Studies on the stability of selected viruses in cosmetics

Synopsis Information concerning the risks emerging from the use of cosmetics contaminated with viruses is rarely reported. Therefore, we investigated the stability of viruses within different types of cosmetics. Test products were artificially contaminated with different viruses, which, due to the application of the products, have hygienic relevance. Virus persistence was observed by determining the reisolation rate. With this knowledge we were able to estimate the initial contamination of finished products and raw materials. Viruses with hygienic relevance could neither be detected in finished products nor in raw materials. We can conclude from this that cosmetics seem to be safe with regard to initial contamination. However, our results clearly showed that secondary contamination with viruses can have a persistence which is high enough to pose a hygienic risk through cross contamination.