Acquired allergy to preservatives - isothiazolinones, including methylisothiazolinone (MI)

[Sly Saint]

Mod note: content not relevant to this split thread has been greyed - split from Fragrance Sensitivity


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Looking for good suggestions on how to get the fragrances etc out. I end up re-washing 4 or 5 times, one time with white vinegar. But even all this doesnt fully get rid of it.

Manufacturers add sticking chemicals to the fragrances which make them bond closely with cloth. The fragrances themselves are made from the sweet smelling part of petroleum—bad for everyone. This part includes benzene, a known carcinogen, among other chemicals. In the U S A any product labelled a fragrance gets a free pass from the potential testing and scrutiny of the govt—afterall, we all “know” that fragrances are harmless, pleasant things, right?

Soak in a solution of warm water and soda crystals for a few hours. Wash as usual in 30 degree wash. Repeat if necessary.

I mainly came to this thread because, although I am sensitive to some perfumes ie they give me migraines etc.

I also get allergic skin reactions. But what I have recently discovered rather dramatically is that the major allergen that I have become sensitised to, possibly over years, are the preservatives

• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT / MI)
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT / MCI)
• Benzisothiazolinone (BIT)

Preservatives: MIT, CMIT, and BIT (What to Know)

Learn what MIT, CMIT, and BIT preservatives are, why they’re linked to sensitization, what regulations restrict in cosmetics, and what we use instead.

www.commongoodandco.com

They are in nearly all liquid laundry detergents (and pods), washing up liquids, and many other cleaning products such as bath cleaners and glass cleaners.
Up until 2017 (I think) they were also in many other products.
There is loads of info on this. that's maybe not the best site to link to as people need to be aware that what they call 'safe alternatives' ie

• sodium benzoate
• phenoxyethanol

are not if you have sensitive skin.

I have spent several months now recovering from a severe allergic contact dermatitis and also eliminating all MIT/BIT products and hopefully residue.
Laundry POWDERs generally do not need or contain these particular preservatives.

The safest things I have now are :

Laundry cleaner :
I am currently using Ecover Zero non-bio POWDER (expensive and only available online), but have purchased some M&S non-bio Laundry Powder which is also fragrance free (available from Ocado) and apparently even better for sensitive skin.

Dri Pak liquid soap (brilliant stuff), non-diluted as heavy cleaner (eg baths), diluted with water for surface cleaning, washing up.
I also bought some Dri Pak soda crystals and add one tbsp to the laundry. They also have various cleaning uses, just need to be careful as they are very alkaline.

Something that is not widely known or understood is that 'sensitive' or 'for sensitive skin' on any product is purely marketing jargon. It means nothing. At best, with regards laundry detergent, it might indicate no enzymes (ie non-bio powder, but not necessarily non-bio liquid) but this doesn't make it safe for sensitive skin.
The term “non‑bio” only means no protease as the primary cleaning system, not “no enzymes at all”. Enzymes are highly sensitising.


WARNING: ECOVER Products
These may be 'better for the environment' but not necessarily good for sensitive skin.

ECOVER non-bio laundry liquid (contains amongst other things fragrance and SLS, and other known potential allergens)

Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Liquid - Ingredient Check UK

Product Overview Fragrance: Yes, Contains Fragrance Enzymes: No Parabens: No Optical Brighteners: No Sulfates: Yes Packaging: Plastic bottle IngredientCheck

ingredientcheck.co.uk

not to be confused with

ECOVER ZERO non-bio sensitive laundry liquid

they've changed the formula and it no longer contains preservatives
(previously had phenoxyethanol)

https://documents.alliancenational.co.uk/Products/ECOVER-Zero-Non-Bio-Sensitive-Laundry-Detergent---PI.pdf

BUT Contains:
Aqua, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Laureth-7, Alcohol denat., Potassium oleate, Sodium citrate, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Bio poly ethyleneglycol propyleneglycol oligo ester, Citric acid, Sodium hydroxide

SLS is a well known potential irritant.

From what I have learnt MIT/BIT and the other similar preservatives are insidious, in loads of products and can lurk in residues in fabrics for ages. Once you are sensitised there is no safe level. They are even in some paints, even vapour exposure from say cleaning sprays Any exposure can trigger dermatitis.

The tricky thing is reactions are delayed.

I hope this might help someone. Please ask if any questions. I've spent ages researching.

