Thread: Parabens...anything I should be worried about?

I recently bought a box of shave den supplies. It had several soaps, creams, aftershaves, etc. I noticed that almost all of them list some parabens in the ingredients. I've also noticed at the grocery store that some soaps advertise "paraben-free, lauryl/laureth-sulfate free" and things like that. Is there something to this paraben avoidance, or is it just hype?

Parabens are used as preservatives, they are powerful bactericidal and fungicidal agents. Some of the potential problems are outlines in here: Paraben - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a detergent and a suspected carcinogen, check this out: Sodium lauryl sulfate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The question of safety when used in cosmetics goes beyond the potential toxicity of the chemical per se but also the concentration in the products and the typical contact time with the skin, which have to be evaluated. All things considered, there are a number of options that provide some of the "good" properties of these (and other) chemicals at lower health risk. In other words, it may not be a bad idea to avoid their use even if they are considered to be safe.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by DanS

I recently bought a box of shave den supplies. It had several soaps, creams, aftershaves, etc. I noticed that almost all of them list some parabens in the ingredients. I've also noticed at the grocery store that some soaps advertise "paraben-free, lauryl/laureth-sulfate free" and things like that. Is there something to this paraben avoidance, or is it just hype?

It used to be thought that our skin was a protective barrier, now the research shows that what ever put on the skin is absorbed by the skin and can enter the blood stream. Just look around at all the patches out there, from nicotine to hormones. If you wouldnt put it in your mouth, youd better think twice about putting it on your skin, imo.