The International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2007) reported that 12.2 percent of individuals interviewed claimed adverse effects with cosmetic or toiletry products. Since that report, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held consumer webinars on reporting bad reactions from cosmetic products and ingredients.
Unfortunately, cosmetic products and ingredients do not undergo approval by FDA, except for color additives. One of the ways that FDA monitors the safety of these products is from consumer complaints about bad reactions.
The items falling under cosmetic products and ingredients include makeup, fragrances, skin care, shaving items, hair products, manicuring preparations, oral hygiene and suntan preparations. Skin irritation represents the main harmful effect, but allergic reactions causing extreme distress with an emergency room visit can occur on rare occasions.
Research shows the main culprits consist of soap, facial creams, deodorant, shampoo and eye shadow for women (DeGroot et al., 2007). Men complain about problems with soap, aftershave, deodorant and shower foam. Reactions to the products occur most frequently on the face, followed by the hands and under arm areas.
Skin level reactions are not the only adversity. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found “bath salts” that are used for relaxing soak have moved to a designer drug status with oral ingestion or intravenous injection. This substance produces a stimulant or amphetamine-like reaction and individuals present to the emergency room with signs of acute overdose.
Loose powders contain mineral ingredient and some marketed with mineral in the title of the product (Yang & Katta, 2010). The brands include popular makeup names like Cover Girl, L’Oreal, Maybelline, Neutrogena, etc. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found preservatives and fragrances produce the most reactions in the makeup. The ingredients producing the most reactions include fragrance, potassium dichromate, colophony and quaternium-15, a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Read the ingredients and use products free of these substances.
The FDA requests consumers report any reactions on cosmetic products and ingredients via the Web at www.fda.gov/medwatch. Otherwise, phone the FDA Medwatch program at 1-800-332-1088. The information goes into a database of negative reactions. Experts use the information to determine if the product presents a public health concern. Reporting bad reactions identifies injuries among product types.
References
deGroot, A.C., Nater, J.P., vanderLender, R. and Rijcken, B. (2007) Adverse effects of cosmetics and toiletries: a retrospective study in the general population. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 9(6): 255-259.
Emergency department visits after use of a drug sold as “bath salts” – Michigan, November 13, 2010 (2011) Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Reporter, 60:624-627.
Yang, Ming & Katta, Rajani. (2010) Mineral makeup and its potential utility in patients with contact dermatitis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 62(3):519-522.