Do hypoallergenic skin care products contain fewer potential contact allergens?

Personal care products (PCPs) commonly cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Skincare companies often market their products as 'hypoallergenic' however this term is not regulated by industry standards. To determine whether PCPs marketed as hypoallergenic were truly less likely to precipitate ACD, we conducted a study of ingredients found in 'hypoallergenic PCPs' across two major UK retailers in 2022. Of 208 products meeting inclusion criteria, 153 (74%) contained at least one allergen or related chemical from the BSCA (British Society for Cutaneous Allergy) baseline series, 21 (10%) had two potential allergens and 4 PCPs (2%) had three allergens. Cetearyl alcohol was the commonest allergen identified in leave-on PCPs and parabens in rinse-off products; fragrance was the most frequent related chemical found in 85 PCPs (41%). A high prevalence of common allergens was found in hypoallergenic PCPs, suggesting that dermatologists and consumers should be cautious of product ingredients.