Fragrance allergens in cosmetic products marketed for children in Denmark
Sofia Botvid, Anne Birgitte Simonsen, Claus Jørgensen, Stine Müller, Christel Søgaard Kirkeby, Anne Beck Christensen, Jeanne Duus Johansen
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fragrances are among the most common contact allergens in children. Cosmetic products are the most frequent source of skin exposure. OBJECTIVE: To investigate exposure to fragrance allergens among Danish children, based on a sample of 1179 cosmetic products marketed for children. METHODS: Information regarding cosmetic products marketed to children was obtained using a non-profit smartphone application registry, with data from December 2015 to November 2022. RESULTS: The number of validated products was 26 537, of which 1349 marketed for children. After elimination of duplicates, 1179 (4.4%) individual products remained. The majority 53.8% (634/1179) of the products were fragranced. The highest frequency of declared fragrances was found in 'Facial care'-products: 93.0% (80/86), of which 97.7% were lip balms. The highest number of labelled fragrances in one single product (n = 16) was found in a baby perfume. Fragrance mix I (FMI) or II (FMII) allergens were found in 25.3% (298/1179) of the products. Limonene and linalool were the two most frequently labelled fragrance allergens. CONCLUSION: Children can be exposed to a vast number of fragrance allergens from scented cosmetic products. Allergens from FM I and FMII are widely used in cosmetic products marketed to children. Patch testing with FMI and FMII remains relevant in children.