More than a third of personal care products marked as hypoallergenic on major online retailers have been found to contain common skin allergens, according to research being presented at the British Association of Dermatologists Annual Meeting in Liverpool (27th-29^th June 2023).

The researchers from Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Glan Clwyd Hospital in Wales reviewed personal care products marketed as hypoallergenic from two major health and beauty retailers in the UK for the presence of allergens in the British Society of Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA) baseline series.

The BSCA baseline series is the list of common contact allergens that are routinely tested during patch testing to identify someone with potential contact allergies. Contact allergy is a type of allergic reaction caused by direct or indirect skin contact with something in a person’s environment.

A total of 208 products were included in the review, 47 (23%) were products that are rinsed-off during use and 161 (77%) were leave-on products, which are left to be absorbed by the skin. At least one substance from the BSCA baseline series was an ingredient in 79 (38%) of these products. Of these, 54 (26%) had one potential allergen, 21 (10%) had two and four (2%) had three potential allergens from the series.

Dr Siwaporn Hiranput of Wrexham Maelor Hospital, one of the team behind the findings, said:

“Our research suggests that some brands understate or downplay what constitutes a hypoallergenic product. There are various regulations governing marketing claims in the UK, however, many terms used to market personal care products aren’t clearly defined. Given the huge market for products suitable for sensitive skin, there is every incentive to stretch these terms to their limit. Clearer regulation or better enforcement of the existing rules is needed.

“In the meantime, we would urge members of the public with a contact allergy to learn the names of ingredients that you are allergic to and look for these on the packaging of products, regardless of whether they are advertised as hypoallergenic or not.”

It is estimated that a fifth of the UK population may have allergic skin reactions to common environmental allergens. The percentage of people who report having sensitive skin is even higher, with one survey putting this at 71% of the population. As such, there is a big market for hypoallergenic products. 

The most frequently encountered allergens were cetearyl alcohol and paraben mix, found in 42 (20%) and 37 (18%) of products, respectively. Other BSCA baseline series allergens identified included 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, lanolin, decyl glucoside, diazolidinyl urea, methylisothiazolinone, limonene and linalool.

In addition to allergens in the BSCA baseline series, the researchers looked at related ingredients known to cause reactions in people with allergies to chemicals in the baseline series. Overall, 153 (74%) of the 206 products marketed as hypoallergenic contained BSCA baseline series allergens or ingredients that may cross-react with them.   

While there are various regulations relating to marketing claims made by cosmetic products there is no official standard for what constitutes a hypoallergenic product in the UK.

Prof Mabs Chowdhury, President of the British Association of Dermatologists said:

“It’s important that consumers are aware that it is not unusual for products labelled as hypoallergenic to contain common allergens. There is no official standard for what constitutes a hypoallergenic product; however, it is reasonable for users to expect that these products will be unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.

“While it is possible that some of these ingredients could legitimately feature in hypoallergenic products if they are used in very low concentrations, it’s hard to see how products containing ingredients such as formaldehyde releasers, methylisothiazolinone, and fragrances such as limonene and linalool could possibly be described as hypoallergenic.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

If using this study, please ensure you mention that the study was released at the British Association of Dermatologists’ Annual Conference.

The conference will be held at the ACC Liverpool from June 27^th to 29^th and is attended by approximately 1,300 UK and international dermatologists.

For more information, please contact the media team: comms@bad.org.uk, 07769000415.

Study Details

Are ‘hypoallergenic’ personal care products truly safe?

Siwaporn Hiranput,¹ Lucy Smith² and Paul Devakar Yesudian¹

¹Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham; and ²Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, UK

It is estimated that one-fifth of the general population may have allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to common environmental allergens. Skincare companies are increasingly advertising their products as ‘hypoallergenic’, targeting consumers who seek personal care products (PCPs) that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. However, there are no Food and Drug Administration standards to regulate the use of the term hypoallergenic, allowing manufacturers to use the term freely. We evaluated PCPs marketed as hypoallergenic from two health and beauty retailers in the UK for the presence of allergens in the British Society of Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA) baseline series. Product and ingredient lists were obtained from www.boots.com and www.superdrug.com in November 2022 using the term hypoallergenic in the search box. PCPs without the term hypoallergenic in the product description, unrelated products (plasters, jewellery, sanitary towels, tampons, clothing, facial brushes) and duplicates (same products in different sizes) were excluded. In total, 208 PCPs met the inclusion criteria: 47 (22.6%) were rinse-off and 161 (77.4%) were leave-on products. At least one substance from the BSCA baseline series was an ingredient in 79 (38.0%) PCPs. Of these, 54 (26.0%) had one potential allergen, 21 (10.2%) had two and four (1.9%) had three potential allergens from the series. The frequently encountered allergens were cetearyl alcohol and paraben mix, found in 42 (20.4%) and 37 (18.0%) of products, respectively. Other BSCA baseline series allergens identified in PCPs included 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, lanolin, decyl glucoside, diazolidinyl urea, methylisothiazolinone, limonene and linalool. In addition, PCPs had chemicals that were related to and may cross-react with allergens in the BSCA baseline series. Parfum/fragrance, which can cross-react with fragrance mix I and II, was found in 85 (41.3%) PCPs. Sodium benzoate and/or benzoic acid, often used as preservatives in PCPs, were found in 66 (32.0%) products. Forty (19.4%) PCPs had ingredients that belong to the Asteraceae family and therefore may trigger an ACD in those with positive reaction to Compositae and/or sesquiterpene lactone mix. Twenty-three (11.2%) PCPs contained cetyl alcohol and/or stearyl alcohol, the two major components of cetearyl alcohol. Overall, 153 (74.3%) of 206 PCPs marketed as hypoallergenic contained BSCA baseline series allergens or ingredients that may cross-react with them. This highlights the need to increase public awareness and education about the potential dangers of purchasing ‘hypoallergenic’ PCPs.

About the BAD

The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) is the professional membership body for dermatologists in the UK. Founded in 1920, the BAD is a registered charity representing over 2,400 members, dedicated to medical education, professional practice and standards, and research in dermatology.

For further information about the charity, visit www.bad.org.uk.