Parabens are not new on the beauty scene, nor is the controversy surrounding them. However, while there has been a great deal of hype on both sides of the issue, the real problem, as we see it, is that there is not enough information assembled in one place to enable everyday makeup, shampoo and moisturizer users to make an educated decision for themselves.

The information presented in this report has been gleaned from multiple, cited sources. You can easily verify this information by reading the original source material yourself. The goal of this report is not to scare you out of your shower – literally – by showing you a monster in your shampoo bottle, but we do believe that it is important that you are aware of any potential health ramifications that might be associated with the use of that shampoo (or moisturizer, makeup or body cream), should there be any.

What are parabens?

According to the FDA, parabens are “the most widely used preservatives in cosmetic products.” They are used in a variety of forms called “esters,” which are molecular compounds that are formed when an alcohol and an acid interact and water is removed. While this may sound disconcerting, it just means that parabens are molecules that have a special formation and do not contain water. This special formation enables them to protect substances that contain them from bacterial invasions. As you can see, this makes parabens highly appealing as preservatives in cosmetics and beauty products since many of the ingredients in these products are organic. Parabens help prevent your products from literally “going bad” in the same way that food might go bad if you left it out on the counter for an extended period of time.

Also according to the FDA, you may find parabens under the following names: methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.  Check out your own hair and beauty products. You will likely find these listed in most of the ingredients.

What are the concerns about parabens?

Now that you know what parabens are, you may be wondering what the problem is. After all, not smearing rotting wrinkle cream all over your face sounds like a good thing. And it is. However, the concern is not with parabens’ preservative properties, but rather with the results that absorption of parabens can have on your internal system.

This raises several issues:

•    What are the potential problems that might accompany paraben absorption?

•    What amount of parabens am I absorbing?

•    How can I prevent excessive paraben absorption?

We will deal with these issues one at a time.

1.    What are the potential problems that might accompany paraben absorption?

It has been proven that parabens can mimic “estrogenic activity.” Abnormally high estrogenic activity has long been linked to breast cancer and other forms of cancers since 1973 (The Journal of Clinical Investigation ). However, this does not mean that parabens cause breast cancer. It just means that they could. At issue are a number of factors, such as how much paraben is in your system, how it got there, and whether it is going to stay there.

The FDA believes that in low concentrations (up to 25%) parabens are safe for topical use. Most cosmetics have a concentration of 0.3% paraben or lower. In addition, studies on mice, guinea pigs and humans have shown that parabens do not remain in the body but exit rapidly in your urine (example: “Safety Assessment of Propyl Paraben” Food and Chemical Toxicology 2001). This means that they are not building up in your system but are moving through and out of your body.

However, you should note several things. While studies indicate that parabens are probably harmless as long as you are not eating your body lotion in large quantities, there is not conclusive evidence one way or the other. This is why some people opt to avoid parabens entirely just in case. Also, if you apply a product containing parabens to sensitive, injured or cracked skin, you are allowing that compound increased access to your body. It might be wise to avoid using products with paraben at least in areas where you have open wounds, rashes or sores.

2.    What amounts of paraben am I absorbing?

The FDA does not limit the amount of paraben that can be in any product. In addition, you likely use multiple products that contain paraben. As a result, while any one product may contain as little as 0.1% paraben, you are probably applying a bit more than this to your skin over the course of the day.  However, it is unclear exactly what percentage of that paraben makes it into your body. We do know that some does make it through the skin, though, because scientists have found the esters intact in human urine (Journal of Applied Toxicology 2008).

Furthermore, the FDA, while a great source of information about parabens, does not currently approve cosmetic ingredients. This means that in order to get full disclosure about the amount and types of paraben in a product, you must request this information from the manufacturer directly. You cannot count on the FDA to have reviewed the product since the ingredients are not under FDA jurisdiction.

3.    How can I prevent excessive paraben absorption?

There is a multitude of ways to prevent excess paraben absorption. Probably the most straightforward – and the least practical – is to eliminate parabens from your health and beauty routine entirely. However, this will possibly require that you begin to make a large percentage of your own beauty products from scratch and may even necessitate a major lifestyle overhaul. A simpler alternative might be to simply limit your use of products containing paraben. Many manufacturers are sensitive to the issue that this preservative creates for many people and produce health and beauty products with lowered levels of parabens or even absent them all together.

