Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Preservative (antimicrobial)
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Hair and nail products, moisturizers, washes, lotions
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES?
Formaldehyde and other preservatives that release formaldehyde have been shown to prevent cosmetic breakdown and decomposition by inhibiting microbial group, based on their bactericidal and fungicidal properties.
WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES?
Formaldehyde is a preservative used in cosmetics due to its antimicrobial activities. Meanwhile, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are those that release formaldehyde over time through degradation, such as quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin,and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane1,3-diol. They exert antimicrobial activity presumably due to formaldehyde release by hydrolysis when combined with water. They are very common in a variety of skincare products; one study found that nearly one-fifth of cosmetic products contained formaldehyde releasers.
IS FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are likely safe for all skin types and tones based on available data. However, there are multiple studies detailing allergic contact dermatitis related to formaldehyde, including in patients of various racial and ethnic groups. Recent studies have shown a decrease in the trend of contact allergy to formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers, nearly 1% in the last several years, but they remain frequent as a cause in patients with allergic contact dermatitis and are likely concentration dependent.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
There is minimal data on contraindications for the topical application of products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. However, patients with irritant or allergic contact dermatitis to products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives should avoid use of these products. Some studies have reported a relationship between formaldehyde and certain cancers, asthma and reproductive toxicity, though these are presumed to be due to sustainable exposure.
Sources:
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Goossens A, Aerts O. Contact allergy to and allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers: A clinical review and update. Contact Dermatitis. 2022;87(1):20-27.
Johnson PI, Favela K, Jarin J, et al. Chemicals of concern in personal care products used by women of color in three communities of California. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2022;32(6):864-876.
Latorre N, Borrego L, Fernández-Redondo V, et al. Patch testing with formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers: multicentre study in Spain (2005-2009). Contact Dermatitis. 2011;65(5):286-292.
Lv C, Hou J, Xie W, Cheng H. Investigation on formaldehyde release from preservatives in cosmetics. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015;37(5):474-478.
Miralles P, Chisvert A, Alonso MJ, Hernandorena S, Salvador A. Determination of free formaldehyde in cosmetics containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives by reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization. J Chromatogr A. 2018;1543:34-39.
Takaoka A, Cao K, Oste EM, Nagasaki T, Paik DC. Topical therapeutic corneal and scleral tissue cross-linking solutions: in vitro formaldehyde release studies using cosmetic preservatives. Biosci Rep. 2019;39(5):BSR20182392. Published 2019 May 3.
