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Parabens and Skin Ageing

This is an article that appeared recently in Professional Cosmetic World. "Researchers in Japan find parabens causes skin ageing!

The ingredient which has been connected to skin allergies and skin sensitization in the past, is currently listed as appearing in over 3,000 products. It has a strong antibacterial effect and appears in a cross spectrum of products, including hair care, skincare and body care products. Researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan say that they are particularly concerned about a range of cosmetics used on a daily basis. Because the product is included in daily applied powders, foundations, cleansing milk, and ironically, anti-ageing products the researchers are particularly concerned by their findings. "I think women should avoid wearing cosmetics containing parabens" professor Toshikazu Yoshikawa told The Asahi Shimbun.

Researchers applied methylparaben to skin in similar amounts to that found in cosmetics. The skin was then exposed to 30 millijoules of ultraviolet rays per square centimeter - an amount that is the average daily amount of exposure during summer weather.

The researchers results showed that 19 percent of the exposed skin cells died. 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 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.