Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. All commercially used parabens are synthetically produced, although some are identical to those found in nature. They are used primarily for their antibacterial and fungicidal properties.

Their effectiveness as preservatives combined with their low cost means that parabens are commonly found in everyday personal care items such as shampoos, cleansers, lubricants, shaving gel and toothpaste and are considered to be safe because of their low toxicity profile, although recent studies have begun to challenge this view.

In individuals with normal skin, parabens were found to be, for the most part, non-irritating and non-sensitising. However, it was found that parabens may cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis in individuals with paraben allergies. Public interest organisations, which raise awareness about cosmetic ingredients, believe that further research is necessary to determine the safety of parabens.

Until further research is carried out, the risk that parabens present to human health is still open to dispute. Probably the best advice for those individuals with sensitive or chronic skin conditions is to avoid products that contain parabens.

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