Millions, perhaps billions of women around the world are putting cosmetics and moisturizing lotions on their skin daily in an effort to stop the aging process and look beautiful, while at the same time, increasing their risk to breast cancer, and potentially also speeding up the aging process on their faces and bodies.
Parabens have been found in widely used products manufactured by cosmetic giants such as AVON and Estee Lauder (manufacturer of MAC and Clinique products.) Alternatives to Parabens do exist, but these big manufacturers have been reluctant to change their formulas, at least until now.
Today, the Cancer Prevention Coalition commended the UK's largest nationwide chain of health food shops, Holland & Barrett, for its recently announced ban on beauty products containing some toxic ingredients, most notably paraben and Sodium lauryl sulfate.
Cancer Prevention Coalition Chairman Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. warns that over the last 20 years, multiple published scientific studies have shown that the parabens - methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and benzyl - pose toxic estrogen-like effects.
"Parabens readily penetrate the skin of immature female rodents, from where they can pass directly into the blood, and stimulate premature uterine growth," he explains. "Even at very low concentrations, parabens have also been shown to stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells in laboratory tests," Dr. Epstein emphasizes. "Of additional concern, administering parabens to immature male rats decreases their sperm counts and testosterone levels." "Parabens have been identified in the breast tissue of a woman with breast cancer, presumably originating from its presence in a product used as an underarm deodorant or antiperspirant," he cautions, saying, "This incriminates parabens as a possible cause of breast cancer."
Sodium lauryl sulfate is another very toxic ingredient used by many well known cosmetic companies. It is actually a well-known harsh detergent and a penetration enhancer, so is often used in moisturers, as well as cosmetics that claim "all day coverage" which is accomplished by deep penetration of the make up into the skin layers.
The U.S. Cosmetics industry, even this year, still continues to deny any ill effects of either parabens or sodium lauryl sulfate, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, but other countries are being more progressive in taking these items off the shelves.
There are over 1,470 ingredients listed on the labels of cosmetic and personal care products. Many more are suspected of being carcinogenic, though again, the U.S. cosmetic industry claims all are safe.
To be more safe than sorry about your beauty regimen, you might watch for products that market themselves as "paraben free." Also, check out this website Skin Deep for more information about any cosmetics you are currently using.
Resources: Live Journal: Use Paraben-free Cosmetics
World Wire: U.K. Leads the Way in Banning Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Written by Shelby Bateson
Posted November 18th, 2009 by Shelby Bateson
