Finding Paraben Free Skin Care Products

By Nelda Powers


These days it's not difficult to find paraben free skin care products. Although most conventional body care contains these chemicals as preservatives, even mainstream manufacturers are responding to new safety concerns by eliminating this class of chemicals from their ingredients. Many consumers don't know what parabens are and have no idea why they might want to avoid them. The safety or danger of using this class of chemical compound is a subject for much debate today.

Parabens are mostly man-made compounds that are used in conventional body care topicals, many pharmaceuticals, and processed foods. They are added to these products as preservatives, since they have antibacterial and antifungal effects. They are easy to produce and inexpensive, and they have a long record of use. Their safety record was not questioned until new analysis tools found traces of this class of chemical in cancerous tumors.

The debate between those who consider these chemicals safe for long term use and those who say they should be avoided is on-going. Many natural product lines want to avoid all man-made chemicals, and these manufacturers have decided not to wait for final conclusions to be drawn. Paraben-free is one of the claims most natural lines make on their labels.

Parabens are among the most common ingredients in most cosmetics, nail products, moisturizers, soaps, shaving gels, shampoos, sunscreens, deodorants, and other topical products. They also are used as preserving agents in many processed foods. The fact that they are so widely used may be the problem. Whereas a little of the chemicals might not pose a risk, too much might be toxic.

Although some consumers are allergic to parabens, most people have no skin reaction to them, and most people do not exhibit allergic reactions to their presence in foods. However, those who feel that they pose a health risk say to avoid all man-made chemicals of this type. A partial list contains anything with ethyl, methyl, propyl, butyl, or heptyl in the name.

After finding traces of parabens, which are weak estrogen mimics in the human and animal body, in cancerous tumors, researchers began to conduct more safety tests. Some experts think that these chemicals can disrupt the hormonal balance in both women and men. There is evidence that they suppress the production of sperm and testosterone in males. They also may increase sensitivity to the rays of the sun - ironic when they are used in sunscreens - and cause accelerated aging of the skin.

Chemical substitutes for parabens are not necessarily safer. After all, it might take years for the body to accumulate discernible and harmful levels of any chemical in tissues. Those who prefer to use only natural ingredients are turning to essential oils, like tea tree or rosemary, and vitamins like E to preserve products that sit on store and bathroom shelves. Some question the efficacy of the natural alternatives, and some consumers have allergic reactions or sensitivities to even natural things.

If you are cautious about what you put on and in your body, it might be wise to choose paraben free skin care products. You also should avoid most processed foods, which also contain chemical preservatives. Parabens are readily absorbed by the skin and the digestive tract, so until their safety can be guaranteed, you might want to avoid them.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment