Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Preparation of Keratin Hydrolysate from Chicken Feathers and Its Application in Cosmetics
08:29

Preparation of Keratin Hydrolysate from Chicken Feathers and Its Application in Cosmetics

Published on: November 27, 2017

20.3K

Prevalence of potential contact allergens in baby cosmetic products

K Y Low1, M Wallace2

  • 1Depatrment of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
|September 22, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Many baby cosmetic products contain potential allergens, with 88% having at least one reference contact allergen. Even "sensitive" or "fragrance-free" options frequently contained multiple common allergens.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Cosmetic Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a growing concern in pediatric populations.
  • The widespread use of baby cosmetic products necessitates an understanding of their allergenic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the prevalence and types of contact allergens in UK baby cosmetic products.
  • To identify specific allergens commonly found in these products.

Main Methods:

  • Web-scraping of UK supermarket and pharmacy websites to identify baby products.
  • Extraction and cross-referencing of product ingredient lists against standardized patch test reference series.
  • Analysis of 438 unique baby products for the presence of known contact allergens.

Main Results:

  • 88% of analyzed baby products contained at least one reference contact allergen.
  • Products averaged 2.21 reference allergens, with some containing up to 15.
  • Common allergens included parabens, fragrances, cetyl/steryl alcohol, methylisothiazolinone, sodium lauryl sulfate, and lanolin alcohol.
  • Products marketed as 'sensitive/gentle/organic/fragrance-free' surprisingly contained more allergens.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of baby cosmetic products in the UK contain potential contact allergens.
  • Marketing claims of 'sensitive' or 'fragrance-free' do not guarantee allergen absence.
  • Further investigation and consumer awareness are needed regarding allergens in pediatric cosmetics.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Eco-Friendly Extraction of Bioactive Compounds Using Polyol-Based Microwave-Assisted Techniques07:05

Author Spotlight: Eco-Friendly Extraction of Bioactive Compounds Using Polyol-Based Microwave-Assisted Techniques

Published on: August 23, 2024

2.9K
Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use05:48

Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use

Published on: July 24, 2021

6.2K

Related Concept Videos

Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
1.9K
Contact Angle01:13

Contact Angle

When a solid is dipped inside a liquid, the liquid surface becomes curved near the contact. For some solid–liquid interfaces, the liquid is pulled up along the solid, while for others, the liquid surface is convex or depressed near the solid surface. This phenomenon can be explained using the concept of cohesive and adhesive forces.
The adhesive force is the molecular force between molecules of different materials, that is, between the molecules of the solid and the liquid. The cohesive...
20.6K
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
47.5K
Cell Potential and Free Energy02:58

Cell Potential and Free Energy

Thermodynamics of a Redox Reaction
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...
46.6K
Standard Electrode Potentials03:02

Standard Electrode Potentials

On comparing the reactivity of silver and lead, it is observed that the two ionic species, Ag+ (aq) and Pb2+ (aq), show a difference in their redox reactivity towards copper: the silver ion undergoes spontaneous reduction, while the lead ion does not. This relative redox activity can be easily quantified in electrochemical cells by a property called cell potential. This property is commonly known as cell voltage in electrochemistry, and it is a measure of the energy which accompanies the charge...
50.4K
Potential Energy00:52

Potential Energy

The energy stored by a structure and location of matter in space is called potential energy. For instance, raising a kettlebell changes its spatial location and increases its potential energy. Similarly, a stretched rubber band contains potential energy which, under certain conditions, can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy.
Chemical bonds that form attractive forces between atoms also contain potential energy, called chemical energy. When a chemical reaction...
42.7K