What is Paraben and is it Harmful to Health?

Expressions such as "paraben-free", "paraben-free" and "paraben free", which have started to be written in larger font sizes on product packages lately, have surely caught your eye. So what is paraben? Paraben can be roughly described as a group of chemicals that have been widely used as artificial preservatives in cosmetics and body care products since the 1920s. It is also used in a wide variety of rinsing products, especially in products with high water content such as shampoos and conditioners that people frequently use on a daily basis. However, there are different types of parabens. In this article, frequently asked questions such as "What is paraben?", "What are the types of paraben?" and “Does paraben cause cancer? You can find answers to questions such as.

What is Paraben?

Paraben is a chemical used as a preservative to keep microorganisms such as fungi, yeast, mold and bacteria away from products, which shorten the shelf life of the products. Since the products contain biodegradable components, chemicals are added to prevent and/or reduce the formation of harmful bacteria and mold and the shelf life of the product is extended. Paraben types; It is used to protect cosmetics, medicines, food, beverages and personal care products.

Paraben is a chemical used as a preservative to keep microorganisms such as fungi, yeast, mold and bacteria away from products, which shorten the shelf life of the products.

What are the Paraben Types?

Paraben varieties are made from para-hydroxybenzoic acid, abbreviated as PHBA. PHBA is actually a type of acid found in bacteria, plants and fruits. Parabens are also obtained from an acid-base chemical reaction called esterification. When PHBA and alcohol combine, they form an ester. The type of alcohol used determines the length of the alkyl chain in the molecule. Long-chain esters are more lipophilic, so long-chain parabens are more permeable to the epidermis layer of the skin.

Long-chain esters are more lipophilic, so long-chain parabens are more permeable to the epidermis layer of the skin.

Methyl and ethylparabens are short-chain parabens. Long-chain esters, such as butylparaben, are stronger than medium-chain esters. Another factor that determines the harm of paraben is whether it is soluble in oil or not. Fat-soluble parabens are called hydrophobic parabens. Although cell studies revealed that parabens such as benzylparaben easily bind to estrogen, it was concluded that more research is needed to know whether these effects can be repeated in humans.

Another factor that determines the harm of paraben is whether it is soluble in oil or not.

In this context, paraben types can be listed as follows:

• Methylparaben
• Ethylparaben
• isopropylparaben
• propylparaben
• Butylparaben
• isobutylparaben
• Pentylparaben
• heptylparaben
• benzylparaben
• Pentylparaben

Among these, the most common types of parabens are; methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben.

In Which Products Is Paraben Found?

The main reason why parabens are found in products is to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Parabens are commonly found in many cosmetic products, including:

• Liquid and powder foundation types,
• tinted moisturizer,
• Suntan cream,
• Cream and powder blush,
• moisturizing face cream,
• Lotion,
• Shampoo,
• Hair conditioner,
• shaving cream,
• Lipstick,
• lip balm

However, it should not be forgotten that there are also paraben-free versions of these products. If you are looking for paraben-free beauty products, remember that there are many alternatives.

In addition to these, bottled water, fruit juice, alcoholic beverages, coffee, milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice cream, fats and oils, crab, shrimp, sea and freshwater fish, rice, noodles, bread, red and white meat types, desserts. Many products such as food, condiments, and processed foods may also contain parabens.

Is Paraben Harmful?

The concern about parabens is that scientific studies show that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body; This is because it suggests that it may harm fertility and reproductive organs, affect birth outcomes, cause skin irritation, and increase the risk of cancer. Capacity for endocrine disruption; Considering the potential for lifelong re-exposure with reproductive harm in men and women, it is clear that long-chain parabens (isobutyl-, butyl-, isopropyl- and propylparaben) should not be used in personal care. Additionally, many products can be made without these chemicals.

The United Nations Environment Program has identified parabens, including propyl and butylparaben, as endocrine-disrupting chemicals or potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The estrogenic effect increases with the length of the paraben. In human studies, researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health found that reduced fertility was associated with urinary propylparaben. Another human study linked butylparaben and total urinary paraben levels to decreased fertility, as demonstrated by decreased menstrual cycle length. Butylparaben levels in the mother's urine and cord blood have been associated with an increased likelihood of preterm birth and decreased birth weight.

So, is a preservative-free world possible? The most common microorganisms* that contaminate cosmetic products are bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia, Klebsiella oxytoca, E. coli, S. aureus, Serratia marcescens* and Enterobacter gergoviae , yeasts and molds such as Candida albicans . The species mentioned above are potential pathogens, meaning they can cause adverse health effects. Additionally, exposure to microbially contaminated products can challenge the immune system, a natural barrier to microbial invasion.

Is Paraben Safe?

Although parabens seem harmful up to this point, there are opposing views. The Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Expert Panel evaluated the safety of 21 parabens as preservatives in cosmetic products. All of these ingredients were reported to function as preservatives in cosmetics, and 5 were also noted to function as fragrance ingredients. The panel reviewed data on the safety of these ingredients under reported conditions of use in cosmetic formulations. The panel concluded that 20 of the 21 parabens included in the report are safe in cosmetics under current use and concentration practices when the total amount of parabens in any formula does not exceed 0.8%.

Due to the lack of a clear statement about the toxicological profile of parabens, cosmetics labeled as “paraben-free” have gained increasing popularity. Additionally, the “Paraben Free” label is not officially registered in the European Union. Therefore, cosmetic manufacturers are not legally obliged to completely remove parabens from the product ingredient list. Consumers should also consider the gains and losses of using products preserved with "chemical" or "natural" paraben substitutes.

Therefore, paraben may not be harmful when present in products within certain limits. The issue of whether parabens are harmful or not may need more scientific research. In this context, the decision seems to be up to you, the consumers, for now.

What Do Evla Experts Say About Paraben?

After examining the opinions and research of almost everyone, from limited research to scientific data, from official institutions to manufacturers, the conclusion reached by Evla experts can be summarized as follows:

Animal and cell-based research shows that parabens may cause health problems by acting like estrogen. Unfortunately, there is still much that is unknown about how these chemicals affect humans. If you have a reaction and think it may be due to paraben exposure, contact your physician.

If you are looking for paraben-free products, you can access the paraben-free products category in the Evla selection here. With goodness, health, beauty…