5 Reasons to Ditch Your Paraben Products Immediately

Chances are you are like me. Want to know who I am? I'm the lady who intentionally picks up whatever I need on the shopping aisle if I’m buying it for the first time, then check what its components are before making a purchase. If you are like this, you’ve heard of parabens what they are, and why you should seek products that are free of them. If not, you are about to discover what these dangerous chemicals are, do, are part of, and are more than enough reasons you should not buy haircare or any other beauty products containing them.

What Are Parabens?

Parabens are a family of related synthetic chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics, beverages, food, and pharmaceuticals. More often than not, they are used in cosmetic products to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, fungus, and yeast, making them safe in themselves, and for use by their consumers. They are never found in your beauty products alone. Rather, you can be assured that the product in your hands contains at least 3 parabens to protect it against a wide range of microorganisms.

It is widely rumoured that parabens have just started to be used in recent times, but this is a myth. They have been in use as preservatives as far back as the 1950s. The most common ones to look out for in your products are butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben, but parabens could as well be hiding under the guise of ethyl-, isopropyl-, or isobutyl. Although beneficial by increasing a product’s shelf life, the truth about their side effects and potential dangers outnumber their benefits.

5 harmful effects of Parabens

They're Harmful to the Skin and Hair

Research has shown traces of parabens in the urine and blood samples of people using products that contain paraben. Simply put, when you apply a paraben-containing shampoo on your hair and it trickles down to your scalp, the paraben enters your hair follicles and pores and then makes its way into your bloodstream. The problems these parabens can cause for your hair are not limited to dryness, irritation, fading, and even hair loss. A look at this process shows that shampoo, conditioner, or any other product that isn’t paraben-free should be a NO-NO for you.

They Can Cause Allergic Reactions

Although these products contain only a small amount of parabens, the quantity is enough to trigger allergic reactions and exacerbate the conditions of sensitive, damaged, or broken skin. Paraben-free products will typically indicate that on the label and if you are unsure of that, it’s probably best to switch to another.

Disruption of the Reproductive System

A study carried out on the effects of Parabens, discovered that Parabens lead to  an increased risk of reproductive problems. As endocrine-disrupting synthetic estrogens mimic naturally produced estrogen and disrupt the reproductive systems of males and females, affecting their functioning, development, fertility, and birth outcomes. They are particularly harmful to TTC and new mothers, causing adverse effects on the mother’s health, and developmental issues in the child. Some of the effects of Parabens on reproductive health include:

• Interference with the production of hormones.
• Disruption of hormone signals
• Decrease in male sperm counts
• Lower male testosterone levels
• Decrease in female fertility
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Increase risk of premature birth
• Decrease birth weight
• Alter the expression of genes

Paraben exposure during pregnancy may also contribute to childhood obesity and gestational diabetes.

Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Several studies have shown that parabens can affect the mechanisms of normal breast cells and potentially influence their abnormal growth, leading to an increased risk for breast cancer. They have also been associated with altered thyroid hormone levels. When levels of thyroid hormones are low, the body's natural functions slow down and lag which causes a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, and even depression. Hyperthyroidism on its own can accelerate the body's metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Disruption Of Mother Earth

Perhaps this is the most important reason of all, it is noteworthy that Parabens not only affect our hair, skin, reproductive system, trigger allergic reactions, but also cause damage to the ecosystem. They are unsafe, causing environmental toxicity and pollution.

Research studies claim that parabens can be detected in soil from agricultural fields, and in the river and drinking water sources. In addition, butyl parabens have been found to cause the death of corals. More often than not, the major source of this pollution is personal skin and hair care products. Shampoo, conditioners, creams, and many more. Sadly, this will continue to be a threat until all of these products become paraben-free. As preservatives, parabens pose more than needed danger and several other methods of keeping both consumers and the environment safe are beginning to be practiced in the beauty industry.

All of these are the reasons our products at Yao Secret are paraben-free. Although a small quantity at irregular times might not be harmful, it is better to only bring products whose safety we can guarantee to you. Even though research is still ongoing, breeding controversy on what Parabens do or do not do, we find it suitable enough to find and create formulas that don’t include parabens or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. 

Your bloodstream should not be polluted, your reproductive health should not be compromised even with the usage of personal products like shampoos and conditioners. Paraben-free products in these categories are widely available and you can get them here at Yao Secret. These are but are not limited to our Fermented Rice Water Shampoo Bar, Fermented Rice Water Conditioner Bar, and the all-inclusive Yao Hair Therapy Kit. With these, you can be assured of healthy hair products that give you the results you seek.