Just as a note to anyone trying to find out exact ingredients for any product there are Safety Data sheets which companies have to let you have if you request them and these will have all potential hazards and usually a full proper list of ingredients (not the very vague and incomplete ones on retailers websites).

eta:
from 2013
https://www.calmandclear.co.uk/ingredients-methylisothiazolinone-and-methylchloroisothiazolinone/

MI “contact allergen of the year” for 2013

 

[Sly Saint]

Looking for MI-free products?​

Your guide to methylisothiazolinone-free (MI-free) products

Once common in cosmetics, the preservative Methylisothiazolinone (MI) is now restricted in the UK due to allergy concerns. Find out how to check your labels and why our organic certification is your guarantee of MI-free skin care.

www.greenpeople.co.uk

A very low level of methylisothiazolinone is still permitted for use in rinse-off products; this very low level is generally well tolerated.

there should be a caveat because a) this is how sensitisation works ie regular low exposure. and b) once sensitised to an allergen, NO amount is 'safe'.

 

[CarolB]

Soak in a solution of warm water and soda crystals for a few hours. Wash as usual in 30 degree wash. Repeat if necessary.

I mainly came to this thread because, although I am sensitive to some perfumes ie they give me migraines etc.

I also get allergic skin reactions. But what I have recently discovered rather dramatically is that the major allergen that I have become sensitised to, possibly over years, are the preservatives

• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT / MI)
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT / MCI)
• Benzisothiazolinone (BIT)

Preservatives: MIT, CMIT, and BIT (What to Know)

Learn what MIT, CMIT, and BIT preservatives are, why they’re linked to sensitization, what regulations restrict in cosmetics, and what we use instead.

www.commongoodandco.com

They are in nearly all liquid laundry detergents (and pods), washing up liquids, and many other cleaning products such as bath cleaners and glass cleaners.
Up until 2017 (I think) they were also in many other products.
There is loads of info on this. that's maybe not the best site to link to as people need to be aware that what they call 'safe alternatives' ie

• sodium benzoate
• phenoxyethanol

are not if you have sensitive skin.

I have spent several months now recovering from a severe allergic contact dermatitis and also eliminating all MIT/BIT products and hopefully residue.
Laundry POWDERs generally do not need or contain these particular preservatives.

The safest things I have now are :

Laundry cleaner :
I am currently using Ecover Zero non-bio POWDER (expensive and only available online), but have purchased some M&S non-bio Laundry Powder which is also fragrance free (available from Ocado) and apparently even better for sensitive skin.

Dri Pak liquid soap (brilliant stuff), non-diluted as heavy cleaner (eg baths), diluted with water for surface cleaning, washing up.
I also bought some Dri Pak soda crystals and add one tbsp to the laundry. They also have various cleaning uses, just need to be careful as they are very alkaline.

Something that is not widely known or understood is that 'sensitive' or 'for sensitive skin' on any product is purely marketing jargon. It means nothing. At best, with regards laundry detergent, it might indicate no enzymes (ie non-bio powder, but not necessarily non-bio liquid) but this doesn't make it safe for sensitive skin.
The term “non‑bio” only means no protease as the primary cleaning system, not “no enzymes at all”. Enzymes are highly sensitising.


WARNING: ECOVER Products
These may be 'better for the environment' but not necessarily good for sensitive skin.

ECOVER non-bio laundry liquid (contains amongst other things fragrance and SLS, and other known potential allergens)

Ecover Non-Bio Laundry Liquid - Ingredient Check UK

Product Overview Fragrance: Yes, Contains Fragrance Enzymes: No Parabens: No Optical Brighteners: No Sulfates: Yes Packaging: Plastic bottle IngredientCheck

ingredientcheck.co.uk

not to be confused with

ECOVER ZERO non-bio sensitive laundry liquid

they've changed the formula and it no longer contains preservatives
(previously had phenoxyethanol)

https://documents.alliancenational.co.uk/Products/ECOVER-Zero-Non-Bio-Sensitive-Laundry-Detergent---PI.pdf

BUT Contains:
Aqua, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Laureth-7, Alcohol denat., Potassium oleate, Sodium citrate, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Bio poly ethyleneglycol propyleneglycol oligo ester, Citric acid, Sodium hydroxide

SLS is a well known potential irritant.

From what I have learnt MIT/BIT and the other similar preservatives are insidious, in loads of products and can lurk in residues in fabrics for ages. Once you are sensitised there is no safe level. They are even in some paints, even vapour exposure from say cleaning sprays Any exposure can trigger dermatitis.

The tricky thing is reactions are delayed.

I hope this might help someone. Please ask if any questions. I've spent ages researching.

