Something's Lurking in the Shampoo
What You Don't Know About Parabens Could Hurt You
Many people tend to rely on government organizations like the Federal Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) to keep them safe from harmful chemicals, preservatives, or additives that might be put into their food or cosmetics. By the time an item or food product reaches a store shelf, they assume it has already been tested, its contents examined, each ingredient proven to be safe.
Over the years, however, many horror stories have surfaced about potentially-harmful foods and products; there is lead in some lipstick and mad cow disease in some beef, not to mention all the lawsuits that have sprung up over the harmful side-effects of trendy medications. In last September’s issue, InStyle magazine published a blurb concerning parabens. The article quotes Christopher Gavigan, CEO of the Healthy Child Healthy World organization, who states that parabens are common preservatives that are added to a range of personal-care products, including everything from bubble bath to lip balm. According to Gavigan, the problem with parabens is that they mimic estrogen when they seep into the body, and in doing so, they can encourage breast tumors to grow.
The problem with parabens is that they can be found in so many personal-care products, which is troubling for women who use multiple cosmetics everyday. If a woman was nervous about contracting mad cow disease, she could cut down on the amount of beef she eats. She could even stop wearing antiperspirant if she was worried about the possibility of getting Alzheimer’s disease from aluminum. It would be much more difficult for her to cut face wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, concealer, and hair mousse out of her daily routine.
The Web contains countless articles about the case against parabens; websites from cancer.org to Wikipedia cite studies in which breast tumors were linked to parabens. They explain that there are many kinds of parabens, the most common of which include ethylparabens, propylparabens, and methylparabens. The organization Breast Cancer Action provides an in-depth discussion of parabens on its website, thinkbeforeyoupink.org. This site also discusses the possibility that phthalates, another common chemical compound, may be linked to both breast cancer and reproductive problems.
It can be difficult to stick to paraben and phthalate-free products. The fact is, most care products found in stores contain at least one potentially-harmful preservative because they are so inexpensive to manufacture. But with the American Cancer Society estimating that 40,480 women and 450 men will die of breast cancer this year, it may be advisable to shell out the extra money and endure the out-of-the-way trips to the local health-food store to find products that lack these potential carcinogens. Websites like thinkbeforeyoupink.org recommend checking labels before you buy and purchasing organic brands like Burt’s Bees and Juice Beauty. When shopping for products that will be going in or on the body, it is necessary to act as an informed consumer; apparently, organizations like the FDA or the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association cannot be relied on to demand all the changes that they probably should.
