title: Preservatives in moisturizers on the Swedish market.
abstract: The presence of 9 common preservatives was investigated in 100 moisturizers by high-performance liquid chromatography. According to the manufacturers/suppliers 88 of the 100 moisturizers contained at least one of the 9 preservatives. This information was erroneous in 9 cases (10.2%). When the moisturizers were investigated for the presence of the 9 preservatives which should not be present in the moisturizers according to the manufacturers/suppliers, at least one of the preservatives was detected in 17 moisturizers (17.0%). Parabens were the most common preservatives. The concentrations of the 9 preservatives did not exceed the maximum concentrations allowed in cosmetics. When a patient with suspected allergic contact dermatitis tests positively to a preservative, the assessment of present clinical relevance requires demonstration of exposure to the sensitizer. This demonstration cannot rely solely on information on the packages or from the manufacturers/suppliers but has often to be supplemented by chemical analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gruvberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruze
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tammela
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000032:analysis*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010226:Parabens / Q000032:analysis*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000032:analysis*; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D010226:Parabens; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical