Preservative used in cosmetics is linked to an ‘epidemic’ of skin allergies

The preservative methylisothiazolinone (MI) is used in a wide range of shampoos, moisturisers, make-up and wipes.

Johnson & Johnson confirmed it has reformulated its Piz Buin
one day long suncream to remove MI.

The BBC’s Watchdog programme said it had heard from 150 consumers after first reporting on allergic reactions to the Piz Buin product earlier this year.

Dermatologist Dr Ian White, from St Thomas’s Hospital in London, told the programme that MI was one of two potential causes of the reactions. Watchdog viewers reported “extreme” reactions to the product, with symptoms such as bright red tiny bumps, fluid-filled lumps on the skin, blisters, itchy eyes, and in one case a severely swollen face.

Dr White told Watchdog: “The frequency of reactions to MI is unprecedented in my experience. We’ve never seen anything quite like it. It is a new phenomenon, and at this present time there is no suggestion that we have reached the top of that frequency or that it is starting to drop.

“Contact allergy to this permitted preservative is now of epidemic proportions.”

Earlier this year, the British Association of Dermatologists presented research highlighting their concerns about “a new epidemic” of allergies to MI and another preservative methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI).

Researchers at St John’s Institute of Dermatology at St Thomas’s Hospital reported a rise in cases from one in 2010 to 33 in 2012.

David Orton, president of the British Society of Cutaneous Allergy, said: “Across the large patch test centres in the UK, data suggest that rates of allergy to these two preservatives are now nearing 10 per cent –- and in some cases higher. This is clearly far too high and is an unacceptable situation.

“The last time a preservative had this type of effect it was banned by the EU. Although the relevant bodies in Europe have set up a review this all takes time. In the meantime the number of people coming to see us with this allergy is only likely to rise.”

Dr John McFadden, consultant dermatologist at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, said: “The time for action is now. We are in the midst of an outbreak of allergy to a preservative (MI) which we have not seen before in terms of scale in our lifetime.”