Toxic Beauty: Methylisothiazolinone

From blisters and fluid filled lumps, to itchy eyes and a severely swollen face, allergic reactions and contact dermatitis are two unsightly skin conditions we all want to avoid, but what if the beauty products that we are applying to our face and body on a daily basis, are actually increasing the incidence of developing these painful skin sensitivities? 

Methylisothiazolinone or MI/MIT, is a powerful biocide and preservative added to cosmetics, toiletries and house-hold products in order to prevent the growth of bacteria and yeast. Although its pathogenic fighting properties may sound beneficial, this particular ingredient is in fact the chemical irritant responsible for an increase in severe skin reactions including allergies, and contact dermatitis. 

Despite associations such as The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and The British Society of Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA) issuing warnings of a potential contact allergy epidemic as a result of MI, and numerous requests for the harsh irritant to be removed from beauty products, MIT has currently only been banned from moisturizers and skin creams by the EU, and NOT wash off products such as cleansers, shower gel, shaving foam and leave in hair treatments. In fact, after doing extensive research on methylisothiazolinone, I was shocked to learn that a variety of our trusted high street brands continue to sell products containing this irritant ingredient, providing the consumer with blemish fighting and sensitive facial scrubs and washes, hair products, and body wash which all have the potential to develop a severe skin reaction in those with, and without, skin sensitivities.

Although the majority of beauty and cosmetic products are bursting with chemicals and preservatives guaranteed to increase the incidence of a skin reaction to a degree, dermatologists expect a potential cosmetic induced allergy to increase from an acceptable 1-2% to an alarming 10% when MI is involved. Considering an estimated 1 in 12 adults, and 1 in 5 children in the UK already suffer with eczema of which contact dermatitis is one of the most common forms, products containing MIT not only have the potential to deteriorate those with established skin sensitivities, but increase the number of cases drastically.

I don't know about you guys, but I am all for raising awareness in order to ensure that methylisothiazolinone is banned from the beauty products we trust.