This is a series created to teach you the dangers of chemicals used by skincare corporate brands. Let’s get started on this unknown chemical called paraben.
What are parabens?
Parabens are artificial chemicals that are used as preservatives to improve the shelf life of goods. According to the American Chemical Society, most parabens are in 85% of health, beauty, and personal care products. Parabens may extend the lives of your products but they are destroying your body.
Dangers of parabens
- Parabens are endocrine disruptors. The chemical structure of parabens is close to that of estrogen, a female sex hormone. Research shows that when you absorb parabens through the skin or ingest it orally, it will cause many issues such as adult onset acne, male breast growth, developmental and neurological disorders, and various cancers. Some studies even show that it causes premature puberty for girls. Parabens also possible change your thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid hormones are responsible for your metabolism so neither high nor low levels are going to be good for you
- Parabens may be causing breast cancer. As you have learned earlier, the chemical structure of parabens is comparable to estrogen and estrogen causes the growth of both normal and cancerous breast cells. In 2004, British scientist Philippa Darbre published a scientific paper that confirms the traces of parabens in breast cancer tissue. This study testing for parabens in human breast cancer tumours found traces of 5 different parabens in 19 of 20 tumours.
- Research shows that parabens can cause reproductive problems. The issues include a high risk of cancer for the mother and developmental problems for the child.
- Parabens can cause allergic reactions, especially for those with sensitive skin or if your skin has open wounds. Studies show that parabens can be extremely inflammatory to those with pre-existing conditions of psoriasis, eczema, or a pattern of contact dermatitis.
Where you commonly find parabens
- Shampoo
- Lotions
- Conditioner
- Facial Cleanser
- Shower Gel
- Facial Scrub
- Deodorant
- Makeup
- Toothpaste
- Eye Cream
Conclusion
Do read the ingredient list of skincare products and be cautious of the chemicals it contains. If you realise that your current skincare products does contain parabens, STOP using them. Here at HYSSES, we offer fully natural and non-toxic skincare products so you can rest assured when shopping with us. Lastly, it is very important that you remember the deadly effects of parabens as they will affect your health negatively.