Parabens: The
Toxins in Your
Anti-Aging Cream
By
Dr. Lynne Kavulich
There is a potentially dangerous chemical that may be lurking in
your anti-aging cream. In fact, it’s hard to find lotions,
cosmetics, sun block, and many other beauty products that don’t
contain this chemical. What is this harmful chemical? It is actually
a group of chemicals called parabens. Included in the manufacturing
of anti-aging cream because of their benefits as a preservative,
there are a couple of concerns connected with parabens. Not only are
parabens toxic, but they can also actually speed up the aging
process in the skin.
Parabens are a group of chemicals included in the manufacturing of
anti-aging cream and other beauty products because they help to
inhibit bacteria growth in the product, thus lengthening their shelf
life. If the list of ingredients on your anti-aging cream includes
the terms propylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, or
butylparaben, your cream has parabens. Although these chemicals do
have a preservative effect on the anti-aging cream, they have the
opposite effect on your skin and body causing premature aging and
sagging of your skin.
The first concern with parabens is that they are absorbed by the
skin into the body. For instance, when you apply an anti-aging
product containing parabens, the parabens are absorbed into your
skin and accumulate in your body tissues. The breast tissue is of
most concern since the majority of the people using cosmetics and
anti-aging products are women. Although no firm connections have
been made, an article in the May 2004 issue of the Journal of
Applied Toxicology indicates parabens were found in each of 20
samples taken from human breast tumors. This is especially alarming
since the parabens can mimic estrogen, a hormone that drives the
growth of breast tumors in humans as stated in the article.
Another reason you should be concerned if parabens are included in
your anti-aging product is that parabens can react with the sun’s UV
rays in a way that may actually accelerate the aging process of
skin. According to research conducted at the Kyoto Prefectural
University of Medicine skin treated with parabens, methylparaben
specifically, showed a 16 percent increase in skin cell fatality
when the skin was exposed to a regulated amount of ultraviolet rays
as opposed to untreated skin. Researchers believe this increase in
the rate of cell death may contribute to wrinkles, dark spots and
diminished skin tone, thus making the skin look older. Think about
that next time you use your anti-aging cream.
You buy and use an anti-aging product in hopes it will make you look
younger. This may not always be the case for products including
parabens as preservatives. Always check the list of ingredients on
your anti-aging product to make sure there are no dangerous
chemicals lurking there. Look for all natural products such as those
found at
http://www.feel-great-at-any-age.com.
For more information
Dr. Lynne Kavulich can be contacted at American Wellness Care 1061
Route 82 Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. (845)221-1201 or visit us at
the website
www.feel-great-at-any-age.com.
Dr. Lynne Kavulich, D.C., DACBN
Diplomate of American Chiropractic Board of Nutrition
Certified Clinical Nutritionist
Diplomate of American Board of Anti-Aging
Best Selling Author: “The World’s Best Kept Health Secret Revealed
Volume III”
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