Children and allergy to cosmetics

Children and allergy to the contents of cosmetics

Earlier there were no cases of children being allergic to the contents of cosmetics, merely because children did not use cosmetics, apart from soap and shampoo.

 

This has changed: even young children now use cosmetics. This is illustrated by the many specially designed products on the market bearing the name of popular cartoon figures or toys. Teenagers use much the same products as adults regarding hair products, deodorants and perfumes.

Perfume, preservatives and sun-protection agents

The growth in this area is reflected by the number of children with allergies. A study from Odense (Denmark) of 1000 schoolchildren aged 12–16 years found that 2.1% of the boys and 1.6% of the girls were allergic to perfume. The similar occurrence of perfume allergy in boys and girls shows that boys nowadays, as opposed to earlier, use perfumes to the same extent as do girls.

A study of the occurrence of allergies among Danish eczema patients showed at least a doubling of perfume allergy across all age groups, including children.

Preservatives are added to most cosmetics in order to limit the growth of micro-organisms. Nearly all preservatives are allergenic to some extent. In children, allergy to preservatives occurs less frequently than perfume allergy. This is illustrated in a study from Odense of schoolchildren where 0.5% were allergic to preservatives. Sun-protection agents, which are used in sun creams, can also cause allergies. At one time this was a relatively frequent problem; however, the most allergenic constituents have now been removed and, today, allergies caused by sunscreens are rare.

Symptoms

With allergies caused by the contents of cosmetics, the skin is red, with spots or bumps, or blisters. The symptoms appear first on the area of skin where the product was used, but may later spread. With allergy to sunscreens, the symptoms appear on the areas exposed to the sun. In some people the symptoms will ease when the product is no longer used, but in others, the eczema may continue. Childhood hand eczema, particularly if severe, may have repercussions for later employment, making taking up some jobs involving the hands impossible. People who have eczema run a high risk of developing allergies; therefore, they should not use perfumed products on areas with eczema.

Perfume allergens in cosmetic products

A number of studies on cosmetic products for young children show that these products contain allergenic fragrances, albeit less often and in smaller amounts than in similar products for adults. Most cosmetic products for adults contain allergenic fragrances, particularly perfumes and deodorants; older children use these products too. Perfume allergy has been in focus for several years and this had led to legislation to limit the use of fragrance allergens and to make it mandatory to include the name of any allergen in a product on the list of ingredients. It is hoped that these initiatives will reduced the incidence of perfume allergy in both adults and children.

This article appeared in the journal "Astma-Allergi bladet"