Side effects from cosmetics and personal care products have been on the rise, new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests.
Researchers determined this by looking at side effect data sent to the Food and Drug Administration between 2004 to 2016, Reuters reports. The products include everything from makeup and hair color to sunscreen.
Across a 12-year period, the FDA received reports of 5,144 adverse events, or 396 per year. But this number dramatically increased between 2015 and 2016, which had 706 events and 1,591 events respectively.
This uptick had a lot to do with complaints regarding WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners. The FDA started looking into the company in 2014 following 127 consumer reports, and later discovered the company faced 21,000 complaints of sudden hair loss, or alopecia, and scalp irritation.
Cosmetics are different than drugs or medical devices in that manufacturers aren’t required to report adverse events. Researchers say broader reporting — particularly from manufacturers — is what’s needed to begin improving the safety of these products.
“Adverse events to cosmetics matter to patients mostly because nearly everyone uses a cosmetic or personal care product every single day – this includes newborns, infants and pregnant women,” senior study author Dr. Shuai Xu, a dermatology researcher at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Reuters. “Unlike drugs and medical devices, cosmetics permeate daily life. We’re exposed to hundreds of chemicals a day from these products.”
For its part, a WEN by Chaz Dean spokesperson told Reuters, “There has been no credible evidence presented to support the false and misleading claims that WEN products cause hair loss … WEN by Chaz Dean has been proven safe, and millions of bottles have been sold over the last 16 years. We have consistently cooperated with the FDA and will continue to do so.”
What’s key for consumers going forward is paying attention to product labels.
“There is little direct protection, but consumers should read labels, understand what they are buying and focus on companies with established reputations for quality,” Duke University School of Medicine professor Dr. Robert Califf told Reuters. Califf is also the former FDA commissioner.
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Side Effects From Cosmetics Are Rising, Report Says originally appeared on usnews.com
