Contact sensitivity to emulsifiers

Abstract

Common emulsifiers were tested in over 1,200 patients with eczema. Triethanolamine stearate tested at 5% in petrolatum caused irritant reactions in 9.5% of the patients. On the other hand, non-ionic emulsifying agents tested at 10-20% produced irritation in only a few cases. Allergic reactions were found in 2.1% of those tested. Lanette, sorbitan sesquioleate, the Spans, polyoxyethylene oxypropylene stearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol lanolin derivative, and triethanolamine stearate each elicited allergic reactions in 0.3-0.7% of the cases. The Tweens caused an allergy in only two cases, but glycerol monostearate caused no reaction at all. Five out of six patients sensitive to sorbitan sesquioleate reacted positively to the Spans as well. The patients allergic to one or more emulsifiers were also sensitive to several other substances included in our routine test series with the exception of four patients who reacted only to the emulsifying agents.

Cosmetic allergy from stearic acid and glyceryl stearate

“…In the NACDG study (4), no patient was allergrc to rt. Of 1206 patients routinely tested wrth emulsifiers, none reacted to rt (5). Only 2 cases of cosmetrc allergy have been described.…”

Comparison of Marketed Cosmetic Products Constituents with the Antigens Included in Cosmetic-related Patch Test

“…In the event of suspected photo-contact dermatitis, it would be desirable to implement the photo patch test on these ingredients together. The vehicles, humectants, emollient, and emulsifier may also work as an antigen [29][30][31][32] . From the ingredients that are frequently used as the cosmetic product ingredient and may cause the ACD, the ingredients that are not included to the cosmetic series are petrolatum 30 , glycerin 33 , glycol (butylenes glycol, polyethylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol) 33,34 , lanolin 35 , castor oil 36,37 , propolis (bee-glue) 38,39 and others.…”

Anamneseauxilium und gewerbedermatologische Beurteilung bei medizinischen Bademeistern, Masseuren und Physiotherapeuten

“…Hinzu kommt regelmäßiger und intensiver Weitere Substanzen mit antimikrobieller Aktivität q Propylenglykol (Lösemittel mit antimikrobieller Aktivität) q Isopropylalkohol q 2-Propanol q Cetylstearylalkohol (Emulgator, mit leichter antimikrobieller Aktivität) q PPG-2-Methylether terscheiden. gering [11,25,58], genauso wie deren irritative Wirkung bei den in kosmetischen Präparaten zu verwendeten Konzentrationen. Dieser Effekt spielt insbesondere bei Badeölen eine Rolle.…”