Article: Ageing Claims Put Parabens Back Under the Spotlight

[Guest guest]

Since we've discussed the use of parabens in the recent past I thought

some folks might be interested in this ...

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks

you can think up if only you try!

- Dr Seuss

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

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Ageing Claims Put Parabens Back Under the Spotlight

 

 

<http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=62166-methylparaben-a

nti-ageing-ultraviolet>

http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=62166-methylparaben-an

ti-ageing-ultraviolet

 

Ageing claims put parabens back under the spotlight

 

By Simon Pitman

 

29/08/2005 - Researchers in Japan say that methylparaben, a commonly

used antiseptic agent for a range of cosmetics products, may cause skin

to age when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays.

 

The ingredient, which has been connected to occasional skin allergies

and skin sensitization in the past, is currently listed as appearing in

3,559 products in the Environmental Working Group's database of

cosmetics products sold in the US.

 

It is said to have a strong antibacterial effect, as well as providing a

mild stimulation affect that can be beneficial to skin's health.

 

It appears in a cross spectrum of products, including hair care, styling

products and body scrubs. But researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural

University of Medicine say that they are particularly concerned about a

range of topical facial cosmetics products that are often used on a

daily basis.

 

Because the product is included in daily applied powders, foundations,

sun milk, and, ironically, anti-ageing products the researchers are

particularly concerned by their findings.

 

" I think women should avoid strong and direct sunshine when wearing

cosmetics containing methylparaben, " professor Toshikazu Yoshikawa told

The Asahi Shimbun/

 

According to the newspaper report, researchers applied methylparaben to

skin in similar amounts to that found in cosmetics products. The skin

was then exposed to 30 millijoules of ultraviolet rays per square

centimeter - an amount that is deemed to be about the average daily

amount of exposure during summer weather.

 

The researchers results showed that around 19 per cent of the exposed

skin cells died, while the fatality rate for skin that did not contain

methylparaben was about six per cent.

 

Furthermore the amount of lipid peroxide - a substance that speeds up

the ageing process - was said to be about three times the total of that

found in the untreated skin cells.

 

The researchers believe that these results would mean a higher rate of

wrinkling, dark spots and other signs of ageing such as diminished skin

tone.

 

In the past the paraben chemical family has been linked to cancers -

particularly breast cancer in women. As a result manufacturers have been

moving away from the chemical as ingredients providers strive to come up

with alternatives.