other preservatives in their products that are just as dangerous.
Artificial preservatives, in general, are the most common causes of allergic reactions.
Some companies still use thimerosal, a mercury based preservative.
We absorb these things through our skin.
If we use a product that is readily and quickly absorbed, all of the chemicals in it will be absorbed as well.
When it comes to lotions and creams, most companies use petrolatum, which is not absorbed by the skin and is also an ineffective moisturizer.
The best choices, once you understand what is paraben and why you should care, are skincare products that are free of artificial preservatives and fragrances.
All of the ingredients should be safe enough to eat, because you may as well be eating them if you rub them all over your face and body, every day.
If all of this is news to you, you should make an effort to learn more about the hazards in your skincare products.
Learning about paraben free products is just the first step.