I was reading your book with great interest and I'm always reading the ingredients of products.  In your book you recommend for OSNT the following Powder: Avon Clear Finish Great Complexion Pressed Powder


My research show it contains PARABEN which you mention to avoid for this type of Skin, besides
Parabens are preservatives that have been identified as estrogenic with preliminary evidence indicating that they can disrupt normal hormone functions. Estrogenic substances are chemicals foreign to the body that mimic the function of the naturally occurring hormone, estrogen. Estrogen has been shown to control the growth of breast cells, and exposure to external estrogens has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.

Source www.iccr.org/shareholder/proxy_book03/he...co/parabens_avon.htm

Would you please clarify.

I was reading your book with great interest and I'm always reading the ingredients of products.  In your book you recommend for OSNT the following Powder: Avon Clear Finish Great Complexion Pressed Powder


My research show it contains PARABEN which you mention to avoid for this type of Skin, besides
Parabens are preservatives that have been identified as estrogenic with preliminary evidence indicating that they can disrupt normal hormone functions. Estrogenic substances are chemicals foreign to the body that mimic the function of the naturally occurring hormone, estrogen. Estrogen has been shown to control the growth of breast cells, and exposure to external estrogens has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.

Source www.iccr.org/shareholder/proxy_book03/he...co/parabens_avon.htm

Would you please clarify.

Parabens are on the ingredients to avoid list because certain people can be allergic to them.  However, only a very small portion of OSNTs are allergic to it so only those with a history of an allergy to a substance should find out if they are allergic to parabens and avoid them.  In regard to the carcinogen issue, the amount of parabens used in most cosmetic products, especially powders, is minimal.  The chance of the paraben being absorbed is tiny and the estrogenic effects are negligible.  In fact, other substances that are referred to as "natural" ingredients such as soy or genistein have stronger estrogenic effects than parabens.  Soy and genistein have great effects on the skin. In fact, many doctors prescribe topical estrogens to improve skin hydration and to prevent aging in women who have gone thru menopause.  Of course, this is not advisable in anyone who has a history of breasts or ovarian cancer.  You are wise to be cautious about what you put in your body, however, I feel that there is too much unsubstatiated hype about the dangers of parabens when in reality their biggest danger is the possibility of an allergic reaction.  They are one of the most common causes of a topical skin allergic reaction.
I have been looking into this topic for a while and plan to write an upcoming newsletter on it. If anyone has any substantiated data on either side of the argument, I welcome it.
Dr. Baumann

Hi Dr Baumann,

Because of a bad reaction to something I have been checking up on ingredients and different posts. I remembered this thread regading parabens. I note your comments that some OSNTs can be allergic to them. I have a couple of questions: is it just OSNTs that can suffer this allergy? (I scored 41 on W/T scale as I don't know my grandparents so it is possible I might be a T type although I do have a wrinkly forehead & under eyes, hence the reason I am following the W regimen.
Also how would I go about finding out if I am allergic to parabens?
It isn't as easy to see a dermatologist in Australia as you need a referral from your GP. I'm not sure that my GP would give me a referral as my skin isn't that bad (and I don't think she believed me when I told her I had acne - I had been diagnosed by another Dr and had to find a new one when he died suddenly ).

Thanks

Angela (Cygnatius)

Parabens are the most common preservatives and are in many products. If you can't do allergy testing, maybe just cut back on your products and see if any products with parabens don't bother you.

Thanks Kevin,

I've eliminated all products with parabens in them and I've had no bad effects so it makes me think they are the baddies (for me at least). I doubt I'll be using anything including them in future.