Methyl Parabens

TYPE OF INGREDIENT​
Preservative and anti-microbial
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Topical medications (retinoids), antiperspirants, sunscreens, skin care/haircare/beauty products (ex. creams, cleansers, moisturizers, foundations, primers) and vaccines

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF METHYLPARABENS?

Methylparabens prevent the growth of fungus, mold and bacteria and enhance the shelf life of products.

WHAT IS METHYLPARABENS?

Methylparabens are natural compounds found in certain fruits. Methylparabens also can be made synthetically.

Methylparabens-spray-bottle-on-hand

IS METHYLPARABENS SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?

Methylparabens are allergens and can cause allergic contact dermatitis when used by a paraben-allergic or atopic individual. When using parabens, the patient can also have allergies to the following compounds in medications: para-aminosalicylic acid, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), azo dyes, sulfonamides, thiazides and ester anesthetics.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

There are concerns regarding the carcinogenic effect of long-term exposure and accumulation of parabens. At certain doses, methylparaben has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system. It can mimic hormones such as estrogen, and has been hypothesized to increase the risk of breast cancer. However, there has not yet been a study to conclusively show the interactions between parabens and breast cancer. Currently, the use of methylparabens is FDA-approved.

Sources:

[1]Alikhan Ali, Hocker Thomas LH. Review of Dermatology, 2017. Pg 73.

[1]Lillo MA, Nichols C, Perry C, Runke S, Krutilina R, Seagroves TN, Miranda-Carboni GA, Krum SA. Methylparaben stimulates tumor initiating cells in ER+ breast cancer models. J Appl Toxicol. 2017 Apr;37(4):417-425. doi: 10.1002/jat.3374. Epub 2016 Sep 1. PMID: 27581495; PMCID: PMC5338571.[1] Parada H Jr, Sahrai L, Wolff MS, Santella RM, Chen J, Neugut AI, Teitelbaum SL. Urinary parabens and breast cancer risk: Modification by LINE-1 and LUMA global DNA methylation, and associations with breast cancer defined by tumor promoter methylation status. Mol Carcinog. 2022 Nov;61(11):1002-1015. doi: 10.1002/mc.23456. Epub 2022 Aug 17. PMID: 35975911; PMCID: PMC9588525.

Sonali Nanda, MD, MS

Author

Sonali Nanda, MD, MS, is a PGY-3 dermatology resident at the University of Oklahoma. She completed a master’s degree in narrative medicine at Columbia University. She earned a medical degree at the University of Virginia, and conducted a dermatology research fellowship at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology. She has produced numerous publications for high impact dermatology journals as well as contributed to LearnSkin, a website for dermatology education for professionals. Dr. Nanda is passionate about sharing dermatologic knowledge with the general population so they can take skin health and skin cancer prevention into their own hands. Her special interests include Mohs surgery and reconstruction, skin of color and hyperpigmentation, and lasers.