Parabens are found in the vast majority of hygiene and toiletries such as shampoos, moisturizers, shaving creams or cleansing gels. Also used as preservatives in certain foods, they help prevent bacterial and fungal contamination of products and therefore extend their shelf life.

A confusing new study:
Published in the journal Epidemiology, the study coordinated by the University of Grenoble and the Inserm environmental epidemiology team looked at 520 pregnant women who subsequently gave birth to boys, themselves followed until the age of 3 years. The study found that 95% of women had exposed to parabens and triclosan* during pregnancy. Parabens have been linked to increased weight in boys after birth, increasing the risk of obesity in adulthood, while triclosan is believed to have an impact on brain development. Conclusions in agreement with certain laboratory studies.

Are there alternatives?
Despite the accumulation of studies demonstrating their possible toxic effect on the body, dermatologists believe that a ban on parabens is not an option. According to them, the substances likely to replace them will be less effective against bacteria and mold, which would be much more harmful for the organism. Another solution would be to do without preservatives, but consumers would be forced to put their products in the refrigerator. Other tips are being studied such as reducing the water content, which promotes the proliferation of molds, UHT sterilization (which would not solve the problem of the shelf life of the product, once opened) or decreasing the size of the packaging (the famous expensive and disposable single-dose packaging).

So what to do?
– Put cosmetic products in fridge it is a solution
– Turn to more noble and simpler cosmetic products to pamper our body.
– Change our buying habits, the way we wash and the way we take care of our body

*Triclosan (sometimes abbreviated as TCS) is an antibacterial and antifungal agent present in some consumer products, including toothpaste, soaps, detergents, toys, and surgical cleaning treatments. It is similar in its uses and mechanism of action to triclocarban. Its efficacy as an antimicrobial agent, the risk of antimicrobial resistance, and its possible role in disrupted hormonal development remains controversial. Additional research seeks to understand its potential effects on organisms and environmental health.

Source:
Passeport santé