Comments on: The Dangers of Parabens – Do You Know What They Are? http://dmursch.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/the-dangers-of-parabens-do-you-know-what-they-are/ Watkins Products & Recipes Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:56:44 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Susan Hebblethwaite http://dmursch.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/the-dangers-of-parabens-do-you-know-what-they-are/#comment-92 Susan Hebblethwaite Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:56:44 +0000 http://dmursch.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-92 Like all really good applications which are used for a number of years these are taken for granted that they are O.K. to use, it is only after years of use, and mis-use, that these applications are being tested. Aren't we fed-up with being told that things are "completely safe" only to be told later on that we are endangering ourselves by using them. Classic example of this situation is the use of D.D.T. and cell phones! Like all really good applications which are used for a number of years these are taken for granted that they are O.K. to use, it is only after years of use, and mis-use, that these applications are being tested. Aren’t we fed-up with being told that things are “completely safe” only to be told later on that we are endangering ourselves by using them. Classic example of this situation is the use of D.D.T. and cell phones!

]]> By: Ed http://dmursch.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/the-dangers-of-parabens-do-you-know-what-they-are/#comment-50 Ed Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:07:30 +0000 http://dmursch.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-50 Hi Margaret, Great blog about parabens. I don't think there has been a definitive study that proves parabens are hormone disruptors, cause breast cancer or anything else...but plenty of research has linked them to these conditions. If you take the precautionary approach - why use a skin care product that contains parabens when there are so many products these days that make a point of not using them. I'll declare my interest, I work for Pai Skincare - we produce a boutique line of 100% organic skin care products. Because the term "organic" can be applied to anything - even products containing petroleum/oil derivatives (made from all natural trees!), we get our products certified by the UK Soil Assocation. Our products are primarily aimed at people with hyper-sensitive skin - men and mostly women who can no longer use "mainstream" cosmetic products because the prolongued exposure to the cocktail of chemicals contained in your average product has damaged their immune system. And that's really the point about parabens...in themselves, and in small quantities, they may well be safe. But since the average women will encounter parabens in many many of their products, and these chemicals are mixed with lots of other chemicals, no-one really has any idea what such a cocktail of substances will do to your body over 10-20 years. It would take a study over 20 years with thousands of people to rule whether they are safe or harmful....and until that happens any company can say that any potential harm is unproven. Quite a long comment...but got two more points: - honeysuckle is a natural and potent paraben. It works exactly the same as the chemical substitute - so look out for honeysuckle on the packaging...it is a parben. - Liz Earle makes the counter argument that products without preservatives are actually more harmful than those with Parabens. You can get mould, fungus or bacteria in an unpreserved product. In fact, there are many natural and effective preservatives that can be used as a substitute (we use them!), but it is worth checking out the opposing argument: http://uk.lizearle.com/index_2.php?userpage=factsheetpreserve Regards, Ed Hi Margaret,

Great blog about parabens. I don’t think there has been a definitive study that proves parabens are hormone disruptors, cause breast cancer or anything else…but plenty of research has linked them to these conditions.

If you take the precautionary approach – why use a skin care product that contains parabens when there are so many products these days that make a point of not using them.

I’ll declare my interest, I work for Pai Skincare – we produce a boutique line of 100% organic skin care products. Because the term “organic” can be applied to anything – even products containing petroleum/oil derivatives (made from all natural trees!), we get our products certified by the UK Soil Assocation.

Our products are primarily aimed at people with hyper-sensitive skin – men and mostly women who can no longer use “mainstream” cosmetic products because the prolongued exposure to the cocktail of chemicals contained in your average product has damaged their immune system.

And that’s really the point about parabens…in themselves, and in small quantities, they may well be safe. But since the average women will encounter parabens in many many of their products, and these chemicals are mixed with lots of other chemicals, no-one really has any idea what such a cocktail of substances will do to your body over 10-20 years.

It would take a study over 20 years with thousands of people to rule whether they are safe or harmful….and until that happens any company can say that any potential harm is unproven.

Quite a long comment…but got two more points:
– honeysuckle is a natural and potent paraben. It works exactly the same as the chemical substitute – so look out for honeysuckle on the packaging…it is a parben.

- Liz Earle makes the counter argument that products without preservatives are actually more harmful than those with Parabens. You can get mould, fungus or bacteria in an unpreserved product. In fact, there are many natural and effective preservatives that can be used as a substitute (we use them!), but it is worth checking out the opposing argument:
http://uk.lizearle.com/index_2.php?userpage=factsheetpreserve

Regards,

Ed

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