Are your Toiletries Toxic? (Daily Mail, 6th of July 2009)

Under scrutiny: Parabens - a common preservative - is being investigated for links to breast cancer and problems with the male reproductive system Ever read the label of a shampoo, conditioner or shower gel? Then you'll probably have come across the word methylparaben, or perhaps ethylparaben, or propylparaben. But have you ever stopped to think about what these ingredients are? Parabens are the most widely used chemical preservatives throughout the world. They're found in children's shampoos, styling gels, body lotions, shaving gels and make-up, and are used to improve the shelf-life of cosmetics. However, increasing evidence is emerging that use of parabens might come at a high price to our health. Some parabens - namely butylparaben and propylparaben - are under investigation by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) because of concerns about links with breast cancer and problems with the male reproductive system. Research from Japanese scientist Osuma Handa at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine suggests that even parabens that were previously presumed to be safe, such as methylparaben, might mutate and produce free radicals when exposed to UV rays, causing skin ageing and potentially skin cancer. Alcohol, which is often added to cosmetics, can stimulate the penetration of parabens into the skin and also the conversion of methylparaben to butylparaben, which, with propylparaben, has the greatest hormone disrupting properties in men and women. The Environmental Working Group in America is so concerned that it has set up a non-profit website (www.cosmeticsdata base.com) where consumers can find out more information about their toiletries. On the site, methylparaben is listed as being found in more than 16,000 products, including moisturisers, sunscreen and toothpaste. Traditional argument is that our skin doesn't absorb parabens. Not so says Dr Barbara Olioso, a professional chemist who acts as an independent adviser for brands formulating cosmetics without chemicals. 'Research shows that between 20 and 60 per cent of parabens in cosmetics may be absorbed by the body,' she says. 'They have been found in urine, which proves parabens travel through our systems.' Dr Olioso's concerns are shared by Tony Tillbrook, who invented the wetsuit in 1957. 'If you need to look at any ingredient's potential link with cancer, then isn't it obvious that you simply don't use it in a product or smear it over your body?' he asks. His investigations into the components of adhesives used in his wetsuits, showed that they caused dermatitis in some. 'It was then I became aware of how ingredients affected the skin. This was 1965, but it wasn't until 1996 [when it became mandatory for cosmetics companies to list ingredients] that it became clear some of the chemicals may cause health problems.' But many breast cancer charities feel there isn't sufficient evidence to panic. 'Although research has shown that parabens are found in breast cancer tissue, no research has been published to show that these levels are higher than that found in healthy tissue or that their presence causes healthy cells to change in to cancer cells,' says Arlene Wilkie of Breast Cancer Campaign. However, opinion remains divided, even among cancer charities. 'Since we released our report Breast Cancer: An Environmental Disease in 2005,' says Claire Dimmer, chair of Breast Cancer UK, 'in which we set out evidence for a link between endocrinedisrupting chemicals and the increasing incidence of breast cancer, more studies have been published that support our argument.' Is it likely that things will change in the near future? Tillbrook thinks not: 'There won't be changes until consumers become outraged.' Until then, it's probably worth reading the ingredients on your toiletries.

All about the skin

A scientific resource to find out about the secret life of your skin!

• Are your Toiletries Toxic? (Daily Mail, 6th of July 2009)
• Dry Skin
• Lupin seed extract: pain free solution to dermal injections
• The Skin and its Rhythms
• UV Benefits and Risks
• Winter, Skin and Oil: How To Take Control Of Your Skin Protection

Guide me green

Understand How to Be Green and Sustainable

• Buy Green Skin Care Online-What You Really Need To Know Before You Buy
• Genitals anomalies on the rise: too many estrogens in the environment
• Hot List for Veggies to Spot Animal Derived Ingredients in Disguise
• Understanding Certified Organic Cosmetics
• What does organic really mean? A look at the origins and organic cosmetics today