Current frequency of contact allergy to isothiazolinones (methyl-, benz- and octylisothiazolinone) across Europe
(2024) In Contact Dermatitis 91(4). p.271-277- Abstract
Background: The use of methylisothiazolinone (MI) as a preservative in cosmetic products caused an alarming increase in MI contact allergy across Europe in the 2010s. This was followed by regulations of use with a total ban on leave-on (implemented in 2017) and reduced use concentrations in rinse-off cosmetics (2018). Objective: To follow-up on the prevalence of contact allergy to MI and the related benzisothiazolinone (BIT) and octylisothiazolinone (OIT) in consecutively patch-tested patients in Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional audit following the design of two previous audits on MI contact allergy from 1 May 2022 to 31 October 2022 included all patients patch tested with the European baseline series, including or supplemented with... (More)
Background: The use of methylisothiazolinone (MI) as a preservative in cosmetic products caused an alarming increase in MI contact allergy across Europe in the 2010s. This was followed by regulations of use with a total ban on leave-on (implemented in 2017) and reduced use concentrations in rinse-off cosmetics (2018). Objective: To follow-up on the prevalence of contact allergy to MI and the related benzisothiazolinone (BIT) and octylisothiazolinone (OIT) in consecutively patch-tested patients in Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional audit following the design of two previous audits on MI contact allergy from 1 May 2022 to 31 October 2022 included all patients patch tested with the European baseline series, including or supplemented with MI, BIT and OIT across 10 departments in eight European countries. Results: A total of 2554 patients were consecutively patch tested with the three isothiazolinones during the study period. The prevalence of MI and BIT contact allergy was 2.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3%–3.7%; range 1.1%–5.8%) and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.4%–3.9%; range 0.0%–6.6%), respectively; that of OIT was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.4%–1.1%; range 0%–3.2%). Rinse-off cosmetic (73.3%) and leave-on cosmetic products (13.3%) were still associated with eliciting allergic contact dermatitis to MI. Conclusion: We confirmed a positive impact of regulatory measures on the prevalence of MI contact allergy in Europe, which halved compared to 2015. However, our data suggest that consumers may still be exposed to older cosmetic products containing MI. BIT has superseded MI in causing contact allergy, despite not being allowed for use in cosmetic products.
(Less)
- author
- author collaboration
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-10
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- benzisothiazolinone, CAS nr. 2634-33-5, CAS nr. 26530-20-1, CAS nr. 2682-20-4, clinical epidemiology, contact allergy, exposure, methylisothiazolinone, octylisothiazolinone, RRID:SCR_001905, surveillance
- in
- Contact Dermatitis
- volume
- 91
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 7 pages
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39021255
- scopus:85198938154
- ISSN
- 0105-1873
- DOI
- 10.1111/cod.14641
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ac4b6fbb-4439-459c-8583-3d8130af0416
- date added to LUP
- 2024-11-28 12:09:32
- date last changed
- 2025-01-23 19:03:18
@article{ac4b6fbb-4439-459c-8583-3d8130af0416,
abstract = {{<p>Background: The use of methylisothiazolinone (MI) as a preservative in cosmetic products caused an alarming increase in MI contact allergy across Europe in the 2010s. This was followed by regulations of use with a total ban on leave-on (implemented in 2017) and reduced use concentrations in rinse-off cosmetics (2018). Objective: To follow-up on the prevalence of contact allergy to MI and the related benzisothiazolinone (BIT) and octylisothiazolinone (OIT) in consecutively patch-tested patients in Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional audit following the design of two previous audits on MI contact allergy from 1 May 2022 to 31 October 2022 included all patients patch tested with the European baseline series, including or supplemented with MI, BIT and OIT across 10 departments in eight European countries. Results: A total of 2554 patients were consecutively patch tested with the three isothiazolinones during the study period. The prevalence of MI and BIT contact allergy was 2.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3%–3.7%; range 1.1%–5.8%) and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.4%–3.9%; range 0.0%–6.6%), respectively; that of OIT was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.4%–1.1%; range 0%–3.2%). Rinse-off cosmetic (73.3%) and leave-on cosmetic products (13.3%) were still associated with eliciting allergic contact dermatitis to MI. Conclusion: We confirmed a positive impact of regulatory measures on the prevalence of MI contact allergy in Europe, which halved compared to 2015. However, our data suggest that consumers may still be exposed to older cosmetic products containing MI. BIT has superseded MI in causing contact allergy, despite not being allowed for use in cosmetic products.</p>}},
author = {{Schwensen, Jakob F.B. and Uter, Wolfgang and Aerts, Olivier and Agner, Tove and Brans, Richard and Bruze, Magnus and Foti, Caterina and Giménez-Arnau, Ana Maria and Gonçalo, Margarida and Svedman, Cecilia and Stingeni, Luca and Wilkinson, Mark and Johansen, Jeanne Duus}},
issn = {{0105-1873}},
keywords = {{benzisothiazolinone; CAS nr. 2634-33-5; CAS nr. 26530-20-1; CAS nr. 2682-20-4; clinical epidemiology; contact allergy; exposure; methylisothiazolinone; octylisothiazolinone; RRID:SCR_001905; surveillance}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{271--277}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Contact Dermatitis}},
title = {{Current frequency of contact allergy to isothiazolinones (methyl-, benz- and octylisothiazolinone) across Europe}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cod.14641}},
doi = {{10.1111/cod.14641}},
volume = {{91}},
year = {{2024}},
}