A cross-sectional study of contact allergens in feminine hygiene wipes: a possible cause of vulvar contact dermatitis (2024)

Background:

Feminine hygiene wipes marketed toward women for maintaining freshness and cleanliness of the vulva and perineum are abundant both in-store and online. Many of these products boast being “fragrance free,” “gentle,” and “for sensitive skin,” which is attractive to consumers. However, these claims do not necessarily mean they are free of potential allergens.

Introduction

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a type IV cell-mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction that affects 20% of general adult and pediatric populations.^1,2 Personal care products frequently contain allergens that may elicit ACD.

The vulvar and vaginal skin is unique due to its nonkeratinized nature and elevated hydration and frictional properties. Therefore this area is much more susceptible to these allergens than keratinized skin.³ Vulvar contact dermatitis, which is caused by allergens irritating the vulva, poses a significant issue for patients. Vulvar pruritus is a common chief complaint, with many patients experiencing sexual ramifications. Patients may feel insecure participating in intercourse and struggle to enjoy it, given the pruritic sensation they are also experiencing. Additionally, patients may find the sensation distressing and distracting in their everyday lives.

Wet wipes that are marketed as maintaining freshness and cleanliness of the vulva and perineum are popular. Many of these products boast being “fragrance free,” “gentle,” “for sensitive skin,” and “non-irritating,” which is often attractive to consumers. However, these claims are seldom based on evidence, and a review of popular feminine hygiene wipes (FHW) ingredients has not been performed. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence and prevalence of potential allergens in popular FHW.

Methods

An internet-based search of 5 major retailers including Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Amazon was performed to identify current best-selling name brand and generic FHWs marketed to women in the United States for the purpose of maintaining hygienic cleanliness or freshness of the genital area. To identify products, each retailer website was searched using both of the following terms: “feminine wipes” and “feminine hygiene wipes.” Those wipes available on each retailer website were included, excluding wipes that were of the same brand that varied only by scent, those that had few or no customer reviews compared to other wipes on that site, and/or those name brands that were not available on at least 2 other retailer websites. Additionally, given the expansive nature of Amazon, products without at least a 4-star rating and >1000 customer reviews were excluded. Twenty-eight different brands yielding 34 unique hygienic wipe products advertised for sweat, sex, menstrual cycle, and/or home/public bathroom use were selected for review (Fig. 1). The manufacturer ingredient list for each unique hygienic wipe was analyzed and compared to the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) 80 allergens.⁴

The mean number of allergens was calculated for all products combined. This was further divided into the mean number of allergens in FHWs marketed as “sensitive,” “natural,” “fragrance-free,” and so forth, and those not marketed this way. The difference in number of allergens between these groups was calculated using a 2-tailed t-test.

Results

The most common sensitizers in the products analyzed were fragrances and tocopherol, both of which were found in 17 of the 34 products (50%). Botanicals including extracts, oils, and fruit juices were used in 10 products (Fig. 2).

Every product analyzed contained at least one possible allergen, with a mean of 3.53 allergens per product (Table 1). Products with the highest numbers of allergens include Equate Assurance and ProCare Personal Wipes. These both contained 6 allergens. Twenty-seven of the 34 products analyzed (76.5%) contained 3 or more allergens. Two products tied for the lowest number of allergens with one present, ALWAYS Feminine Wipes and Butt Wipes for Her, which contained fragrance and tocopherol, respectively (Fig. 3).

Of note, 9 products were advertised as “sensitive,” “natural,” “fragrance free,” “soothing,” or “organic.” Products with these claims did not have a statistically significant difference in total number of allergens compared to products that did not make these claims (mean of 3.11 vs 3.68, P = 0.31). The Summer’s Eve brand scented versus unscented products contained the same number of allergens (4)—fragrance was exchanged for botanicals in the unscented version. Honey Pot sensitive versus regular also both had the same number of allergens (5); the sensitive product had fragrance, whereas the regular listed lavender oil instead.

Discussion

The present study illustrates that all FHWs contain potential allergens such as those commonly tested for by the NACDG.

