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Johnson's Baby bedtime bath - allergic reaction

17 replies

islandbaby · 15/05/2011 23:28

Ok, so I thought it must be that I was having an allergic reaction to a SMA infant milk (as I previously posted), but I'm still coming up in a rash despite changing back to HIPP and I have JUST figured out that the only other thing I've changed in my life is that I ran out of my own bubblebath and have been bathing in the johnson's baby night time bath liquid... it MUST be it.

Which begs the question... what is it in a baby product that would cause an otherwise completely non-allergic person to have such an aggresive allergic reaction?

My son seems to be ok, but I'm thinking it's probably best not to use it if it can cause such a reaction in me. Has anyone else had an allergic reaction to these Johnson's products?

Thanks

OP posts:
Al1son · 16/05/2011 00:08

Lots of baby products are highly perfumed and I'm allergic to many of them. My DDs have only ever use fragrance free products because of this. I would never use Johnsons.

amistillsexy · 16/05/2011 00:16

I'm sorry, but I'm not surprised you've had a bad reaction to this product. As far as I can see, only 2 of its ingredients are not likely to have a bad effect (from irritation to cancer!).

A quick search of the ingredients contained in Johnson's bedtime bubble bath shows the following (from a variety of sources):

Water,
Cocamidopropyl Betaine, . Restrictions & Adverse Effects: may cause contact allergies in some individuals * Reference: Cosmetics Unmasked, Dr Stephen & Gina Antczak
Recent valuable feedback from our existing sensitive skinned customers:
"I've just had a patch test and Cocamidopropyl Betaine is showing up as an allergy trigger".
"I have been using a hand soap with Cocamidopropyl Betaine in it, and my eczema has now come back".

PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, About PEG-80 SORBITAN LAURATE: PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate is an ethoxylated sorbitan monoester of Lauric Acid (q.v.) with anaverage of 80 moles of ethylene oxide.
Use restrictions
type of concern product conditions reference
Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Not safe for use on injured or damaged skin products for use on damaged skin Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
Allergies/immunotoxicity
type of concern product conditions reference
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
type of concern product conditions reference
Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity Harvell, J, 1994

Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, About SODIUM TRIDECETH SULFATE: Sodium Trideceth Sulfate is a sodium salt of sulfated ethoxylated Tridecyl Alcohol (q.v.).
Data gaps
type of concern product conditions reference
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

Ecotoxicology
type of concern product conditions reference
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin

Sodium Chloride, (salt...not harmful or considered an irritant)

Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate-20 is fragrance component, a surfactant, an emulsifying agent, and a solubilizing agent.

Why is it a risk?
Polysorbate starts out as harmless sorbitol, but then it's treated with carcinogenic ethylene oxide. It's called Polysorbate 20 because it's treated with 20 "parts" of ethylene oxide. The higher the number, the more ethylene oxide it has been treated with. This substance is then combined with various fatty acids. The Skin Deep Database rates it as only a "one," and doesn't pick up on the risk that it could be contaminated with ethylene oxide, and subsequently, 1,4 dioxane. In addition, it can be laced with heavy metals.

Fragrance,[[http://www.herc.org/news/perfume/risks.htm The Health Risks of Twenty Most Common Chemicals Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products
]]

PEG-150 Distearate, The Cosmetics Database finds PEG 150 Distearate to be a moderate hazard depending on usage and notes contamination and toxicity concerns.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Toxicology, PEG 150 Distearate can contain harmful impurities, including: Ethylene Oxide, known to increase the incidences of uterine and breast cancers and of leukemia and brain cancer, according to experimental results reported by the National Toxicology Program; 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen; PAHs, known to increase the risk of breast cancer; lead; iron; and arsenic (Source).

Tetrasodium EDTA, The Cosmetics Database considers Tetrasodium EDTA a low to moderate hazard ingredient, depending on its usage. It notes concerns regarding cancer, enhanced skin absorption, organ system toxicity and irritation (due to animal studies that showed skin irritation at low doses). It is classified as a high human health priority and expected to be toxic or harmful.

Quarternium-15, QUATERNIUM-15 Hazard Summary
?Possible impurity: FORMALDEHYDE
?Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected
?Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected
?Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected

Citric Acid
Severe eye irritant. Skin and respiratory irritant. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause allergic reaction in some individuals.

Personally, I would not be using this on my skin, nor on my childrens'.

Your skin is the body's largest organ. Anything you use on your skin can and will be absorbed by your body, and 'migrate' to other parts of your body (which is why such things as nicotene patches and ibuprofen gel work when applied to the skin). Incidences of cancers (of all kinds) have skyrocketted in recent years, as use of such ingredients as these has become more widespread.

