Skin Allergies Are Increasing – Also in children
Emése Inèz Hogestijn
Summery
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Skin allergies are among the most common chronic conditions in Europe and develop through repeated exposure rather than being present at birth.
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Babies and young children are more vulnerable because their skin barrier is still developing.
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There are more baby products that contain perfume than those that do not.
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Symptoms of contact allergy typically appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure, making the cause difficult to identify.
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Prevention starts with ingredient awareness, reducing unnecessary exposure, and choosing products that have been independently assessed for allergens.
Do you know someone with a skin allergy? Chances are you do. Skin allergies are among the most common chronic conditions in Europe and can develop at a young age. They are not present at birth but arise through repeated exposure to allergenic substances in everyday life (1).
“In Europe, there are more baby products that contain perfume than those that do not.”
Our skin is more than a protective layer. It is an active organ that plays an essential role in the immune system. In babies and young children, the skin barrier is still developing, making it more vulnerable to substances that come into repeated contact with it (2).
The skin comes into daily contact with ingredients from common products such as laundry detergents, soap, shampoo, creams, and wet wipes. European research shows that there are more baby products with perfume than without. This also applies to products marketed as ‘gentle’, ‘sensitive’, or ‘mild’.
Repeated exposure increases the likelihood that the immune system will recognise these substances as harmful. This can lead to contact allergy, with symptoms often appearing 24 to 48 hours later, making the cause difficult to identify (1).
The consequences of early exposure became evident with the rise in allergies to the preservative methylisothiazolinone (MI). This substance was widely used for years in baby wipes and personal care products and led to a clear increase in skin allergies in children before stricter European regulation was introduced (4).
Prevention therefore plays a key role. By critically reviewing ingredients, limiting the number of products used, and choosing products that have been independently assessed for allergens, unnecessary exposure can be reduced. This is not about perfection, but about making conscious choices, especially while the skin is still developing.
Sources
1. Johansen, J. D., Aalto-Korte, K., Agner, T., et al. (2021). Contact allergy: A review of current problems from a clinical perspective. Contact Dermatitis, 85(1), 1–17.
2. Simonsen, A. B., Johansen, J. D., Deleuran, M., et al. (2017). Children with atopic dermatitis may have unrecognized contact allergies. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 31(3), 428–436.
3. Low, K. Y., & Wallace, M. (2019). Prevalence of potential contact allergens in baby cosmetic products. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 44(4), 411–413. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.13767
- European Commission. (2017). Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1410 on methylisothiazolinone in cosmetic products. Official Journal of the European Union.
