Parabens are preservatives that keep bacteria and other microbes out of your favorite creams, lotions, concealers, and a long list of other personal care and cosmetic products. But technically, all ingredients are made up of chemicals. Surprising to many, parabens are actually made up of an acid naturally found in blackberries and raspberries. You can find parabens in product ingredient lists by looking for the word in more complicated ingredient names, like methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben.
Instead, it has to do with the health of your body. Canadian men exposed to propylparaben also had a risk of developing high cholesterol. Women exposed to methyl-, propyl-, and ethylparaben had increased levels of good cholesterol, HDL.
A mixture of parabens seems to do more harm than one paraben alone. A combination of butyl- and propylparabens increased the blood sugar for pregnant women in their first and second trimesters. This puts them at risk for gestational diabetes. Less is known about the effects of parabens in non-pregnant individuals. One study found no significant changes in those exposed to parabens. Similar effects could occur in men and non-pregnant women.
More research is needed to understand how parabens affect blood sugar overall. Good immune function is tied to a healthy gut. Using antimicrobial parabens prevents the growth of healthy bacteria. This can weaken the immune system. Parabens cause the production of Type 2 helper T Th2 cells. Th2 cells make the immune system very sensitive. Th2 cells are also found in those with asthma and eczema. Parabens can weaken immune defenses. The presence of methylparabens was associated with fewer Th1 cells, which prevent autoimmune responses.
This will protect the body from attacking its own cells. The skin has its own microbiome. Allergies and sensitivities can develop, and some people may experience a histamine response. Symptoms include red, itchy, and dry skin. Skin rashes can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp.
Scalp rashes will dry out the hair and may even cause hair loss. Parabens with large chemical structures have a greater histamine response. More histamine means worse allergic reactions.
Methylparaben is a small paraben that is unlikely to cause allergies and sensitivities. Butylparaben is a medium-sized molecule that is bigger than methylparabe, but smaller than large parabens. It also has a weaker response than large molecules like heptylparaben. Medications with parabens placed on broken or damaged skin may also cause skin reactions. Parabens in food can also cause reactions but are rare. Other identified risks of paraben exposure include:. Parabens are absorbed when we eat foods and drinks containing these substances.
The skin also takes in paraben when products with these chemicals are applied to the face and body. Parabens have also been found in the sediment, sewage, water treatment plants, rivers, soil, and house dust. Parabens are all around us so everyone may have some exposure. Parabens are made from para-hydroxybenzoic acid PHBA. PHBA is an acid found in bacteria, plants, and fruits.
Parabens are made from an acid-base chemical reaction called esterification. When PHBA and alcohol are combined they create an ester. Esters vary by the number of chemical bonds in the molecule. The type of alcohol used will determine the number of esters. The more ester bonds the more active the paraben.
Methyl- and ethylparabens are short-chain parabens. They have weaker estrogenic effects than medium-chain esters like propylparaben. Long-chain esters like butylparaben are stronger than medium-chain esters. The order of increasing estrogenic activity is as follows:. Long-chain esters are the most harmful according to test-tube studies. Another thing that determines a paraben's harm is if it dissolves in fat.
Cell studies found parabens like benzylparaben easily bound to estrogen. This is a hydrophobic, long-chain ester. More research needs to be done to know if these effects can be replicated in humans.
There are nine different types of parabens. Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben are the most common. The type of paraben is determined by the alcohol used in the chemical reaction. Parabens that dissolve in fat are called hydrophobic parabens.
This could be harmful to health. Parabens are often found in cosmetics, personal care products PCP , pharmaceuticals, medicines, and foods. Here is a list of parabens broken out by category. The main source of paraben exposure comes from cosmetics and personal care products. Personal care products often contain methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, and propylparaben. See below for what products fall into this category:. Butyl- and benzylparabens were also found but less frequently.
Here is a list of foods that contain parabens:. Dairy Products. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Beauty products are more advanced than ever, which is great news when it comes to beating dark circles and breakouts.
But with more advanced formulas come more complex ingredients, which is where things can get a little, well, murky—especially on the topic of parabens.
Parabens are currently taking a lot of that heat. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits.
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