Call to ban cosmetic ingredient
Doctors are calling for a ban on a chemical preservative in products including makeup, sun cream and shampoo, which they say is causing an ‘‘epidemic’’ of eczema and related allergies.
Dermatologists say the chemical is behind one in ten of the severe skin allergies they see in clinics and warn that thousands more people could be affected without knowing the cause.
Methylisothiazolinone, known as MI, was introduced in 2005 as a preservative in a wide range of everyday personal care products, from moisturiser and shaving cream to moist tissue wipes. But skin specialists say that in the past few years they have increasingly been seeing people suffering severe allergic reactions to products containing it.
They fear the introduction of MI has also sensitised people to the smaller amounts of the same chemical in a longestablished preservative, MCI/MI.
British Society for Cutaneous Allergy president David Orton said: ‘‘In 2010 the first cases began to appear of MI allergy. Subsequently what we’ve been seeing is a very steep rise in both MI and MCI/MI allergy.
‘‘The rises in allergies to these two preservatives have gone up very rapidly to levels that are unacceptable. This is seen north, south, east and west . . . across the large patch test centres in the UK, data suggest that rates of allergy to these two preservatives are now nearing 10 per cent – and in some cases higher.’’
The hundreds of people seen by specialists were likely to be the ‘‘tip of the iceberg’’, he said. ‘‘It’s very uncomfortable and very unpleasant and we’re seeing it occurring on the hands, face, all over.’’
It is possible to avoid products containing MI, but Orton said: ‘‘It’s so ubiquitous that it’s very hard to find shampoo or shower gel without it.’’
At the annual conference of the British Association of Dermatologists, he said he would call for a ban. ‘‘The last time a preservative had this type of effect, it was banned by the EU.’’
Industry representatives said they would be happy to discuss concerns but saw no case for a ban as their data did not show a serious issue. But Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association director general Chris Flower said: ‘‘Human safety is the cosmetic industry’s No 1 priority – in fact, it is the law. Every cosmetic product must undergo a rigorous safety assessment before it is placed on the market.’’
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