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DMDM Hydantoin
  • mo
    I want to understand the safety profile of various preservatives in skin care products.

    My choices are limited as I can't use anything with fragrance, dyes, urea etc. I have used Cerave Cleanser & Lotion on my face with moderate success but worry about parabens in them, used as preservatives. Can they irritate my psoriasis or acne? Cetaphil has parabens too. So far I've only realized that I'm allergic to Diazonydyl Urea when I used Complex 15 lotion on my face. Propylene Glycol does not seem to irritate my face.

    Anyway, I'm trying to pick up Olay Sensitive Skin Foaming Face Wash & though the live chat assistant has assured me that DMDM Hydantoin is a preservative & that allergic dermatitis has never been reported with this Olay product, I wonder why this ingredient shows up as a known allergen all over the internet.

    Maybe DMDM Hydantoin would be better than parabens.
    Maybe I should just go ahead & try it.

    Looks like not many people visit this site. Does anybody know if the Left Brain actually replies to any posts?
  • JudyJudy
    Here is some brief info:
     


    Safety Information

    The safety of DMDM Hydantoin has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that DMDM Hydantoin was safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use. In 2005, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on DMDM Hydantoin and reaffirmed the above conclusion.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    Left Brain does reply to posts.  But the blog, book marketing, and the hundreds of questions each week keep all the Brains pretty busy.  We try to keep up but it's hard.
    Anyway, Judy gave you the right information.
    Feel free to try a DMDM Hydantoin containing product.  People are not generally allergic to both parabens and DMDM as they are completely different classes of compounds.
    Hope that helps.
  • tom_guy85
    Quick question. Mo, how do you know all the things you've listed specifically affect you?

    The reason I ask is because I had a friend in a very similar situation and she was afraid to try anything, even foods that were allergens. However she was pleased to find out when she visited a dermatologist that she only had moderate reactions to a small fraction of those she was worried about. A consultation with a doctor would be able to perform patch tests and advise suitable products for you, like my friend has done.
  • sarahf
    Good point, Tom guy--you never know when you've reacted to a product which ingredients were responsible.  And when my rosacea is acting up, I can get irritation from a product that I tolerate just fine when the rosacea is under control.  I second the suggestion to see a dermatologist.  It would be a pain to be left with few choices when shopping due to having unnecessarily excluded too many ingredients.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    Yes, it's very difficult to pinpoint exactly an ingredient that affects you.  A dermatologist is the only way to really know.
  • pompom
    I have ruled out Propylene Glycol by realizing that every product that has it, makes my skin burn and itch and eventually breaks me out or gives me a rash. It is irrespective of the formula. To confirm, I used a lotion that has only Propylene Glycol as the main ingredient and boy was I right!
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