You might have heard the term “paraben-free” being tossed around the cosmetic and hair care industry, but what are paraben? And why are people seeking products made without them? Here are the answers to some of the questions you may have regarding these particular chemicals.
What are Parabens? Where can they be found?
Parabens are essentially a number of different chemicals, yet they maintain a similar molecular structure. There are multiple types of parabens, and they can be found in a variety of items. More specifically, they are usually included in products that contain a large sum of water, as these particular additives are used to discourage the formation of bacteria. Some of these products include makeup, lotions, facial cleansers, scrubs and shampoos and conditioners.
Are Parabens a Cause for Concern?
Although parabens have been used to prevent the growth of microbes in products since the 1950s, there have been recent studies that have shown health risks that can potentially be linked to paraben absorption within the skin.
One of the studies conducted, showed that parabens can interrupt hormone function which has been shown to lead to a higher risk of reproductive toxicity as well as breast cancer. In fact, a study conducted by Philippa Darbre, a British cancer researcher, found that parabens were detected in cancerous breast tumors.
Although there was no concrete evidence proving that the parabens were the root cause of the cancer, these results did however show that they remained whole and were not broken down or affected by the body’s metabolism. Therefore, now we know that these chemicals are able to fully penetrate the skin and can remain unbroken within the body. Their ability to accumulate internally, then arises the concern if parabens could potentially lead to negative side effects and possible health risks over an extended period of time.
Parabens at a Glance
Although the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration consider low levels of parabens to be safe, if you are concerned with their ability to accumulate within the body and are worried about potential health risks, there are paraben-free options on the market, including any Hair Loss Shampoo and Hair Loss Treatment by Regenepure.
What to Look For
When searching for a product without parabens, check the label for “paraben-free”. Or, if you want to be extra cautious, you can always check the ingredients list and make sure you don’t see the words: ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben, or essentially any ingredient ending in “paraben”.
Tags: paraben free shampoo
