Parabens: Friend or Foe? 

What?

Parabens are preservatives. They are a family of chemical compounds such as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.

They keep ‘stuff’ from going bad

Where?

Makeup, moisturizers, shampoos, toothpaste and even food

About 85% of all cosmetic products have them

Why?

Parabens effectively prevent bacterial growth increasing the shelf life of a product.

They have been used since 1950’s – they are cheap and they work

Truth – Skin damage

Parabens may react with the UVB rays, damaging DNA and casing skin to age prematurely  

Myth - Breast cancer

Although, there has been some ‘hype’ around the subject, there is no conclusive evidence to say that parabens may cause breast cancer

Truth - Allergies

Although, in general, parabens are safe when it comes to allergic reactions, in sensitive individuals they may cause skin irritation, producing rash

It is true that to this day, we do not know everything about parabens – they are neither evil, nor a saint. If you want to stay on the safe side, start and finish your day with a paraben-free cream, like YOUNOM, but don’t forget about the ‘use by date!)