Eczema Articles

The EU Commission has made a decision to remove a controversial preservative from cosmetic products. However, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), ahead of their annual conference this week, don’t feel the ban goes far enough. This is because the ban does not include products that are rinsed off the skin.

The ingredient in question is Methylisothiazolinone (MI) which is used widely in a range of products including moist tissue wipes, cleansers, shower gels, deodorants and shaving foam. The same ingredient can also be found in other products such as detergents, paints and glues. If a person with a sensitivity to MI comes in contact with products that contain MI, they can suffer a reaction, known as contact dermatitis.

The British Association of Dermatologists believe this preservative is causing an epidemic of skin allergy amongst groups of people using products containing MI.

The BAD first alerted the public to the epidemic last July following a number of research studies. Leeds Centre for Dermatology research showed a sharp rise (up to 6.2% sensitivity) in contact allergy to MI over the previous three years. And tomorrow at the conference, new research is being presented. Late last year, and mainly in response to pressure by dermatologists, Cosmetic Europe, the European Cosmetics Trade Association, recommended that MI should be removed immediately from all leave-on-the-skin products and personal care products. In practice, many household names are still using MI in their products, often without sufficient labelling either.

Dermatologists from University Hospital Lewisham and St John’s Institute of Dermatology have identified MI in paint as a serious public health concern. Exposure can trigger reactions in those individuals who are sensitised to the allergen.

Research by these two institutions will reveal a case study at the BAD conference of a 52 year old woman who saw her doctor with severe facial eczema and breathing difficulties which she experienced having repainted her living room. After initial treatment, the lady experienced a further flare up of symptoms (itchy rash on her face, eyelids, upper chest and dominant hand). Her breathing became so much worse that she had to have emergency hospital treatment. The use of MI in the paint she was using was identified as the cause of her reaction – so serious was the problem that the lady had to avoid being in her living room for two months!

Dermatologist Dr Wisam Alwan, one of the authors of the study, said: “Lack of necessary regulation regarding the use of MI in paint means there is no current maximum permitted concentration and no requirement to label MI as an ingredient.

�As with its use in cosmetics, urgent action is required to assess and manage the risk of including MI in paints and other non-cosmetic products. At the very least, MI should immediately be classified as an allergen with the potential to cause serious harm to human health and it needs to be regulated. It also needs to be identified in all product labelling. Given the serious reactions seen with MI exposure from paints, its use should be restricted and alternative, safer preservatives should be considered.�

Other research dermatologists from The Royal United Hospital, Bath, demonstrated how two workers from the same furniture factory who presented with allergic contact dermatitis (eczema) was caused by MI in glue.

A further study in Leeds look at and analysed occupational skin disease data caused by MI from 1996 to 2012. Across a broad range of professions the data showed a 4.1% annual increase in the number of reported cases. This data included people who had been exposed to personal care products such as beauticians.

Dr Rachel Urwin, of the Leeds Centre for Dermatology and one of the authors of the first study, said: “This research shows that a review of regulations in an industrial setting is needed. There is currently little guidance and an improvement in labelling would allow workers to protect themselves against contact allergy from MI.”

Dr Deirdre Buckley, Consultant Dermatologist at The Royal United Hospital, Bath, said: “These cases add to the evidence that MI can be a significant occupational allergen, and suggest that limitation of the exposure concentration in industrial products may be advisable. It is reasonable for workers to expect to work in conditions which are not detrimental to their health.”

Speaking of the latest EU ruling, Dr David Orton of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “I am extremely disappointed at this decision and remain concerned for all UK consumers, both adults and children. The ban on the use of MI in leave-on cosmetics was requested over a year ago and even industry's own representative body, Cosmetics Europe, suggested this six months ago. Yet these products remain on the shelves even today. There is no argument that these sorts of products sensitise people, so every day more people will be sensitised and have the capacity to react to MI. Dermatologists unequivocally know such sensitised people will react to MI at concentrations of only 50 parts per million (ppm) so it is not joined-up thinking to continue to allow rinse-off products to be sold at concentrations of 100 ppm. It allows continued severe allergic reactions to high street cosmetics to occur.

The data supplied by the cosmetics industry lobby to the European Parliament is a predictive tool which is not uniformly accepted and it is being used in a retrospective fashion. UK and European citizens continue to be industry's guinea pigs. I urge them to put the health of their consumers first.”

More information about contact dermatitis can be found on www.talkhealthpartnership.com/talkeczema and also www.talkhealthpartnership.com/talkallergy