Fragrances were the most common allergen in the FHWs analyzed in the present study, with 50% of products containing it. Fragrances, essential oils, and botanicals have also been found to be the most common allergen in various personal care products, including laundry detergents (66.7%), fabric softeners (90%), dryer sheets (75%), stain removers (58.8%), facial wipes (63.5%), and personal care products for babies/children (47.8%).^5–7 Fragrance mix I, Balsam of Peru, and fragrance mix II are in the top 15 most common contact allergens in the most recent NACDG data accounting for 9.2%, 7.1%, and 4.4% of positive patch test reactions, respectively.^4,8–13 In fact, fragrance was named allergen of the year by the ACDS in 2007, with ten percent of patients with atopic dermatitis testing positive for fragrance upon patch testing.¹⁴

The other most common allergen in the present study was tocopherol, which was also found in 50% of the studied products. This compound acts as a moisturizer, antioxidant, and antiaging agent by absorbing ultraviolet wavelengths to prevent oxidative stress; yet, it is also considered an allergen.^15–17 However, positive patch test reactions only occurred in 0.6% of 4859 patients in the NACDG patch test results.⁴ Many case reports have been published citing tocopherol-induced ACD, though many are without confirmation by patch testing.¹⁵ A review of the published literature on tocopherol-induced ACD found that it is overall uncommon despite its frequent use in skin care products. Additionally, this review noted that higher concentrations of tocopherol trigger ACD more often than lower concentrations^15,18

Products advertised as “fragrance free” still may include fragrance products as preservatives or botanical add-ins.¹⁴ The present study did not identify a significant difference in the total number of possible sensitizing agents between products labeled as “natural,” “fragrance free,” “soothing,” and so forth, and those that were not across different brands. This is not an unusual trend—methylisothiazolinone was identified in 57.1% of “free and gentle” laundry detergents and 19.7% of pediatric skin care products labeled “gentle,” “sensitive,” or “hypoallergenic.”^6,19 In fact, there are no regulations/mandates in place to govern these claims.¹⁹ Of note, in the present study, products with these labels did occasionally contain fewer allergens (eg, Vagisil “Sensitive Scents” contained 3 allergens vs 5 in Vagisil Odor Block). However, other brands such as Summer’s Eve and The Honey Pot merely exchanged fragrance for extracts/oils in their unscented or sensitive products.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a systematic approach to patients presenting with vulvovaginal symptoms. Differentiating between vulvar pruritus and pain is a key first distinction; pruritus should be then categorized as either acute or chronic. The presence of abnormal discharge should be investigated for an infectious etiology, including bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and candidiasis. Other potential infectious etiologies causing pruritus include tinea cruris, molluscum contagiosum, and scabies/pediculosis. After ruling these out, dermatoses, including ACD, should be considered. A thorough history of potential contact allergens should be delineated. Clinical features include erythema, swelling, scaling, excoriations, fissures, erosions, and ulcers.^20,21 Patients should be counseled to avoid known vulvar irritants. In addition to avoidance, treatment for ACD consists of a topical corticosteroid product applied once to twice daily and possibly an oral antipruritic medication such as an antihistamine.^20,22 Topical antipruritic medications can cause allergic dermatitis, so they should not be used.²³ Patients should be counseled to cleanse the vulva with water only in the future, even after intercourse.²⁴

Patients should be cautioned against trusting labeling claims that a product is “natural,” “fragrance-free,” “soothing,” “organic,” and the like. Specifically, we recommend advising patients to look for fragrance, oils, and other botanicals on product labels, as these are easy-to-identify potential allergens. Additionally, we recommend all providers encourage patients to clean their vulvas using simply water, per ACOG practice bulletin recommendations.²⁴

The main limitation of our study is that we could not eliminate commercial names from our analysis, introducing potential bias. Future research could investigate contact allergens in other feminine hygiene products, including body wash, menstrual pads, and tampons, in addition to sex products including lubricants.

Conclusions

Vaginal and vulvar epithelia are highly susceptible to contact allergens, many of which are found in products marketed towards feminine hygiene and cleanliness of the vulva and perineum. This study reviewed 34 of the top-selling feminine hygiene/intimate wipes for 80 contact allergens identified by the NACDG. Contact allergens were found in every single product reviewed, the most common being fragrances, other scented botanicals, and tocopherol. The popularity of these products indicates a need for improved allergen identification, product labeling, and consumer education regarding vulvar hygiene.

Conflicts of Interest

None.

Funding

None.

Study approval

N/A.

References