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Phthalates in baby skin care products

Heather P Lampel1, Sharon E Jacob

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.

Dermatitis : Contact, Atopic, Occupational, Drug
|June 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Most baby skin care products contain no detectable phthalates. However, a few products showed higher phthalate levels, warranting ongoing safety monitoring for infant chemical exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Phthalates are linked to systemic toxicity and can promote atopy and contact dermatitis.
  • Infants are particularly vulnerable to chemical exposures, with baby skincare products being a potential source.
  • Dermal absorption contributes to the overall chemical burden in the body.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify phthalate content in baby and children's skincare products.
  • To assess potential infant exposure to phthalates through commonly used products.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 30 baby skincare products (19 leave-on, 11 wash-off) for 17 phthalates.
  • Utilized standard gas chromatography-mass spectrometry by an independent laboratory.

Main Results:

  • 26 out of 30 products had no detectable phthalate levels.
  • Four products contained detectable phthalates, with one product showing significantly higher levels (44 ppm).
  • No statistical difference in phthalate detection between leave-on and wash-off products was found.

Conclusions:

  • While most baby skincare products are phthalate-free, some contain detectable levels.
  • Occasional higher phthalate concentrations necessitate continued product monitoring for infant safety.
  • Ensuring safety standards are met in baby products is crucial due to potential health risks.
Abstract

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