What are Parabens: They are created in the laboratory by combining p-hydroxybenzoic acid with methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl alcohol. So, on a list of ingredients you would see the word combined with the alcohol used to create it, e.g. Methylparaben, propylparaben etc, Take a look at some of the products on your dressing table, you will be astounded at the parabens you find, even in something as 'gentle' as babywipes. They are used as preservatives in a variety of products including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and toothpastes. Sometimes, they are even used as food additives. It is their wide-spread use that is concerning.
What is paraben believed to do in the human body: They have estrogenic activity. That is, they "act" like the hormone estrogen. Chemicals that have this effect are known as "endocrine disruptors", since they interfere with the body's natural production of hormones. Other endocrine disruptors are classified as "known" or "probable" human carcinogens (a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue).
Whether or not parabens cause, contribute to, or increase the risk of cancer is still a matter of scientific debate. Here's what researchers have been able to show in the laboratory. Old research that declared the chemicals "safe" assuming that they were rapidly absorbed, metabolized and excreted as waste. New research shows, instead, that the chemicals build up in the tissues of the body over time, increasing their toxicity and the likelihood that they can interfere with normal hormonal functions. It is this increasing toxicity build up that is so worrying, considering the amount of products we use daily believing that we are protecting our skin and the skin of our loved ones.
Why do manufacturers continue to use them: Because products that contain parabens as preservatives are cheaper to produce, meaning higher profit margins. There are safer alternatives. That are more expensive, but it is possible to effectively preserve cosmetic products with the inclusion of natural vitamin E or grape seed oil.
Some of the best paraben free products for skin and facial care contain both natural vitamin E and grape seed oil or extract. The ingredients serve multiple purposes, protecting the skin's health, scavenging free radicals that cause cancer, providing moisture, while also preserving the quality of the product.