Warning as 1 in 3 ‘hypoallergenic’ products at Superdrug and Boots FAIL allergy tests
ONE in three products labelled "hypoallergenic" at Boots and Superdrug has failed allergy tests, research shows.
Shampoos, body washes, deodorants, wet wipes and shaving foams were among the items found to contain common skin allergens.
Up to three quarters of the UK population have sensitive skin or allergies, so brands frequently target their supposedly "gentler" products at sufferers.
But researchers at Wrexham Maelor hospital and Glan Clwyd hospital in Wales discovered their marketing strategies could be misleading.
They reviewed products marked as "hypoallergenic" for the presence of allergens in the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA) baseline series.
This lists common allergens that are routinely tested during patch testing to identify someone with potential contact allergies – a type of allergic reaction caused by direct or indirect skin contact with something in a person’s environment.
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A total of 208 products from Boots and Superdrug were scrutinised, three quarters of which were "leave-on" formulas designed to be absorbed by the skin, while 23 per cent were considered "rinse-off".
At least one substance from the BSCA baseline series was an ingredient in 79 (38 per cent) of these items.
Of these, 54 (26 per cent) had one potential allergen, 21 (10 per cent) had two, and four (two per cent) had three.
The most common offenders were:
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- Cetearyl alcohol
- Paraben mix
- 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
- Lanolin
- Decyl glucoside
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Methylisothiazolinone
- Limonene
- Linalool
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."
The most frequently encountered allergens were cetearyl alcohol and paraben mix, found in 42 (20 per cent) and 37 (18 per cent) 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.
All are known to be irritating to certain groups.
The researchers also looked at related ingredients confirmed to cause reactions in people with allergies to chemicals in the baseline series.
Overall, 153 (74 per cent) of products contained BSCA baseline series allergens or ingredients that may cross-react with them.
The most common offenders were:
- Parfum/fragrance
- Sodium benzoate and/or benzoic acid
- Ingredients belonging to the Asteraceae family
- Cetyl alcohol and/or stearyl alcohol
The report did not give the details of specific products.
While there are various regulations relating to marketing claims made by cosmetics, there is no official standard for what constitutes a hypoallergenic product in the UK.
Prof Mabs Chowdhury, president of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), 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."
The findings will be presented at the BAD Annual Meeting in Liverpool later this week.
A Superdrug spokesperson said: "This study does not provide any information on which products have been tested.
"However, as per EU/UK law, all Superdrug own brand products go through independent safety assessments and all allergens are listed within the ingredient list on pack in line with legislation."
A spokesperson for Boots added: "We’d like to reassure consumers with known allergies that all ingredients are labelled on pack or visible on boots.com listings, in line with EU and UK legislation, so it is easy for them to identify if a product contains those ingredients prior to making a purchase.
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"We are transparent about the ingredients contained in products available at Boots and ensure they are displayed clearly for our customers.
"Without sight of the products identified in the study we cannot investigate further to respond to specific claims made by the BAD."