Parabens Found in Breast Tumors - What You Can Do To Avoid Them
Parabens have been touted as: safe, hazardous, controversial, dangerous, and present in human breast tumors.
What? Yes, those same parabens, used as preservatives in many commercial products such as moisturizers, shampoos, makeup, shaving gels, toothpaste, underarm deodorants, and even personal lubricants, have been found in low concentrations in breast tumors.
Dr.
Philippa Darbre, a molecular biologist, and the lead researcher of the study, and her colleagues at the University of Reading studied portions of 20 unique human breast tumors.
They found traces of parabens in all of them.
Writing in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, they say it seems the chemicals were absorbed by the skin after being applied topically.
That makes sense.
Whatever you put on the skin winds up within your system.
Hence, the use of nicotine patches on the skin, or even birth control patches.
You'll notice that underarm deodorants are on the list of products containing parabens.
Interestingly, 60% of all breast tumors are found in the upper-outer portion of the breast, nearest the underarm.
And, a study in 2004 done at Northwestern University found that "an earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis (is) related to more frequent use of antiperspirants/ deodorants and underarm shaving," according to Wikipedia.
Intuitively, I see a connection, but what does the UK research team think about it? Dr.
Darbre said, "This is the first study to show their (parabens) accumulation in human tissues," and says there may be reason for concern.
Did they cause the tumors? No one's saying parabens caused the cancer, but Dr.
Darbre and her colleagues do believe further research is called for.
Why is that? Some estimate that 70% of all cosmetic and skincare products contain a form of paraben.
It's a relatively inexpensive way to preserve the products freshness, and it works effectively.
With such an abundance of products containing parabens, it would be wise to be cautious.
If what they say happened with all twenty of their samples holds true for you or me, that means that we're taking in those parabens every time we slather on a lotion, wash our hair, or shave with a product containing parabens.
What's so bad about parabens? Dr.
Darbre says, "Parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen.
Oestrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumors.
" This is a small study, but to me this is simply confirmation of all the warnings that have been coming for years now.
It's not even new anymore.
Many products shout their non-paraben status with pride.
But, if they are so prevalent in thousands of personal care products, how can we avoid them? Easy.
How to Avoid Them: Check your labels.
Look for anything with the word paraben in it, and avoid it, and avoid a potentially damaging ingredient.
There are plenty of paraben-free choices.
Sadly, parabens are not the only damaging ingredient found in personal care products.
Do yourself a favor and avoid them all.
Many new organic skin care lines have been created in recent years and even some conventional skin care lines are getting in on the action.
It's a burgeoning new area with a lot of profit to be made.
I, personally have no qualms about my skin care companies earning a profit, as long as they don't do it at my expense by including ingredients that could make me sick a decade or two down the road.
With organic skin care, you'll avoid the harmful chemicals, but always read the label to find out just how much of your product actually is organic.
Learn what you're putting on or in your body.
Parabens were thought to be safe for many years, until new evidence can out.
How can we safely say any chemical is safe when the next study down the road could prove the opposite? There are so many uncertainties in life, when we know of a safe choice we owe it to ourselves to take it.
I vote for organics!
What? Yes, those same parabens, used as preservatives in many commercial products such as moisturizers, shampoos, makeup, shaving gels, toothpaste, underarm deodorants, and even personal lubricants, have been found in low concentrations in breast tumors.
Dr.
Philippa Darbre, a molecular biologist, and the lead researcher of the study, and her colleagues at the University of Reading studied portions of 20 unique human breast tumors.
They found traces of parabens in all of them.
Writing in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, they say it seems the chemicals were absorbed by the skin after being applied topically.
That makes sense.
Whatever you put on the skin winds up within your system.
Hence, the use of nicotine patches on the skin, or even birth control patches.
You'll notice that underarm deodorants are on the list of products containing parabens.
Interestingly, 60% of all breast tumors are found in the upper-outer portion of the breast, nearest the underarm.
And, a study in 2004 done at Northwestern University found that "an earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis (is) related to more frequent use of antiperspirants/ deodorants and underarm shaving," according to Wikipedia.
Intuitively, I see a connection, but what does the UK research team think about it? Dr.
Darbre said, "This is the first study to show their (parabens) accumulation in human tissues," and says there may be reason for concern.
Did they cause the tumors? No one's saying parabens caused the cancer, but Dr.
Darbre and her colleagues do believe further research is called for.
Why is that? Some estimate that 70% of all cosmetic and skincare products contain a form of paraben.
It's a relatively inexpensive way to preserve the products freshness, and it works effectively.
With such an abundance of products containing parabens, it would be wise to be cautious.
If what they say happened with all twenty of their samples holds true for you or me, that means that we're taking in those parabens every time we slather on a lotion, wash our hair, or shave with a product containing parabens.
What's so bad about parabens? Dr.
Darbre says, "Parabens have been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen.
Oestrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumors.
" This is a small study, but to me this is simply confirmation of all the warnings that have been coming for years now.
It's not even new anymore.
Many products shout their non-paraben status with pride.
But, if they are so prevalent in thousands of personal care products, how can we avoid them? Easy.
How to Avoid Them: Check your labels.
Look for anything with the word paraben in it, and avoid it, and avoid a potentially damaging ingredient.
There are plenty of paraben-free choices.
Sadly, parabens are not the only damaging ingredient found in personal care products.
Do yourself a favor and avoid them all.
Many new organic skin care lines have been created in recent years and even some conventional skin care lines are getting in on the action.
It's a burgeoning new area with a lot of profit to be made.
I, personally have no qualms about my skin care companies earning a profit, as long as they don't do it at my expense by including ingredients that could make me sick a decade or two down the road.
With organic skin care, you'll avoid the harmful chemicals, but always read the label to find out just how much of your product actually is organic.
Learn what you're putting on or in your body.
Parabens were thought to be safe for many years, until new evidence can out.
How can we safely say any chemical is safe when the next study down the road could prove the opposite? There are so many uncertainties in life, when we know of a safe choice we owe it to ourselves to take it.
I vote for organics!
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