Why should I be concerned about parabens?
Parabens, including methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl paraben, are just one of a large group of toxic chemicals that no-one has any idea about what the long term effects are if they are used every day on human skin. Apart from causing dermatitis, this preservative has, in recent studies, identified parabens as having an effect in the body like oestrogen, and some recent studies have found parabens in tumours in breast tissue. Once parabens enter our bodies, they stay there, so it is better to avoid foods and cosmetics and toiletries that contain parabens, given the recent concerns expressed by researchers. Some foaming baths and shampoos irritate my skin. Why is this? Many shampoos, foaming baths, shower gels and liquid soaps contain harsh surfactants to make the products foam or lather. There are several controversial surfactants that are commonly used as ingredients in these types of products. One of them called sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is used in testing laboratories as the standa
