What Are Parabens? Are They Really Bad For Your Skin?

What Are Parabens?

Parabens are a group of chemical preservatives that are widely used in cosmetic products. From commercially available moisturizers, shampoos, and serums to creams, lotions, and toothpastes – almost all cosmetic products contain parabens. Different types of shampoo and skin care products serve the important function of preventing the growth of bacteria and mold, thereby extending the shelf life of these products to months or even years.

The most commonly used types of parabens include:

• Butylparaben
• Isobutylparaben
• Propylparaben
• Methylparaben
• Ethylparaben

You must have seen these names on the list of ingredients in most cosmetic and skin care products. A single product can contain one or more types of parabens. Parabens are often used in combination with other preservatives to make sure that they can protect the product from a broad range of bacteria and microbes.

Since the 1950s, parabens have been extensively used in cosmetic products. Parabens are popular because they are gentle, non-sensitizing, and more effective than preservatives.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), in partnership with the FDA, concluded that parabens are safe to be used in cosmetics (1). Due to their excellent antimicrobial properties, parabens are widely used in cosmetics, food items, detergents, and even medicines.

Now, the question is, what exactly is the issue with parabens?

Why Are Parabens Bad For You?

Parabens are bad for you due to the following reasons:

• Researchers found that parabens get easily absorbed by your skin, and they stay in your body tissues and fluids (2).
• Researchers also detected parabens in breast milk, serum, urine, and seminal fluid (3).
• Parabens were also detected in the breast tissues of patients with breast cancer (4). One hypothesis links the increased incidence of breast cancer in the upper lateral breast area with the use of underarm deodorant (containing parabens).
• Parabens are considered as xenoestrogens. In other words, these chemicals can mimic the hormone estrogenⁱ  Women's sex hormones that play a key role in the growth and maintenance of their reproductive system and secondary sexual traits. in your body. Parabens bind the estrogen receptors in your body. Compared to methylparaben and ethylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben have high estrogenic activity in the human body. This estrogenic activity may lead to breast cancer development (2). While methylparaben for skin is often used in cosmetics for preservation, its potential effects on estrogen levels make it important to be cautious about its usage.
• Parabens can elevate cellular level damage caused by UV exposure, which may even cause skin cancer (5).
• Parabens can also sensitize the skin, causing allergic reactions. A study found that ethylparaben used as an antifungal agent (5%) on human skin caused contact dermatitisⁱ  A broad term used to refer to various types of skin irritation, such as dryness, redness, itchiness, and inflammation. (6).

Due to these reasons, many cosmetic and skin care brands shifted to “paraben-free” products. However, even though these products claim that they are paraben-free, they still use preservatives. Usually, alcohol, grapefruit seed extracts, or sorbate are used as preservatives.

Hence, many regulatory bodies in different countries regulate the concentration of parabens in the products.

Regulatory Measures On The Use Of Parabens

The regulatory bodies examined the concentration of parabens and limited their percentage to the extent that would be safe for the consumers to use (within the Margin of Safety).

For instance, the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) suggested that in cosmetic products, individual parabens can be used at a concentration of 0.4% and the total concentration of parabens (a mixture of multiple parabens) should be 0.8% (7).

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) also recommended the same concentration as SCCP for products sold in the USA.

Denmark has banned the use of parabens, especially propyl paraben, in cosmetic and personal care products for children under the age of 3 (8).

It seems that our fears and concerns regarding parabens are valid. However, finding paraben-free cosmetics and skincare products is not difficult. Here are a few paraben-free products you can try.

Is it possible to avoid parabens? Yes, but only to a certain extent. It is practically impossible to ditch every product that contains parabens. Hence, moderation is key.

If you use leave-in serums, lotions, masks, and antiperspirantsⁱ  A skincare product that blocks sweat glands and helps lower the production of sweat and the pungent smell produced by excessive sweating. , avoid products containing parabens as these will transfer high concentration of these preservatives to your body. You can also check for other ingredients as alternatives, as provided below.

Alternatives To Parabens

The following paraben alternatives make suitable and safer preservatives:

1. Organic Acids: Ingredients such as salicylic acid, sorbic acid, and benzoic acid are growing increasingly popular in skin care and have antimicrobial benefits (9). However, these properties are limited and may only exhibit antifungal but not antibacterial properties and changes in pH may lead to progressive loss of these effects.
2. Phenoxyethanol: One of the most well-tolerated cosmetic preservatives (10). It has excellent antimicrobial scope and can effectively kill yeast, gram-negative and -positive bacteria. However, it is not as effective as an antifungal agent. When considering phenoxyethanol for skin care products, its antimicrobial properties make it a popular choice for preserving formulations, though it might not address all fungal concerns.

Do note that these alternatives, though safer, have their limitations and hence must be paired with other ingredients to compensate for them. Consult with your doctor to find out what is best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do parabens cause hair loss?

No, there is currently no scientific evidence that indicates that parabens cause hair loss.

Is Vaseline paraben-free?

No, Vaseline contains parabens.

Do parabens cause wrinkles?

No, there is no evidence suggesting that parabens cause wrinkles.

Do blueberries have parabens?

Yes, parabens are derived from para-hydroxybenzoic acid, which is present in blueberries (9).

Does milk contain parabens?

Yes, dairy products may contain a high concentration of parabens (10).

Illustration: What Are Parabens? Are They Really Bad For Your Skin?

Why are companies moving away from parabens and towards paraben-free skin care products? Learn the benefits of paraben-free skin care and how it can benefit your skin from the video below.

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