| What are parabens? | | | | and lotions these will be slowly absorbed by the skin. |
| Parabens are chemicals. They are often used as a | | | | Different chemicals are absorbed at different rates, |
| preservative as they are both anti-bacterial and | | | | but scientists have reported that we can absorb up to |
| anti-fungal. There are naturally occurring parabens in | | | | 5lb of chemicals through our skin each year. |
| some fruits, such as blueberries, but the ones we find | | | | How can I avoid these chemicals? |
| in our cosmetics and toiletries will have been produced | | | | There are many natural and organic skincare ranges |
| in a lab. | | | | available which make use of natural ingredients which |
| Why are they a problem? | | | | perform the same job as their chemical counterparts. |
| As with many man-made chemicals, the full extent of | | | | These can be more expensive, as the producers of |
| their effect on the human body isn't apparent until after | | | | natural products will need to source their ingredients |
| several years of exposure. Whereas the natural | | | | from growers, and cannot buy them in bulk from labs. |
| parabens found in fruits are broken down by our | | | | Whilst not as strict as with food produce, ingredients |
| metabolism, those that are applied to the skin can find | | | | lists are now commonplace on skincare and toiletries. |
| their way into our bodies and our bloodstream without | | | | Check your cupboards now and find out which of your |
| being processed in this way. | | | | usual brands use parabens, and then take a look at |
| Scientists have found that parabens mimic the | | | | the alternatives next time you are out shopping. |
| estrogen hormone, which has been linked to cancers. | | | | Does paraben free skincare work as well? |
| With the incidence of cancers, such as breast cancer, | | | | The parabens in your skincare products are acting as |
| rising year on year scientists are looking at the | | | | preservatives, and do not have any skin soothing or |
| chemicals we expose ourselves to as a possible | | | | regenerating properties of their own. So if you find a |
| cause for this. Parabens are often found in cancerous | | | | similar product which doesn't contain parabens then |
| tissue, which suggests a correlation. | | | | you shouldn't notice any difference. |
| How can products applied to our skin get into our | | | | Often, you'll find that the paraben free alternatives are |
| bodies? | | | | also free from other chemicals, such as sulphates and |
| When we look at human skin we see it as water | | | | other synthetic chemicals. They will be using natural |
| resistant, so find it hard to think of it as absorbing | | | | ingredients instead, and whilst usually slightly more |
| whatever we put on it. Whilst we can stand in the rain | | | | expensive are offering you a much healthier option. |
| and not soak it up like a sponge, if we apply creams | | | | |