The daily use of methylisothiazolinone as a preservative in cosmetic products has spread and increased contact allergy cases to near epidemic levels. This was the main topic addressed at the 12th Congress of the European Society of Cutaneous Allergy and Contact Dermatitis (ESCD), chaired by Dr. Anna M. Giménez Arnau, dermatologist and member of Top Doctors. The main objective of the congress was to better understand the problem of contact dermatitis in order to find solutions and offer better protection to the user.
Contact dermatitis can be caused by agents that come into contact with the skin. Soaps, creams, fragrances or wipes include methylisothiazolinone in sufficient quantity to induce contact sensitization. According to Dr. Giménez Arnau, contact dermatitis is a disease of great social impact, although it is not a priori life-threatening, “it interferes in the quality of life of the affected persons and in the activity they carry out, since it prevents the use of commonly used products”. Of occupational contact dermatitis, 25% are allergic and the rest are irritant, the doctor points out.
Impact of the disease
The impact suffered by the patient with this disease is very high. When dermatoses appear as a result of professional activity, there is often a need to change jobs to improve health. In the case of protein contact dermatoses, eczema is suffered by workers who handle, for example, animals or food and in humid conditions. For Dr. Giménez Arnau, “it is essential to know the origin of each of the problems and join efforts to identify preventive measures, in addition to having sufficient regulation to avoid the risky use of products known as allergens or irritating products”.