Survey of liquid hand soaps, including health and environmental assessments

3 Allergens in cosmetics

Many of the fragrance chemicals and preservatives that are used in consumer products such as cosmetics, detergents, cleaning materials, air fresheners, etc. may cause allergic reactions. In this connection, cosmetics are of particular interest as the products are applied on the skin or in the hair resulting in an immediate exposure to the chemical substances in the products. There are two product types: "leave-on" products (creams, make-up, lipcare, etc.), which stays on the skin, and "rinse-off" products (hand soaps, shampoos, balms, etc.), which are washed off..

A typical allergic reaction in connection with the use of cosmetics is contact dermatitis. The Danish association of persons sensitive to fragrances and chemicals (Foreningen for Duft og Kemikaliefølsomme) estimates that 4% of the Danish population are allergic to chemicals, also known as MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) (www.dkmcs.dk). An interview study carried out by the Danish knowledge centre on allergy (Videncenter for Allergi) in March 2005 showed that more than 40% of the respondents experienced symptoms at least once a year when using fragranced products (www.videncenterforallergi.dk).

The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) has compiled a list of 26 fragrance chemicals reported as contact allergens, which have been included in annex 3 of the Danish "kosmetikbekendtgørelsen" (1). According to "kosmetikbekendtgørelsen", the 26 fragrance chemicals must be stated separately on the product label of all cosmetics, which are marketed after 11 March 2005, if the fragrance chemicals appear in concentrations above 0.001 % in leave-on products or above 0.01% in rinse-off products.

Various preservatives are known to cause contact dermatitis. Some preservatives may have an indirect allergen effect, e.g. formaldehyde donors. Formaldehyde can cause allergic reactions in a small number of the population, who are particularly sensitive to formaldehyde. In cosmetics a concentration limit has been established for both formaldehyde and for formaldehyde donors.

Table 3.1 gives an overview of the 26 fragrance chemicals reported as contact allergens and potentially sensitizing preservatives that are often found in cosmetics.

Table 3.1: (Potentially) sensitizing substances in cosmetics

Allergenic
fragrance chemicals
Allergenic preservatives Formaldehyde donors preservatives
Amyl Cinnamal
Benzyl Alcohol
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Citral
Eugenol
Hydroxycitronellal
Isoeugenol
Amylcinnamyl Alcohol
Benzyl Salicylate
Cinnamal
Coumarin
Geraniol
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene
Carboxaldehyde
Anise Alcohol
Benzyl Cinnamate
Farnesol
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Linalool
Benzyl benzoate
Citronellol
Hexyl Cinnamal
Limonene
Methyl 2-Octynoate
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Evernia Prunastri (Oak moss) Extract
Evernia Furfuracea (Treemoss) Extract
Methyldibromo glutaronitrile
Methylisothiazolinone
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Iodopropynyl-butylcarbamate (IPBC)
Formaldehyde
DMDM Hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl Urea
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
Diazolidinyl urea
Quaternium 15
Methenamine

 



Version 1.0 June 2006, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency