There is growing evidence that skincare products that include food as an ingredient and are used on very dry or damaged skin (broken skin), can lead to development of an allergy to that food, especially if that food is not eaten regularly.
Studies have shown that the regular use of moisturisers, soaps and bath oils containing foods such as peanuts, oats, wheat and goat’s milk in people with eczema can lead to the development of food allergy. If the food protein is absorbed through the skin before it is introduced into the baby’s diet (given to the baby as a food), there is a greater risk of the baby developing an allergy to that food.
It is thought that putting food allergens on the skin through the use of skincare products may sensitise the person to that food if it is not being eaten regularly. This can lead to the development of a food allergy when that food is actually eaten. This can happen at any age, including in adulthood.
Skincare products containing food should not be rubbed on inflamed broken skin.
Some moisturisers, soaps, nappy rash creams and sunscreens contain foods that are common allergens, such as goat or cow’s milk, wheat or peanut or tree nut oils, and are often labelled as ‘natural’. Natural is not always better.
It is concerning that several products advertised and marketed as ‘Itch recovery moisturising lotion for dry, itchy and sensitive skin’ or as being suitable for ‘Eczema and Psoriasis’, or that promise to ‘relieve and soothe dry, itchy skin’ contain food allergens such as cow’s milk, oats and almonds. Skin products that contain food should be avoided by people with eczema, skin that is very dry or broken and people who are diagnosed with an allergy to that food.
Cosmetic products, including moisturisers, soaps, skincare and some baby care that do not perform a therapeutic role must have the common allergens listed on them if they are an ingredient. However, the targeted marketing of these products to people with eczema and other inflammatory skin disorders is not regulated.
Advice for the management of infant eczema from the Nip Allergies in the Bub website states ‘moisturisers containing common allergy causing foods such as cow’s milk, goat products, coconut oil and nut oils are not recommended as these may increase the chance of your child developing an allergy to those foods’.
Advice from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy for anyone with eczema is to ‘apply moisturiser at least twice a day, avoiding those that contain food products.’ All people, especially those with eczema, should use skincare products that DO NOT contain food protein.