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Parabens are chemicals that help preserve cosmetic, hygiene and food products. The purpose of using these preservatives is to extend the useful life of these products by protecting them from bacteria and fungi, at a low cost. However, their toxic effects have been studied for decades, so many brands have stopped using them.
Effects of parabens
Since the decade of the 40s of the last century, the possible effects of these chemicals on healthy and diseased skin have been studied, as well as the probable incidence in hormonal diseases, liver and kidneys. On this issue there are many conflicting opinions on the use of these chemicals that, although some of them are allowed, their concentrations in everyday products and in food should not exceed the established limits.
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (an independent body of the European Commission) has been carrying out different experimental studies to find out the possible effects that the use of parabens may have on health.
Female hormones
It has been observed, in different scientific studies, that parabens have certain behaviors that are typical of the female sex hormone, estrogens. “These hormone-like properties appear to increase with the size of the paraben molecules.” The study of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has determined that this incidence in female hormones is very weak compared to the natural activity of hormones.
However, Dr. Luis Conde Salazar of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, warned in a report that “if we take into account all sources (cosmetics, medicines and food), it is estimated that an individual weighing 60 kg is exposed to 76 mg / day of parabens (1.26 mg / Kg / day).
It all adds up
Precisely, since parabens are a chemical compound that extends the life of products -because it prevents the proliferation of microorganisms- at a low cost, and with wide possibilities of use, it is necessary to be aware of what we eat and what we use for our personal hygiene such as shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, food, medicines, body cosmetics, facial and makeup. That is why it is imperative to start creating the habit of reading the labels of everything we use and eat in order to preserve our health.
The allowed and the forbidden
The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) establishes on the basis of European legislation, the differentiation between admitted parabens and those that are not, so that the community is safe in this regard.
European cosmetics legislation allows the use of the following parabens:
- Methylparaben and ethylparaben, provided that they do not exceed 0.4% concentration in a product or 0.8% if they are mixed.
- Butylparaben and propylparaben: their use is limited to 0.14% (used alone or mixed). However, the OCU recommends that its use be avoided “in products that remain on the skin (body creams and lotions) for several hours, as well as in children under 3 years of age and pregnant women.”
In 2014, the European Union banned the use of the parabens isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, phenylparaben, benzylparaben or pentylparaben.
Natural cosmetics do not contain parabens
Natural cosmetics are friendly to the skin and the body. It is a different way of conceiving a product with moisturizing, nourishing and anti-aging properties, in which a successful combination of ingredients and natural preservatives such as tocopherol, better known as vitamin E, as well as benzoic acid (Benzoic acid) prevail. , potassium sorbate (Potassium sorbate), benzyl alcohol, among others.
Due to its natural components in an adequate concentration, natural cosmetics achieve the desired effects on the skin, preserving health.
Sources consulted
- Conde-Salazar Gómez, Luís. Should parabens be banned in cosmetics? / Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
https://aedv.es/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/parabenospolemica.grupogedct.pdf recuperado el 14/05/2021
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety.
“Opinion on parabens” (Dictamen sobre los parabenos), adopted on 14 December 2010, as revised on 22 March 2011
http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_041.pdf . recuperado el 13/05/2021 OCU: https://www.ocu.org/salud/cuidado-piel/noticias/parabenos-cosmeticos. Recuperado el 14/05/2021.