Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common non-communicable skin diseases, affecting up to 20-30 % of children and 2-8 % of adults worldwide. Patient education, self-care (bathing, washing and use of emollients), identification and avoidance of triggers that cause worsening of skin changes in patients is extremely important in disease control, as avoiding the latter can prolong the inactive phase and prevent symptoms.
The choice of care product depends on the choice of the individual. It is important to be effective, safe, hypoallergenic. In addition to contact allergens, the most common causes of contact hypersensitivity are fragrances, preservatives, dyes and other additives in cosmetics.
Emollients are a major source in the long-term treatment of AD. With proper and regular use of the latter, we successfully control atopic dermatitis. Therefore, it is important that the pharmacist in pharmacy gives proper and good advice to patient on cosmetic products for skin that is prone to atopy.
In our thesis we selected 113 cosmetic products that are available in pharmacies and are suitable for atopic skin care. Cosmetic products (CP) were divided into rinse-off and leave-on products-. In addition, we further divided them into CP for children under the age of three (infants), CP for children above the age of three and adults.
We first reviewed and described the active ingredients as they are very important in atopic skin care. We graphically displayed the presence of the most common emollients, humectants and occlusives (found in at least 6 CP). We focused on the contents of preservatives, fragrances and dyes, which are listed in Annex of Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. By using the literature and toxicological data we assessed the safety of the most common excipients in our cosmetic products.
We found out that 51,3 % of our selected CP contain at least one of the officially permitted preservatives. About half of them are for baby skin care. 39.8 % of our selected CP do not contain any permitted preservative, and each contains at least one of the alternative preservatives. Preservatives are generally, safe, caution should be taken only on phenoxyethanol and application to the nappy area in infants.
In the examinated CP, 67,3 % of them do not contain any fragrance and 32,7 % of them does. We can summarize that fragrances used in our examinated products are safe. Special care should be taken for fragrances who can form oxidized products, for cosmetic products containing several fragrances at the same time and also for fragrances labeled with the word parfum or aroma.
5 % of our examinated cosmetic products contain dyes. One cosmetic product is intended for the care of adult skin and 5 CP (4.4 %) are intended for the care of infants (all of them are rinse off products).
In our thesis, we confirmed that CP available in pharmacies for atopic skin care are safe for the users and contain very few allergenic fragrances, preservatives and dyes.
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