Also, when you are using products that contain forms of paraben, you might try to keep them away from open, sensitive and broken skin. In addition, you might elect to avoid using facial treatments with these components since your eyes, nose and mouth all present ways that a paraben compound might enter your body without having to force its way through your epidermis first.

Conclusion

In the end, only you can make the right decision for yourself concerning parabens. Let’s review the facts:

•    The FDA believes parabens in low concentrations (25% or less) are harmless

•    Research backs this up

•    However, research also shows that parabens can create estrogenic activity, which has been linked to cancer. However, it is the activity that has been linked to cancer, not the parabens directly. Other factors can cause this activity also.

•    Parabens are usually present in extremely low concentrations (0.1-0.3%) in cosmetics and beauty products

•    The FDA cannot regulate paraben inclusion in beauty products

•    Parabens appear to exit the body in the same form as they entered it in short order following absorption. This could indicate that they are not “hanging around” and building up enough volume to create health troubles.

Using these facts, you should be able to at least get a better idea of what the fuss is all about. Here at BeautyCtr.com, we believe that parabens are important and we will continue to track the research. At this time we are comfortable using products containing these preservatives in moderation. However, ultimately you will need to make this choice for yourself and your peace of mind.

www.BeautyCtr.com does not make any medical or scientific claims or give advice on this topic. This article is for educational purposes only. Work with a doctor about any concerns that you may have regarding the safety of your skincare regimen or any other aspect of your health, including but not limited to concerns regarding cancer and potential carcinogens.

Thank you for reading at www.BeautyCtr.com !

If you have ever heard of sparkling green tea , you are probably aware that green tea is good for you. After all, it has been plastered all over health advertisements and cosmetic supplies for years now. And the evidence is overwhelming: one researcher even exposed a bunch of minnows to enough radiation to kill them, then let them swim in green tea. Not one fish died. That is just one example of the potential health benefits of green tea.

Green tea is good for you in all sorts of ways:

•    It strengthens the immune system
•    It is an anti-inflammatory that eases muscle aches and pains
•    It has anti-aging and refreshing properties when applied topically to the skin

Now that many companies are making green tea available in forms other than green tea leaves .  In addition to brewing green tea, you can buy in it in cans, bottles or by the gallon. You can purchase green tea in a variety of flavors. Of course, these options also come with additional complications, and none are more in question than that of sparkling green tea.

Sparkling green tea is a lightly carbonated green tea drink. It is marketed mainly based on flavor to people who would probably not drink green tea in its more “natural” forms. The people in the commercials generally get the sparkling green tea accidentally, then are delighted to discover that it is a “cool” and delicious drink. But how does sparkling green tea stack up against more traditional forms of green tea beverages?

•    Sparkling green tea has a lot of sugar (though diet versions are available)
•    It also contains artificial colors and flavors
•    Sparkling green tea has a high volume of preservatives
•    Sparkling green tea is not green tea in its natural form, so you certainly cannot use it in the same ways that you can use brewed green tea when it comes to drinking or topical applications

Of course, if the only way that you will ever choke green tea down is if it is the sparkling variety, then you should probably keep on drinking. You will need to drink a lot to get any significant amount of green tea, though, since it is pretty diluted in sparkling green tea form. If you can stand the brewed type of green tea at least part of the time then you should try to work that into your daily routine as well.

In addition, green tea is good for your skin. Green tea contains lots of anti-oxidants, which are great for helping your body fight the deterioration that is a natural part of aging. Also, if you apply green tea lotion or moisturizer to your face and body, the anti-oxidants can fight off free radicals, which are high energy molecules that cause skin damage like wrinkles and even skin cancer. While you may not want to apply sparkling green tea to your face since the sugar might be a little much for your complexion, you should definitely look into other ways to get some more natural green tea into your diet.

Thank you for reading at www.BeautyCtr.com !