LAUSR

Allergen Concerns and Popular Skin Care Products To the Editor We read with great interest the Original Investigation by Xu et al titled “Consumer Preferences, Product Characteristics, and Potentially Allergenic Ingredients in Best-Selling Moisturizers”1 and published in a recent issue of JAMA Dermatology. In discussions with dermatology colleagues regarding this article,1 we noticed another disturbing marketing trend: the labeling of skin care products marketed for babies. In our experience, patients often consider baby skin care products to be safer and gentler. However, when we reviewed a sampling of popular adult skin care products compared with their counterparts marketed for babies, we found some surprising cases of misleading labeling. For example, when comparing Vaseline original petroleum jelly to Vaseline baby petroleum jelly, the difference between the 2 products—besides the fact that Vaseline baby petroleum jelly has a pink label with the word “hypoallergenic” on it—is that Vaseline baby petroleum jelly contains fragrance while Vaseline original does not. When comparing a product such as Aveeno baby daily moisture lotion to the counterpart marketed for adults (Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion), they contained identical potential allergens. A study published in 20162 performed a systematic review of patch test results in children and adolescents with dermatitis and found that the top 5 most common allergens in children were nickel, thimerosal, cobalt, fragrance, and lanolin. Yet, we found that many popular baby products contain lanolin, including Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant, as well as many nipple skin protectants (which easily come into contact with a baby’s skin). In addition, many baby moisturizers, such as Johnson’s baby lotion; Cetaphil baby daily lotion with organic calendula, sweet almond oil, and sunflower oil; and Aveeno baby calming comfort lotion contain fragrance. We think it is important to discuss with parents and patients that baby moisturizing products can differ in allergenicity and irritancy. We are curious to know if Xu et al saw any difference in the price of moisturizer products in their data when it comes to labeling skin care products marketed for babies or “approved for pediatric use.”