Phenols and parabens (P&Ps) are commonly found in skin care products. However, P&Ps' role in pruritus and eczema has not been studied.
Objective
The aim of the study was to investigate the association between P&Ps, and pruritus and eczema.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional population-based study of 2202 participants. We examined the association between urinary phenols (triclosan, bisphenol A, benzophenone-3) and parabens (methyl and propyl parabens) and itchy rash/eczema using the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Phenols and parabens were divided into quartiles (Qs) with the first Q as the reference. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for multiple variables.
Results
Urinary triclosan was inversely associated with itchy rash (P trend = 0.048). In a subpopulation analysis by race/ethnicity, urinary methyl paraben was positively associated with itchy rash in African Americans (fourth Q vs first Q: odds ratio, 12.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–154.06; P trend = 0.02). Triclosan was inversely associated with eczema in whites (P trend = 0.04).
Conclusions
Methyl paraben exposure may increase the risk of itchy rash in African Americans, whereas triclosan may decrease the risk of itchy rash and eczema. The potential effect of triclosan and methyl paraben in pruritus and eczema warrants further study.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
MatterneU, ApfelbacherC, VogelgsangL, et al.Incidence and determinants of chronic pruritus: a population-based cohort study. Acta Derm Venereol, 2013; 93(5):532–537.
2.
HanifinJM, ReedML. Eczema prevalence and impact working group. A population-based survey of eczema prevalence in the United States. Dermat Contact Atopic Occup Drug, 2007; 18(2):82–91.
3.
WeisshaarE, ApfelbacherC, JägerG, et al.Pruritus as a leading symptom: clinical characteristics and quality of life in German and Ugandan patients. Br J Dermatol, 2006; 155(5):957–964.
4.
KiniSP, DeLongLK, VeledarE, et al.The impact of pruritus on quality of life: the skin equivalent of pain. Arch Dermatol, 2011; 147(10):1153–1156.
5.
ZachariaeR, ZachariaeCO, LeiU, et al.Affective and sensory dimensions of pruritus severity: associations with psychological symptoms and quality of life in psoriasis patients. Acta Derm Venereol, 2008; 88(2):121–127.
6.
SchutC, BosbachS, GielerU, et al.Personality traits, depression and itch in patients with atopic dermatitis in an experimental setting: a regression analysis. Acta Derm Venereol, 2014; 94(1):20–25.
7.
DesaiNS, PoindexterGB, MonthropeYM, et al.A pilot quality-of-life instrument for pruritus. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2008; 59(2):234–244.
8.
Diamanti-KandarakisE, BourguignonJ-P, GiudiceLC, et al.Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: an Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocr Rev, 2009; 30(4):293–342.
9.
LangIA, GallowayTS, ScarlettA, et al.Association of urinary bisphenol A concentration with medical disorders and laboratory abnormalities in adults. JAMA, 2008; 300(11):1303.
10.
SavageJH, MatsuiEC, WoodRA, et al.Urinary levels of triclosan and parabens are associated with aeroallergen and food sensitization. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2012; 130(2):453–460.e7.
11.
BertelsenRJ, LongneckerMP, LøvikM, et al.Triclosan exposure and allergic sensitization in Norwegian children. Allergy, 2013; 68(1):84–91.
12.
SpanierAJ, FausnightT, CamachoTF, et al.The associations of triclosan and paraben exposure with allergen sensitization and wheeze in children. Allergy Asthma Proc, 2014; 35(6):475–481.
13.
SavageJH, JohnsCB, HauserR, et al.Urinary triclosan levels and recent asthma exacerbations. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2014; 112(2):179–181.e2.
14.
VaidyaSV, KulkarniH. Association of urinary bisphenol A concentration with allergic asthma: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006. J Asthma, 2012; 49(8):800–806.
YazarK, JohnssonS, LindM-L, et al.Preservatives and fragrances in selected consumer-available cosmetics and detergents. Contact Dermatitis, 2011; 64(5):265–272.
19.
NassanFL, CoullBA, GaskinsAJ, et al.Personal care product use in men and urinary concentrations of select phthalate metabolites and parabens: results from the Environment And Reproductive Health (EARTH) study. Environ Health Perspect, 2017; 125(8):087012.
20.
FergusonKK, ColacinoJA, LewisRC, et al.Personal care product use among adults in NHANES: associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and phenols and use of mouthwash and sunscreen. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol, 2017; 27(3):326–332.
21.
PhilippatC, BennettD, CalafatAM, et al.Exposure to select phthalates and phenols through use of personal care products among Californian adults and their children. Environ Res, 2015; 140:369–376.
22.
