EU ban for irritant preservatives MI and MCI

The mixture of preservatives Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) has been banned from leave-on skincare products, including moisturisers, following a huge rise in contact allergies. The European Commission ban, which comes into effect on July 16,2015, also stated that the mixture can still be used in rinse-off products such as shower gels up to a maximum concentration of 0.0015%. This is the first legal restriction placed upon the use of these preservatives, following researchby UK dermatologists published last year that found their use had lead to a significant increase in the incidence ofcontact allergies such as dermatitis.

Industry association Cosmetics Europe published a recommendation in December 2013 that manufacturers should not include MI in their formulations for leave-on cosmetic products, although there was no legal ruling forcing manufacturers to comply.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Ian Coulson told Aesthetic Medicine, “It was thought the main problem, so about ten years ago the EUallowed the concentration of MI to beincreased, but in the last three or fouryears we’ve seen a growing epidemicof contact reactions, largely due to MI.” He added, “It is an inevitableconsequence of having preservativesin cosmetics that some people willreact to them.”