Current frequency of contact allergy to isothiazolinones (methyl-, benz- and octylisothiazolinone) across Europe
Schwensen JF, Uter W, Aerts O, Agner T, Brans R, Bruze M, Foti C, Giménez-Arnau AM, Gonçalo M, Svedman C, Stingeni L, Wilkinson M, Johansen JD (2024)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2024
Journal
DOI: 10.1111/cod.14641
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 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 BIT has superseded MI in causing contact allergy, despite not being allowed for use in cosmetic products.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Gentofte Hospital
Denmark (DK)
Hospital Network Antwerp / Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen (ZNA)
Belgium (BE)
Bispebjerg Hospital
Denmark (DK)
Universität Osnabrück
Germany (DE)
Lund University / Lunds universitet
Sweden (SE)
University of Bari Aldo Moro / Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
Italy (IT)
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain (ES)
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC)
Portugal (PT)
Università degli Studi di Perugia
Italy (IT)
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
United Kingdom (GB)
Denmark (DK)
Hospital Network Antwerp / Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen (ZNA)
Belgium (BE)
Bispebjerg Hospital
Denmark (DK)
Universität Osnabrück
Germany (DE)
Lund University / Lunds universitet
Sweden (SE)
University of Bari Aldo Moro / Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro
Italy (IT)
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain (ES)
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC)
Portugal (PT)
Università degli Studi di Perugia
Italy (IT)
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
United Kingdom (GB)
How to cite
APA:
Schwensen, J.F., Uter, W., Aerts, O., Agner, T., Brans, R., Bruze, M.,... Johansen, J.D. (2024). Current frequency of contact allergy to isothiazolinones (methyl-, benz- and octylisothiazolinone) across Europe. Contact Dermatitis. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.14641
MLA:
Schwensen, Jakob F.B., et al. "Current frequency of contact allergy to isothiazolinones (methyl-, benz- and octylisothiazolinone) across Europe." Contact Dermatitis (2024).
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