Three quarters of the 16 nappy creams tested have been found to contain ingredients that could irritate babies’ sensitive skin or worsen diaper rash, Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has found.
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The Consumer Council’s latest report, released on Monday, revealed that 75 per cent of the tested products – ranging between HK$52 (US$7) and HK$218 – contained one or two categories of ingredients, including fragrances, essential oils or plant extracts that may contain terpenes, preservatives, and propylene glycol, that were of concern.
“Fragrances and fragrance allergens can cause allergic contact dermatitis, and frequent or repeated exposure could increase the chance of allergic reactions,” the council said, noting that infants were particularly vulnerable due to their thinner skin and higher body surface area-to-weight ratio.
Among the 16 products, Weleda baby’s Nappy Change Cream (Calendula) from Germany contained the highest number of fragrances and fragrance allergens, including parfum, limonene, linalool, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, geraniol and farnesol.
Two products were found to have contained two categories of ingredients of concern each. The cheapest, Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream, from Bulgaria, priced at HK$52 for 152 grams, was found to contain lavender fragrance and propylene glycol, while Baby Sebamed’s Diaper Rash Cream, from Germany, included parfum and phenoxyethanol.
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The French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety had previously stated that products used in the diaper area for infants should not contain phenoxyethanol.
A Polish study also indicated that propylene glycol frequently caused irritant contact dermatitis in young children and recommended that products with this ingredient should not be used on children under 2 years old.