TOPLINE:
METHODOLOGY:
- Many baby cleansers are marketed as “hypoallergenic,” but these claims are not validated.
- This study assessed the potential allergens and marketing claims in best-selling baby cleansers.
- The researchers collected ingredients and marketing claims of the top 50 best-selling baby body wash products sold on Amazon on April 4, 2023.
- Ingredient lists were checked for potential allergens using the 2020 American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) core allergen series, which lists 90 common allergens for adults and children.
TAKEAWAY:
- In the 50 cleansers tested, 10 allergens were identified. Overall, 94% of the cleansers contained at least one allergen, averaging 2.9 allergens per product; cocamidopropyl betaine (72%), fragrance (64%), and sodium benzoate (54%) were the most common allergens.
- All cleansers had at least five marketing claims, with an average of 10.9 claims per product; the most common claims were “paraben-free” (88%), “phthalate-free” (84%), “tear-free” (74%), and “hypoallergenic” or “allergy-tested” (74%).
- There was no significant difference in the number of allergens in the cleansers marketed as “hypoallergenic” or “allergy tested” compared with cleansers that did not have these claims (P = .843).
- Fewer allergens were found in cleansers endorsed by the National Eczema Association (P = .004) or labeled “synthetic fragrance-free” (P = .003).
- There was a positive correlation between a greater number of allergens and an increased number of marketing claims (r = 0.547, P < .001) and a negative correlation between cost and number of allergens (r = −0.450, P = .001).
IN PRACTICE:
Because marketing claims like “hypoallergenic” may be misleading, “clinicians should counsel parents to carefully examine cleanser ingredients or consider selecting cleansers” endorsed by the National Eczema Association or another international eczema organization, especially for infants and children with a history of atopic dermatitis, the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
The study, led by Sasan D. Noveir, BA, from the University of California, Los Angeles, and coauthors from the division of dermatology at UCLA, was published online in Pediatric Dermatology.
LIMITATIONS:
The study only evaluated top-selling products from a single online source at a specific time, which may limit generalizability. Potential allergens not included in the ACDS core series may be present.
DISCLOSURES:
The study did not disclose any funding source. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.