Your Lotion could kill you

Parabens are cancer-causing preservatives known to harm health.

Parabens are found in many skincare products including deodorant, shampoo, makeup, lotions, oral care products, as well as in processed food items and some pharmaceutical products.

 A study conducted by the team of researchers led by Dr Philippa Darbre from the University of Reading in the UK, has shown that parabens can cause minor health problems, like skin irritation and dermatitis, to major health problems like breast cancer.  

The study is titled “Measurement of paraben concentrations in human breast tissue at serial locations across the breast from axilla to sternum,” .

It  found that virtually all—99 percent—of the tissue samples collected from women, participating in the study contained at least one paraben, and 60 percent of the samples contained no less than five parabens.

  Another group of British researchers has also found traces of parabens in tumors of breast cancer patients. 

  The chemical can hide under many names. Look out for its many pseudonyms; benzylparaben, isbutylparaben, bonzonic acid, Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben

Other less notable parabens are isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben and benzylparaben.

Parabens break down into formaldehyde, a substance proven to cause cancer.   

Coincidentally Formaldehyde is the same chemical dead bodies are preserved in.

Therefore, every time you apply lotion with Parabens you are mummifying yourself.





Parabens have been used as preservatives since the 1920s after Manufacturers discovered how short the shelf life of lotion could be.

 When a lotion or beauty product becomes contaminated with bacteria, terrible health problems may occur. 

This problem received momentum in the 1950s after some people became blind after using lotions.

It then became law to add preservatives to lotions, exfoliators, and other similar items. Shelf life grew from a few weeks to over 2 years.

The dangers of parabens were not yet known at time besides they were the cheapest, most readily available preservative around.

A comprehensive study published in the January 2012 issue of the Journal of Applied Technology shows more evidence of a correlation between parabens and incidences of breast cancer.

Holland & Barrett, the United Kingdom’s largest nationwide chain of health food shops (with about 550 stores), recently announced a ban on products containing parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate.

Apparently, they had been working with suppliers to eliminate these chemicals, and finally decided to reject many well-known brands and formulate their own products instead.

Other stores are now following suit, according to Samuel Epsteins who is Cancer Prevention Coalition chairperson, “numerous published scientific studies over the last two decades have shown that parabens pose toxic, estrogen-like effects.”

The importance of reading labels can never be over emphasized because it is vital for one to know what they are consuming or applying.

 According to Pierre Yassa, Consultant Dermatologist at the Skin Clinic at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), consumers must be weary of products that are carcinogenic.

Professor Yassa said that the major cause of skin cancer is exposure to Ultra Violet (UVs) Rays from the sun.

He said some cosmetics strip away melanin from the skin by first attacking the melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin.

 Melanin is also called a pigment because it is the substance that gives the skin and hair its natural color. It also gives color to the iris of the eye.

Prof Yassa says that when the melanocytes are damaged their production of melanin is halted thus UV rays have free reign on the skin.

The scary thing is that melanin is responsible for protecting the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) cells, which are the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. 

Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.

It is located in the nuclei of cells, which make up the body. Consequently, DNA can be considered as one of the building blocks of the body.

So imagine how many much havoc is wreaked if your DNA is ruined.

I out of a scary curiosity started checking labels of the bottles on my dressing table.

I use baby lotion and baby shampoo to remove makeup so imagine my horrors when I found these as well as the makeup, deodorants, perfume and most cosmetics you can think of have parabens.

Well what to do you ask do I fling away all the products I use religiously (and use what) bearing in mind the presence of parabens in both high end and low-end cosmetics.

I think I might have a solution READ YOUR LABELS:  this is a fireproof way of been healthy if a bottle does not have an index of ingredients you should be worried.

I will later on post up  a list of harmful substances found in your make up.