WrightAL, SternDA, KauffmannF, et al.Factors influencing gender differences in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma in childhood: the Tucson Children's Respiratory Study. Pediatr Pulmonol, 2006; 41(4):318–325.
23.
FarfelA, TiroshA, DerazneE, et al.Association between socioeconomic status and the prevalence of asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2010; 104:490–495.
24.
DonohueKM, MillerRL, PerzanowskiMS, et al.Prenatal and postnatal bisphenol A exposure and asthma development among inner-city children. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2013; 131(3):736–742.
25.
WangIJ, ChenCY, BornehagCG. Bisphenol A exposure may increase the risk of development of atopic disorders in children. Int J Hyg Environ Health, 2016; 219(3):311–316.
26.
GasconM, CasasM, MoralesE, et al.Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates and childhood respiratory tract infections and allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2015; 135(2):370–378.
27.
BondsRS, Midoro-HoriutiT. Estrogen effects in allergy and asthma. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2013; 13(1):92–99.
28.
LeeMH, ChungSW, KangBY, et al.Enhanced interleukin-4 production in CD4+ T cells and elevated immunoglobulin E levels in antigen-primed mice by bisphenol A and nonylphenol, endocrine disruptors: involvement of nuclear factor-AT and Ca2+. Immunology, 2003; 109(1):76–86.
29.
TianX, TakamotoM, SuganeK. Bisphenol A promotes IL-4 production by Th2 cells. Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 2003; 132(3):240–247.
30.
YanH, TakamotoM, SuganeK. Exposure to bisphenol A prenatally or in adulthood promotes T(H)2 cytokine production associated with reduction of CD4CD25 regulatory T cells. Environ Health Perspect, 2008; 116(4):514–519.
31.
ChenWL, GwoJC, WangGS, et al.Distribution of feminizing compounds in the aquatic environment and bioaccumulation in wild tilapia tissues. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2014; 21(19):11349–11360.
32.
DodsonRE, NishiokaM, StandleyLJ, et al.Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environ Health Perspect, 2012; 120(7):935–943.
33.
SoniMG, CarabinIG, BurdockGA. Safety assessment of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens). Food Chem Toxicol, 2005; 43(7):985–1015.
34.
James-ToddT, TerryMB, Rich-EdwardsJ, et al.Childhood hair product use and earlier age at menarche in a racially diverse study population: a pilot study. Ann Epidemiol, 2011; 21(6):461–465.
35.
James-ToddT, SenieR, TerryMB. Racial/ethnic differences in hormonally-active hair product use: a plausible risk factor for health disparities. J Immigr Minor Health, 2012; 14(3):506–511.
36.
DonovanM, TiwaryCM, AxelrodD, et al.Personal care products that contain estrogens or xenoestrogens may increase breast cancer risk. Med Hypotheses, 2007; 68(4):756–766.
37.
RosenbergL, BoggsDA, Adams-CampbellLL, et al.Hair relaxers not associated with breast cancer risk: evidence from the black women's health study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2007; 16(5):1035–1037.
38.
DannAB, HontelaA. Triclosan: environmental exposure, toxicity and mechanisms of action. J Appl Toxicol, 2011; 31(4):285–311.
39.
BrenemanDL, HanifinJL, BergeCA, et al.The effect of antibacterial soap with 1.5% triclocarban on Staphylococcus aureus in patients with atopic dermatitis. Cutis, 2000; 66(4):296–300.
40.
RibadoJV, LeyC, HaggertyTD, et al.Household triclosan and triclocarban effects on the infant and maternal microbiome. EMBO Mol Med, 2017; 9(12):1732–1741.
41.
YangH, WangW, RomanoKA, et al.A common antimicrobial additive increases colonic inflammation and colitis-associated colon tumorigenesis in mice. Sci Transl Med, 2018; 30(10):443.
42.
LuJ, JinM, NguyenSH, et al.Non-antibiotic antimicrobial triclosan induces multiple antibiotic resistance through genetic mutation. Environ Int, 2018; 118:257–265.
43.
BeverCS, RandAA, NordingM, et al.Effects of triclosan in breast milk on the infant fecal microbiome. 2018; 203:467–473.
44.
WatanabeS, NarisawaY, AraseS, et al.Differences in fecal microflora between patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy control subjects. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2003; 111(3):587–591.
45.
WangM, KarlssonC, OlssonC, et al.Reduced diversity in the early fecal microbiota of infants with atopic eczema. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2008; 121(1):129–134.
46.
YeeAL, GilbertJA. MICROBIOME. Is triclosan harming your microbiome? Science, 2016; 353(6297):348–349.
