Skin Care Articles

The word hypoallergenic is an expression that probably most of us have heard before. Make-up, moisturizers, shampoos, and even jewelry use it on their labels and in advertisements. Many folks think it means a product that is hypoallergenic won't react with their allergies. But what does the word actually mean?

Cosmetics advertisers initially used the word in the 60s. It originates from the Latin prefix hypo, which means below or less. Less allergies is the actual translation of the word. Since it's invention the word has been commonly adopted and used by marketers and companies to sell products that claim to be softer on the skin than other products basically the same. But is this really the truth?

By definition the products said to be hypoallergenic are forced to produce fewer allergic reactions to the product than cosmetics that are not hypoallergenic. Users with sensitive skin, and also users with normal skin, may think that these products will be more gentle to their skin than non-hypoallergenic products. There are no Federal regulations or definitions that regulate the use of the term hypoallergenic. The expression is anything a particular company wants it to mean. Makers of goods that claim to be hypoallergenic are not required to report substantiation of their hypoallergenicity claims to Food and Drug Administration. The word hypoallergenic has little meaning according to doctors even though it is a significant marketing term.

In 1974, the FDA attempted again to regulate products that claimed to be hypoallergenic. They said that a product could be deemed as hypoallergenic only if studies were done on human subjects and it showed an obvious lower reaction to allergens than other products. They then said the companies had to do these experiments on their own and (most importantly) at their own expense. This obviously caused big upsets and cosmetics producers without delay filed lawsuits opposing the choice, claiming that the tests would pose an unfair financial hardship on them. Clinique and Almay, two manufacturers of hypoallergenic products, were the most aggressive challengers to the FDA.

The FDA attempted again to govern the use of the expression on June 6, 1975 by still requiring cosmetics producers to do experimental tests but the proceedings for the tests were changed to reduce the expense to the companies. Manufacturers who obviously didn't want any rules on the products they produced did not agree with this either. Cosmetic companies challenged the FDA decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals, which judged that the law was no good. The court stated the definition of hypoallergenic the FDA gave was invalid because of a lack of proof that people thought of the word in the way it is described by the organization. The end result? Manufacturers can continue to advertise and label their products hypoallergenic with no regulation or laws set forth by the government. Customers have no assurance that a product labeled hypoallergenic is any less harsh than other products. Supposedly, a company could put out a product that is hypoallergenic that is loaded with toxins and allergens.

The lone little triumph that the FDA seems to have had is that at least now manufacturers now have to put the ingredients on the labels of the products so that customers can avoid substances that they know they are allergic to or have had problems with before. As consumers, we must have a knowledge of ingredients in the products we consume because apparently the manufacturers who make them aren't extremely concerned about our lives over their profit margins. There is undoubtedly some products out there that claim to be hypoallergenic actually are, but if you are a wise customer and concerned for you and your family's well being, you will do some studying yourself and not be reliant on these companies proclamations .