Natural ingredients in cosmetic products - a suggestion for a screening series for skin allergy.

Background Naturally derived cosmetic product ingredients of both plant and animal origin are being included increasingly in product formulations in order to cater to consumer preferences. They may be an overlooked cause of reactions to cosmetic products in some patients with dermatitis. Objectives To identify naturally derived cosmetic product ingredients with allergenic potential (type I and type IV) and propose a cosmetic screening test series. Methods The study was conducted in two steps. The first step was a market survey using a nonprofit application helping consumers avoid problematic substances in cosmetic products. The application contained 10 067 cosmetic products that were label checked for naturally derived cosmetic product ingredients. The second step was a literature search to examine how frequently the naturally derived ingredients were described and related to allergic reactions in cosmetics or other topically administered products. Results We identified 121 different naturally derived cosmetic product ingredients that were included in at least 30 cosmetic products. In total, 22 ingredients were selected for a screening test series. Conclusions We propose a supplemental patch test and a prick test screening series with naturally derived cosmetic product ingredients for patients with skin reactions to cosmetic products, aiming to identify a cause in more patients than is currently possible.