Is Methylparaben safe during pregnancy?
A paraben preservative. FDA has not found a health effect at cosmetic levels, but some experts suggest limiting parabens in pregnancy.
What the sources say
FDA says it has no information showing parabens as used in cosmetics affect health and continues to review studies. NIEHS calls parabens hormone-disrupting with uncertain effects and notes they can be absorbed through skin. A large NIH-funded US study linked higher methylparaben levels in pregnancy to smaller size at birth (an association, not proof). A 2025 pregnancy skin care review lists parabens as avoidable, and AAD suggests using them sparingly. Limit: no need to panic over occasional use; where easy, choose paraben-free leave-on products.
Also listed as
e218, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, methyl paraben, sodium methylparaben
Sources
- FDA: Parabens in Cosmetics
- NIH NIEHS: Cosmetics and Your Health: NIEHS Research Findings (fact sheet, Jan 2024)
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed study): Prenatal Phenol and Paraben Exposures and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Prospective Analysis of U.S. Births (Environ Int, 2024; NIH ECHO)
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Photoprotection in pregnancy: addressing safety concerns and optimizing skin health (Front Med, 2025)
- AAD: Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.