Parabens in Cosmetics
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Parabens are preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. They have been used for many decades, including in cosmetics. This article provides an overview of possible health effects and the regulations that apply to their use in cosmetic products.
What are parabens?
Parabens refer to a group of substances with a common chemical structure. They are so-called non-persistent substances that are easily broken down in the body and excreted within 24 hours.
Parabens have the ability to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms. For this reason, they have been used for decades as preservatives in cosmetics and personal care products, medicines, and food. To achieve sufficient preservative effect, a combination of several parabens is often used.
The parabens permitted for use in cosmetic products are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.
Can parabens affect our health?
Risk assessments show that the four parabens permitted for use in cosmetic products (butyl-, propyl-, methyl-, and ethylparaben) are considered safe to use within the established limits.
Research into health effects largely concerns whether they can affect the hormonal system, cause allergic reactions, or be linked to the development of cancer.
Hormonal system
One of the main concerns regarding the use of parabens in cosmetic products, particularly butylparaben and propylparaben, is whether these substances can affect hormonal balance. These parabens can bind to cells in a way that produces effects similar to the female sex hormone oestrogen; they “mimic” the hormone.
Several studies, however, show that parabens are very weak hormone mimics; they are between a thousand and a million times less potent than natural oestrogens. This is consistent with risk assessments concluding that they are safe.
Cancer
Studies have been published investigating possible links between the use of paraben-containing cosmetic products in the armpit area and the development of breast cancer. The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has concluded, however, that there is insufficient data to demonstrate a link between breast cancer and cosmetic products used in the armpit area.1–3
Contact dermatitis
Preservatives are among the most common causes of contact dermatitis from cosmetic products. In the case of parabens, however, only about one per cent of those tested for allergies show a positive result, many of which are only weak allergic responses.4 The risk of developing an allergy to parabens is therefore low.
Are we within safe limits?
The use of parabens in cosmetics is regulated by limit values that specify how much of each type of paraben may be used. These limits take into account that we often use several products each day.
The EU’s scientific committee has recently assessed possible endocrine-disrupting effects of methyl-, propyl-, and butylparaben, and whether current limits should be reduced.3, 5–6 They found that methyl- and propylparaben are safe to use within current limits. Butylparaben in products for children was considered safe in “rinse-off” products (such as soap and shampoo), but the permitted amount in “leave-on” products (such as body lotion) should be somewhat reduced. “Leave-on” products are those not intended to be rinsed off, while “rinse-off” products are washed away within a short time.
For children under three years of age, in “leave-on” products intended for use in the area covered by nappies/diapers, there is insufficient knowledge about possible negative health effects of butyl- and propylparaben. Therefore, these two parabens are not permitted in such products.
The parabens isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl-, and pentylparaben are not permitted for use in cosmetic products.