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Dermatologists Warn About the No. 1 Ingredient to Avoid in Your Skincare Routine

The FDA is keeping an eye on this common additive.

Happy beautiful middle aged woman wearing bathrobe and white towel with perfect complexion touching face looking away in bathroom. Closeup portrait.
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Does your face cream have highly toxic ingredients in it that could cause harm to your health? Many skincare products routinely contain chemical preservatives to extend shelf life and prevent bacteria, but people are waking up to the side effects of these additives. One ingredient in particular is causing concern for potential health risks—parabens. “Despite being cheap and for the mass markets, they are also added to many luxury sector skin and cosmetic products,” Consultant Dermatologist Dr Ophelia Veraitch tells ELLE. “Parabens started to be added to products in the 1950s and they are used primarily to prolong shelf life and also to prevent growth of bacteria/ mold etc within them. In chemical terms they're a series of parahydroxybenzoates or esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid.” Here’s what you need to know about these chemicals, and why some dermatologists are concerned about their use.

RELATED: 30 Best Ways to Have Your Best Skin.


Concern About Parabens

A magnifying glass over a bottle with the word 'parabens' on it

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Some research shows parabens can pass the skin barrier and remain in body tissues. “In recent years there have been growing concerns about the use of parabens in self care products,” Consultant Dermatologist Dr Veraitch says. “A British study found 19 out of 20 women studied had parabens in their breast tissue. This has caused concern as it showed that the parabens in self care products don't just sit on the skin but they can be integrated and remain into our bodily tissues. From such data it has been speculated that parabens could potentially lead to cancer formation.”

Paraben and Immune Cells

Closeup of a woman in a pale pink shirt holding out a jar of face cream

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Parabens are also being flagged for their potential link to cancer and fertility. “Parabens can also commonly cause skin sensitivities and allergies,” says Dr Veraitch. “The skin sensitivities and allergies occur by repeated exposure of parabens to the skin, and then the immune cells in the skin slowly but significantly mounting an immune response to when parabens subsequently come into contact with the skin.”

Parabens and the FDA

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According to the FDA, the very low amount of parabens in skincare and cosmetics does not make it a cause for concern. “FDA scientists continue to review published studies on the safety of parabens,” the agency says. “At this time, we do not have information showing that parabens as they are used in cosmetics have an effect on human health.”

Clean Beauty

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Many companies are removing parabens from their products to stay on the safe side. “Any ingredient that causes that much controversy in our eyes is best kept out of our products—proven or not, why take the chance?” Elsie Rutterford, a cofounder of Clean Beauty Insiders and BYBI Beauty, tells Byrdie. “Instead, we formulate products that are stable and safe in their own right, without the need for such a powerful preservative. If a preservative can keep bacteria at bay for a 36-month shelf life, chances are it will kill a decent proportion of the good stuff in your products, too.”

RELATED: 10 Daily Habits That Keep Your Skin Young.

How To Spot Parabens

woman shopping for skincare

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Here’s how to spot parabens on a list of ingredients. “Products in the U.S. must list their ingredients on the packaging,” says UPMC HealthBeat. “Parabens are easy to spot because they contain the word ‘paraben’ as a suffix. Some common parabens are:

Methylparaben

Ethylparaben

Propylparaben

Butylparaben

Isobutylparaben

Manufacturers sometimes use parabens in combination with other preservatives to protect against a broad range of microbes.”

Parabens and the Environment

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Parabens potentially cause harm to more than humans. “Parabens are believed to cause harm to marine life, where they've been found inside sea creatures and are also believed to damage and kill coral,” Dr Veraitch says. “'I would not use or recommend using skincare products that contain parabens, and the beauty industry needs to start paying more attention to what we are recommending consumers put on their skin. I love looking at ingredient lists on skincare, and it always surprises me how many skincare brands still put parabens in their products.”

We offer the most up-to-date information from top experts, new research, and health agencies, but our content is not meant to be a substitute for professional guidance. When it comes to the medication you're taking or any other health questions you have, always consult your healthcare provider directly.