Just as a note to anyone trying to find out exact ingredients for any product there are Safety Data sheets which companies have to let you have if you request them and these will have all potential hazards and usually a full proper list of ingredients (not the very vague and incomplete ones on retailers websites).

eta:
from 2013
https://www.calmandclear.co.uk/ingredients-methylisothiazolinone-and-methylchloroisothiazolinone/

I just came across this thread. I react to Isothiazolinones too (methylisothiazolinone, octylisothiazolinone, etc). My reactions are systemic, mast cell activation symptoms, especially to airborne MI from decorating paints/products and cleaning products, rather than the more common dermatological ones. I just wanted to mention that isothiazolinones are not always mentioned on safety data sheets. I’ve found this from experience. If in any doubt, the phrase to look for is ‘May cause allergic skin reaction’. This often hides the fact that the product, especially things such as house renovating materials, including paints, does contain MI. Always best to contact the manufacturer for confirmation. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for me, my reactions to isothiazolinones are so strong that I know as soon as the tin/packaging is opened whether the product contains them. Leather is often treated with octylisothiazolinone. I only need to hold a handbag, or put my foot in a shoe, to know.

If anyone with MCAS or ME reacts to seemingly random products and is unable to ascertain what exactly they’re reacting to, methylisothiazolinone (aka MI, MIT, Kathon), Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) or octylisothiazolinone, might be good starting points, as allergies to these chemicals are becoming increasingly prevalent. There are some good MI allergy groups on Facebook with helpful information.

 

[Sly Saint]

Warning to consumers as more than a third of ‘hypoallergenic’ products feature common allergens​

More than a third of personal care products marked as hypoallergenic on major online retailers have been found to contain common skin allergens, according to research being presented at the British Association of Dermatologists Annual Meeting in Liverpool (27th-29th June 2023).

“Our research suggests that some brands understate or downplay what constitutes a hypoallergenic product. There are various regulations governing marketing claims in the UK, however, many terms used to market personal care products aren’t clearly defined. Given the huge market for products suitable for sensitive skin, there is every incentive to stretch these terms to their limit. Clearer regulation or better enforcement of the existing rules is needed.

It is estimated that a fifth of the UK population may have allergic skin reactions to common environmental allergens. The percentage of people who report having sensitive skin is even higher, with one survey putting this at 71% of the population. As such, there is a big market for hypoallergenic products.

The most frequently encountered allergens were cetearyl alcohol and paraben mix, found in 42 (20%) and 37 (18%) of products, respectively. Other BSCA baseline series allergens identified included 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, lanolin, decyl glucoside, diazolidinyl urea, methylisothiazolinone, limonene and linalool.

While there are various regulations relating to marketing claims made by cosmetic products there is no official standard for what constitutes a hypoallergenic product in the UK.

Warning to consumers as more than a third of ‘hypoallergenic’ products feature common allergens

www.bad.org.uk

eta: other names this chemical goes by include

Methyl Isothiazolinones + methylchloro Isothiasolinone does go under various names FYI :2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.
5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.
Acticide
Algucid
Amerstat 250
Euxyl K 100
Fennosan IT 21
Grotan TK2
Kathon
Kathon CG
Mergal K7
Metatin GT
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone (MI)
Mitco CC 32 L

eta: these harmful preservatives cannot be present in a product that claims :

• no artificial preservatives
• no synthetic additives
• no artificial colours or fragrances

eta: what to be careful of. These preservatives are in nearly all liquid detergents. But many detergents call themselves 'soaps' eg pump bottle 'hand soap' is not soap. It must contain MI/MCI/BIT unless it uses phenoxyethanol or a similar alternative.

see also:https://allernote.com/learn/ingredients/methylisothiazolinone

useful site for finding MI free products: https://mi-free.com/about/

 

[Sly Saint]

I had a close call recently, a friend sent me flowers for my birthday.............they came with the base of the stems in a little bag of gel. I wasn't wearing gloves when taking them out, then spotted it. I'd only recently read that these damn preservatives are in those flower foods/gels, apparently it's a leading cause of ACD in florists. Ugh.

 

[Sly Saint]

phenoxyethanol

The Hidden Dangers of Phenoxyethanol in Your Skincare (You Probably Applied it Today)​

The Hidden Dangers of Phenoxyethanol in Your Skincare (You Probably Applied it Today)

As a certified organic skincare formulator with over a decade of experience, I've witnessed the ebb and flow of countless ingredients. But few have sparked as much internal conflict as phenoxyethanol. In my early training,

ohmightyhealth.com

 

[MeSci]

The Hidden Dangers of Phenoxyethanol in Your Skincare (You Probably Applied it Today)​

The Hidden Dangers of Phenoxyethanol in Your Skincare (You Probably Applied it Today)

As a certified organic skincare formulator with over a decade of experience, I've witnessed the ebb and flow of countless ingredients. But few have sparked as much internal conflict as phenoxyethanol. In my early training,

ohmightyhealth.com

Well, I didn't apply it - or anything else - and haven't for most of my life.

I know some people may need to, but I suspect that the vast majority don't need anything (other than perhaps sun protection, but I just avoid the hours between 1100 and 1500 during summer).

