Health researchers have warned parents about a popular baby product that they use - baby wipes. While meant to reduce rashes and itchiness in infants and toddlers, using baby wipes may actually cause acute dermatitis - itchy, scaly, red rashes that can continue up to many months.
In a new study published in the Jan. 13 online issue of Pediatrics, researchers argued that methylisothiazolinone (MI), a preservative found in many baby wipes sold in the U.S., can cause acute dermatitis. In their report, the researchers described six children in the U.S. whose allergies were confirmed with MI patch tests and were cleared up in as little as two days when the parents stopped using baby wipes.
"The rashes were proven to be caused by the preservative by patch testing, a method of putting various substances on the skin using a sticker-like sample, and seeing how the skin reacts," said Mary Chang, an associate clinical professor of dermatology and pediatrics at the University of Connecticut (UC) School of Medicine in Farmington who co-authored the study with UC medical student Radhika Nakrani. "The offending preservative was then found in the brands of the wipes that were used. Most importantly, the rashes immediately resolved within days after I instructed the parents to stop using the wipes, and these were rashes that were going on for many weeks to many months."
The six cases involved two brands of wipes, Huggies and Cottenelle, which contain the preservative MI. "This preservative is not new," said 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."
Kimberly-Clark Corp., manufacturer of both Huggies and Cottenelle, said that it is taking steps to address 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. "We have been evaluating alternative preservative options over the past few years, and are now ready to confirm that, beginning this month, Kimberly-Clark will start introducing new wet wipes that are MI-free across its entire product range in the U.S., Canada, Europe and other global markets."
