Can parabens in pregnancy skincare products change your baby's DNA expression?

What's actually in it

Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben) are preservatives in face creams, body lotions, shampoos, and makeup. During pregnancy, whatever goes on your skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream and crosses the placenta to your baby. Parabens are some of the most common chemicals found in pregnant women's urine.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Int measured paraben levels in pregnant women during early pregnancy and then analyzed the DNA methylation patterns in their babies' cord blood at birth. DNA methylation is one of the main ways your body controls which genes are active and which are silent. When the pattern changes, genes can get switched on or off at the wrong time.

Mothers with higher paraben levels had babies with altered methylation at specific gene sites. These changes weren't random. They affected genes involved in growth, metabolism, and immune function. The timing matters too: early pregnancy is when the baby's epigenetic patterns are being set up for life.

These changes don't mean your baby will get sick. But they shift the starting point. A baby born with altered gene expression patterns may respond differently to diet, stress, or illness later on. Switching to paraben-free skincare during pregnancy is a simple change that removes this exposure entirely.