Anything You Need To Know About Parabens In Most of our Beauty Products

What are parabens?
Parabens are a family of chemicals that occur naturally in some foods. Blueberries, for example, contain a type of paraben. They're also used as a preservative in many products, including toiletries.
Why are parabens used in baby shampoo and bath products?
Parabens are used in baby toiletries because they are cheap, highly effective preservatives. Preservatives stop moulds and bacteria growing that could spoil the product or potentially harm your baby.

Different parabens stop the growth of different organisms. So a combination of parabens is often added to a product to protect it against a broad range of micro-organisms.

Parabens are also less likely to cause an allergic reaction (contact dermatitis) than most other commercial preservatives. Nonetheless, many brands are choosing to remove parabens from their baby products, so there are plenty of alternatives available.
Why is there concern about parabens?
There is some concern that parabens could affect sperm production in men. There are many different types of parabens, and there is more concern about some types than others. Studies on animals showed that propylparaben and butylparaben have more of an effect on the male reproductive system than methylparabens and ethylparabens.

A controversial study published in 2004 led to widespread concern that parabens in toiletries, particularly underarm deodorants, cause breast cancer. This study has since been discredited because the following concerns have been raised about its validity: •Only 20 people took part in the study.
•The study didn't test healthy breast tissue to see whether it also contained parabens.
•It was not known if the parabens in the breast tissue could have come from sources other than skin products (such as the drugs that the women were taking).

The existence of parabens in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer doesn't mean that parabens caused the disease. Any link between breast cancer and the use of underarm deodorants containing parabens has been dismissed by regulatory agencies and leading cancer charities.
What do we know about parabens?
Parabens have been found to mimic oestrogen, the female hormone. Studies have shown that when some parabens (specifically butylparaben and propylparaben) are eaten by or injected into male animals, it affects their reproductive systems. However, there's no evidence that applying parabens to the skin has the same effect.

What don't we know about parabens?
Although studies have found that parabens can affect the reproductive system of male animals, we don't know if they cause similar problems in humans. More research is needed. Further studies are also needed to find out how parabens are absorbed into our bodies when they're applied to our skin.
Who regulates parabens and how?
The European Union (EU) allows parabens in cosmetic products but limits the amount that can be added. Therefore, the levels of parabens in cosmetics in the EU are considered to be safe.

In the US, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) assesses ingredients for safety. It recommends the same maximum concentration of parabens as the EU. However, in the US this is a safety guideline for manufacturers and is not a legal requirement.

In Denmark, propylparaben and butylparaben are banned from all products aimed at under-threes. However, this is just a precaution, as there still isn't enough evidence to say whether low doses of parabens may be harmful to humans.
Should I be worried about parabens?
With so many scare stories around, it's difficult not to worry about how parabens may affect your baby's health. However, parabens have been widely used as preservatives for 80 years.

Following thorough safety assessments, parabens are considered safe at the levels used to preserve cosmetic products such as baby bath washes and shampoos.

Some parabens (propylparaben and butylparaben) are part of an ongoing safety assessment. This doesn't mean that they're unsafe. It just means that the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), which advises the EU, has asked for additional scientific data. This is to determine whether these parabens can be absorbed through the skin.

It's true that some studies show that parabens could affect the male reproductive system of animals. However, the oestrogen-mimicking effect of parabens is between 1,000 and a million times weaker than natural oestrogen. Therefore their impact on male fertility is thought to be very low.

Also, in these studies, animals were given parabens in their food or by injection. There's no evidence that the same effects occur when using rinse-off products such as baby bath wash and shampoo.

What can I do to protect my family from parabens?
Because there are no confirmed health risks from low doses of parabens, they're widely used in toiletries. However it's increasingly easy to find paraben-free alternatives if you like, especially for babies. In many cases, the labelling on baby products will state if they're paraben-free. If you're particularly concerned about parabens, check the labels on any skin and beauty products you use. Some of the more common parabens to look out for are: •methylparaben
•ethylparaben
•propylparaben
•butylparaben
•isobutylparaben
•isopropylparaben
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1037206/parabens#ixzz3WhEmSfdK

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