ALLERGENIC INGREDIENTS IN NAIL POLISHES

It has been known since the 1940s that nail polishes contain allergeni c ingredients. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the nail p olishes on the market today contain significant amounts of allergens, and what the solvents are. The following ingredients were determined: toluene, toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resins, free formaldehyde, a crylates, methacrylates and certain organic solvents. The study compri sed 20 brands and 42 samples. All the nail polishes analysed contained allergenic toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resins (TSFR), in concent rations from 0.08 to 11.0%. The concentration of total formaldehyde va ried from 0.02% to 0.5%. The more TSFR a nail polish contained, the hi gher was its formaldehyde content. Probably not only TSFR-allergic but also formaldehyde-allergic persons may get dermatitis from many of th e nail polishes studied. The concentrations of acrylates and methacryl ates were so small that they are of practical significance only to tho se previously sensitized to acrylates. Of the organic solvents, toluen e was still widely used, whereas xylene was found in only 1 product. T he nail polishes on the market today are not safe for all consumers. H owever, according to the regulations of the European Union, the packag ing labeling of all cosmetic products must be supplied with a list of ingredients from the beginning of 1998. This will help the consumer to avoid allergenic products. A better alternative could, however, be to substitute the most allergenic ingredients with substances possessing minor allergy potency. (C) Munksgaard, 1997.