Baby Wipes Skin Reaction? Chemical Found in Wet Wipes Causing Irritations
A new study is warning of the possible allergic reactions that some children are experiencing after using common wet wipes
A recent study in the journal Pediatrics highlighted the growing number of cases involving children having a severe reaction to a preservative called methylisothiazolinone (MI) found in many wet wipes. Contact with the skin can lead to dermatitis – a localized rash or irritation of the skin, CBC News reported.
"Dermatitis of the perianal, buttock, facial, and hand areas with a history of wet wipe use should raise suspicion of [acute contact dermatitis] to MI and prompt appropriate patch testing," wrote Dr. Mary Chang and Radhika Nakrani of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
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The researchers investigated six cases in the United States between March 2011 and January 2013. The children in the study were between the ages of 3 and 8 and none were wearing diapers. The cases involved Huggies and Cottenelle brand wipes.
Both brands, which are manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Corp., contain a well-known and widely used preservative called methylisothiazolinone (MI), a chemical that is thought to be used in nearly half of all the wet wipes sold in the United States.
"This preservative is not new," wrote Chang. "But it was used as a combination preservative for many years. To try to minimize allergic reactions, it is now being used as a single preservative but in higher concentrations, and now people are developing allergic rashes to the new formulation."
A Kimberly-Clark official said the company is taking action to correct the problem.
"While our wipe products remain safe for use, we recognize that recent studies have raised concerns about the use of MI as a preservative ingredient," said company spokesman Bob Brand.
Researchers believe that as the popularity of wet wipes spreads so will these types of problems given the varied makeup of consumers as well as the manufactures use of increased concentration of MI. They advise consumers to read product labels carefully and to contact a medical professional should a rash develop.
