Parabens are chemical compounds present in various beauty, hygiene and medication products, capable of affecting health.
Parabens are chemical compounds present in various beauty and hygiene products and even medicines. However, they are not recommended for consumption, as they can be harmful to your health.
Parabens serve to preserve the product formula, preventing the proliferation of bacteria and fungi. However, some studies have shown that the use of these compounds triggers allergic reactions, irritation and skin sensitivity.
According to health research, the recurrent consumption of parabens can cause the accumulation of the substance in the body and thus generate a greater propensity for cancer and infertility.
How and where to find
Even though it is still a controversial compound, it is not banned in Brazil. On the other hand, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) determined a maximum concentration of 0.4% of each paraben and 0.8% of total parabens in a product.
On the product label it is possible to see substances with the words “paraben” or “paraben”, and also with the suffixes “propylparaben”, “methylparaben” and “ethylparaben”.
Parabens can be found in deodorants, lotions, moisturizers, children’s oils and lotions, makeup, hair products, nail polish, perfumes, tattoo ink and shaving creams. Furthermore, they are also present in some foods and medicines.
Scratchs
Studies on parabens in the body are still controversial, however some discuss the risks of parabens on cellular changes.
Even in low quantities, the chemical compound can cause cellular changes and achieve cellular transmission of signals, generating cancer cells in the future.
Furthermore, parabens can accumulate in the body and cause cancer of the prostate, breast, skin, testicles and reduce fertility, due to the low quantity of sperm.
The use of parabens can also cause skin irritation and allergies.
Parabens in hair
Paraben molecules are soluble in water, therefore they do not generate accumulation in the hair strands. Furthermore, they also have a significant molecular weight, which prevents moisture evaporation and therefore prevents hair from drying out and frizz. In other words, parabens are harmless to hair locks.
However, many people are aware of the other risks that parabens cause to the body and choose to choose products free of this compound.
Alternatives to parabens
The great advantage of using parabens is their cost-benefit. They are cheap preservatives that extend the shelf life of the product. However, the cosmetic industry, mainly, has already been paying attention to this and producing paraben-free products. You can already find several products like this on the market.
An alternative to avoid contamination of products and consequently reduce their useful life is to use products with valves pump. There are also pump protected, which filter the air and those airless that prevent air from returning to the product.
Another effective alternative is the use of baking soda for cleaning. In this sense, it is a pH neutralizer so it can be used to clean ovens, shoes, pet bedding, kitchen loofahs and even deodorants (a mixture of bicarbonate and alcohol).
Baby products
Babies have more sensitive skin and the products used on their skin and body must be taken with extra care. According to research from the United States, using products that contain parabens in their composition, such as oils, lotions and cleaning wipes, can cause irritation and dermatitis on the baby’s skin. Furthermore, exposing children to too many antibacterial products can cause them to develop more allergies and intolerances.
This is explained because from early childhood children need to be safely exposed to common pathogens so that they develop immunity.
Other toxic elements
Not only are parabens found in products that are harmful to your health. See which others we should be aware of:
1- Sodium cyclamate
It is used as a sweetener, however, according to a study on rodents, the substance can increase the chances of bladder cancer.
2- Phthalates
It serves to make the plastic more malleable and also has carcinogenic potential.
3- Formaldehyde
Some preservatives used in cosmetics release formaldehyde onto the skin, which is very harmful. According to a study, formaldehyde also triggered cancer when induced by ultraviolet rays.
To avoid consuming these substances, check that the packaging label contains: quaternium-15, diazolidinyl hora, imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin.
4- Propylene glycol
It is widely used in cosmetics and according to studies, it can cause irritation and allergies.
5- Mineral oil and petroleum derivatives
These are substances easily found in cosmetics, due to their emollient, or moisturizing, properties. However, a recent study showed the presence of a carcinogenic compound (1,4-dioxane) in these substances. According to the study, this component increased mortality from several types of cancer, such as lung, esophagus, stomach, lymphoma and leukemia.
6- Benzophenone
It is used in sunscreens and can cause contact dermatitis.
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Source: Namu, Dermaclub, Ecycle, Namu, Cachosefatos.
Images: Amanpack, Vivahcosméticos, Istockphoto, Cabelo, Dicasdemulher, RG, Danonebaby.
