Parabens

Image by: wikipedia (General chemical structure of a paraben)

When you put on a skin cream it’s almost like eating it. In fact, a high percentage of the substances we apply via cosmetics are absorbed by the skin and dispersed throughout the body by the bloodstream. Perhaps this is why many of us read the ingredients list before we buy a cosmetic.

In addition to the active and often advertised ingredients, most cosmetics contain preservatives. A preservative is a substance that prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi. The reason why a skin cream stays fresh for a long time is that it contains a preservative. There are natural and synthetic ones, and most companies use “parabens”, which is synthetic. According to “A Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients”, water is the only cosmetic ingredient used more frequently than parabens. (Although they are used in much smaller quantities, of course) Parabens have been used for over 60 years. They’re cheap, effective and very few people are allergic to them. A study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2004, however, expressed concern regarding the use of paraben preservatives. In the UK, researchers found traces of it in women with breast tumors. The study did not determine if the ingredient was the cause of the breast tumors, but it did establish that it accumulates in the body. Paraben preservatives have also been identified as endocrine disruptors. The endocrine system regulates the body’s hormones, and some people believe that paraben preservatives mimic the female hormone estrogen. There are many different kinds of parabens and some are worse than others. The Danish health organ “Miljøstyrelsen” “generally warns against unnecessary chemistry”. According to them, there hasn’t been made enough tests to say that parabens are bad, but they warn people and especially children against the use of butylparaben and isobutylparaben. Since some studies question the safety of paraben preservatives and since there hasn’t been made sufficient studies to say that they are completely safe, Sprunk-Jansen’s products do not contain any parabens at all. Read about parabens in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben FDA on parabens: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/SelectedCosmetic... Read Miljøstyrelsen statement on parabens (in Danish): http://www.mst.dk/Kemikalier/Forbrugerguide/Kosmetikguiden/Hvordan+er+de...