It is therefore of vital importance, IMO, that we all use products that are as natural as possible, and research the ingredients we are putting on our skin instead of trusting that a huge corporation will have made sure it's safe just because they put 'baby' on the bottle!

islandbaby · 16/05/2011 07:12

Thank you for that detailed analysis. Scary stuff!

I don't usually use any products on him still, he's only 5 months, but the johnson's was free in some baby club or bounty pack so I had it lying around. Since getting the reaction, I've read from many other people that they've experienced something similar with Johnson's products.

Just glad it's not my little fella who's itching like I am!

OP posts:
RainbowShite · 16/05/2011 07:26

Johnsons is notorious. The method baby stuff is good.

GapsAGoodUn · 16/05/2011 07:29

Yup, I had reactions to the Johnsons stuff when I used to bathe with my dc when they were babies.

We switched to a sls and paraben free bodywash and shampoo conditioner and have never looked back.

Moulesfrites · 16/05/2011 07:34

My hv told me not to touch john sons with a barge pole

Furball · 16/05/2011 09:05

My ds came up like a baboon with anything with that name on!

It was for the better though as now we all use sls and paraben free soaps and shampoos and has made us aware of ingredients and the like.

There are loads of brands without those products. an easy one to get hold of would be something like halo n horns which you can get in Boots, tesco and sainsburys etc.

but read the ingredients, as alot of stuff (including simple etc) claim to be friendly and when you look whats in it, you may as well literally be using washing up liquid.

mossi · 16/05/2011 14:07

Simple used to do some baby bath wash which doesn't have quite so many chemicals in. All our family have had allergies with Johnson baby stuff.

Highlander · 16/05/2011 16:49

SLS (sodium laureth sulphate) is a detergent/foaming agent found in all shower gels/ bath products/handwashes. It commonly aggrvates excema - I can't use anything containing SLS on DS2.

Halos 'n' Horns is an excellent cheap baby bath. You can buy it in Tesco and Asda. It's free of SLS and parabens.

Avoid Tesco's own brand baby bath - briought DS2 out in a horrific rash.

Furball · 16/05/2011 17:03

second on the list for Simple Baby Products ingredients = Sodium laureth sulfate.

IMHO Simple = far from it and just another advertising scam

always read the ingredients and you'll be fine

MadameOvary · 16/05/2011 17:11

I use the Waitrose baby stuff - smells gorgeous and has no nasties (that I know of!)
Haven't used any perfumed shit products for years, either for DD or myself.

mossi · 16/05/2011 20:05

Yes furball - but for my family it's cheap and we're not allergic to it. Yes, ideally I'd like to use something like Neal's Yard but we don't have the money.

GapsAGoodUn · 17/05/2011 00:42

There's the Naked range at Boots, often on offer, which is great.

Furball · 17/05/2011 04:53

mossi - I was just highlighting the fact for the op that simple is not simple
It's great you've found something that works for you. Smile

Yes we would all like to use Neals yard, but there are other product brands without the ££££££

KaraStarbuckThrace · 17/05/2011 05:03

Asda do an Eco Baby range which is SLS/Paraben free and pretty cheap too.
So you don't need to buy expensive stuff.

Hospital that DS was born in used Johnson's, it is widely used and popular but not a good idea if you have any kind of skin sensitivity. I used it on DS briefly as I got give a load of free Johnson's stuff but I stopped as it was giving DS baby eczema and making my eczema flare up.

eragon · 17/05/2011 16:31

i hate j & j products. dreadful stuff and shouldnt be recommended for babies, or for those with sensitive skin.

islandbaby · 18/05/2011 23:51

Ok, so, I stopped using the J&J stuff on sunday, and while it has improved, I am STILL getting a rash. It seems to come up overnight (actually, it's just started, I have a few itchy blotches that have appeared in the last half hour), but then goes again during the day.

I've washed my sheets/pyjamas/towels twice times now, since stopping using the j&j stuff, using the same non-bio detergent I've always used.

It's really beginning to p* me off now, as I was CONVINCED it was the j&j (especially following all the comments here), as I haven't changed anything else, and I've never had an allergic reaction to anything.

Could it still be an irritant that got into my blood stream from bathing in J&J product four days ago??

Sorry, having never been allergic to anything, I don't really know much about reacting like this. I've been to the doc who said it was definitely an allergic reaction and gave me some tablets, but they don't seem to do much.

Any advice?

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