I worry about the huge range of unnecessary products resulting in terrible waste problems, and the energy needed to produce them.

 

[Sly Saint]

The Dangerous Myth of "Hypoallergenic" and "Green" Products
Because general literature positions "natural" or "eco-friendly" as synonymous with "safe," consumers are led to believe they are at zero risk. In reality, because isothiazolinones are highly effective biodegradable biocides, they became the go-to preservative for "green" or "plant-based" brands looking to avoid parabens. A consumer trying to find gentle products for their family is often unknowingly exposing themselves to maximum-strength sensitizing agents. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1684/ejd.2016.2951

Why This Matters for the Un-Sensitized
Every single time a person with perfectly healthy skin washes their hands with a MIT or BIT-preserved washing up liquid, or sleeps on sheets washed in an MI-preserved detergent, they are playing Russian roulette with their immune system. If their skin barrier is even slightly compromised (due to dry winter weather, a small scratch, or mild shaving irritation), these potent chemicals can slip past the epidermis and sensitize the immune system permanently. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/isothiazolinone-mix-allergy

eta: this was the EUs

Revision of the opinion on Methylisothiazolinone (P94) Submission II (Sensitisation only)​

in 2014 which is I think currently still in UK law, although it hasn't been monitored or upheld or revised.

Conclusion of the opinion:

1. On the basis of the new evidence in relation to sensitising potential, does the SCCS consider Methylisothiazolinone (MI) still safe for consumers, when used as a preservative in cosmetic products up to concentration limit of 100 ppm? If no, it is asked for the SCCS to revise this concentration limit on the basis of information provided.

Current clinical data indicate that 100 ppm MI in cosmetic products is not safe for the consumer. For leave-on cosmetic products (including ‘wet wipes’), no safe concentrations of MI for induction of contact allergy or elicitation have been adequately demonstrated. For rinse-off cosmetic products, a concentration of 15 ppm (0.0015%) MI is considered safe for the consumer from the view of induction of contact allergy. However, no information is available on elicitation.

2. Does the SCCS have any further scientific concerns with regard to the use of Methylisothiazolinone (MI) in cosmetic products?

MI should not be used as an addition to a cosmetic product already containing MCI/MI. More frequent review of data (than suggested in SCCS/1482/12) to monitor sensitisation frequencies of MI and related isothiazolinone preservatives is recommended. This permits trends in consumers’ sensitisation to be observed and timely intervention to be taken. Information on the actual concentration of MI present in individual cosmetic products will allow future evaluation of safe concentrations.

Labelling is only helpful to a consumer who has a known (established by diagnostic patch test investigations) allergy. It is unknown what proportion of the general population is now sensitized to MI and has not been confirmed as sensitized. Since MI is widely used in other consumer products (eg. detergents, paints), exposures from such sources should also be assessed. Consumers cannot find information on the presence of MI in products except in cosmetics and household detergents because, as yet, there is no harmonised classification of MI as a skin sensitizer. The risk for skin sensitisation by MI is at least equivalent to that of other substances which have received a harmonised classification according to the CLP Regulation.

Revision of the opinion on Methylisothiazolinone (P94) Submission II (Sensitisation only)

Revision of the opinion on Methylisothiazolinone (P94) Submission II (Sensitisation only)

health.ec.europa.eu

 

[Sly Saint]

My reactions are systemic, mast cell activation symptoms, especially to airborne MI from decorating paints/products and cleaning products, rather than the more common dermatological ones.

I've just re-read your post.
What you call 'systemic', this is an allergic reaction , when someone has become sensitised to the allergen and can produce widespread skin reactions. This is in addition to possible respiratory problems if inhaling airborne particles.

Unlike "Irritant contact dermatitis" where the reaction is only where the product has contact with the skin, Allergic contact dermatitis from these chemicals more often than not produces a systemic reaction, and often areas that have not come into contact with the allergen are also affected.

So both are systemic. You are "lucky" not to have any skin reaction. I have no idea where "Mast cell activation" comes into it.

Allergic reactions to MI typically appear as red, raised patches on the skin that can progress to blisters, crusting, and even ulceration in severe cases. The reaction isn’t limited to the area where a product was applied. In one clinical study of 23 patients with confirmed MI allergy, 90% had rashes that spread beyond the original contact site, with the legs affected in 90% of cases

What Is Methylisothiazolinone Used For and Is It Safe?

Methylisothiazolinone keeps products fresh, but it’s also a common cause of skin allergies. Here’s what you need to know about MI and how to spot it.

scienceinsights.org

.. allergies to these chemicals are becoming increasingly prevalent

problem is most people won't know that these chemicals are causing the problem. They might identify a particular product, but not pinpoint the exact ingredient because these chemical preservatives do not have to be disclosed in listings.