Parabens in Hair Products and Skincare Products

A graduate of Lewis University with a bachelor of arts in business and education, Tom Redmond is the former owner of hair product company Aussie. Having sold Aussie, Tom Redmond now leads as president of Onesta Hair Care, which produces hair products free of harmful substances, including animal products and parabens.

Commonly found in haircare and skincare products, parabens are preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria. Some of the most common parabens are methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. Although parabens are inexpensive and effective, some companies have started to make paraben-free products to meet the demands of customers who are concerned about a possible link between parabens and breast cancer.

In the 1990s, parabens were labeled xenoestrogens, which mimic the action of estrogens. This is concerning to some because estrogen disruption is related to breast cancer. Further, in 2004, Philippa Darbre, PhD, a British cancer researcher, discovered parabens in malignant breast tumors.

While there is no evidence that parabens are a direct cause of cancer, consumers have become more conscious of the presence of these preservatives in their hair and skin products, leading more companies to offer products free of these chemicals.