Paraben ester is a widely used preservative in many cosmetic and pharmaceutical products like shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gels, makeup and deodorants.
And that's concerning in light of paraben ester's known link to cancer.
In a study that looked at 40 women who were being treated for breast cancer, it was found that 99% of the breast cancer tissue being studied had paraben ester in it.
The highest concentration was found in tissue from the axilla quadrant of the breast, which is the region closest to the underarm where the highest proportion of breast tumors are found.
Studies have shown that paraben ester affects the body a lot like estrogen, leading to diminished muscle mass, extra fat storage and breast growth when used in excess.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report on the paraben class of chemicals reads:
"Because of the high consumption volume and high lipophilicity of sunscreens, these compounds have the potential to enter and persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in tissues of living organisms."
Other studies have also linked parabens to metabolic, developmental, hormonal and neurological issues as well as various types of cancer.
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How do you stay safe?
As with most other harmful chemicals, avoiding parabens requires that you read labels avidly. The paraben class of chemicals often go by the following names:- Methylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Benzylparaben
- Aluminum
- Antimony
- Arsenite
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Copper
- Selenite
- Tin
- 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda
- 2 tablespoons of shea butter
- 2 tablespoons of arrowroot or organic cornstarch
- Essential oils