What Does 'Hypoallergenic' Mean? How to Tell if a Product Really is Hypoallergenic
The word ‘hypoallergenic’ showing up on a product’s packaging or a brand’s marketing materials can lead people to believe they will be safe from an allergic reaction when using it. Even people with sensitivities may choose a hypoallergenic product over one that isn’t in the assumption it will be gentler on their body.
But there’s no legal or scientific standard for what is and isn’t hypoallergenic, so how can we tell if we’re genuinely protected from ingredients that cause allergic reactions? Read on to find out what ‘hypoallergenic’ really means and how to check the products you buy.
What does hypoallergenic mean?
What is ‘hypoallergenic’? The word ‘hypoallergenic’ comprises two segments: ‘hypo’, which means ‘less’, and ‘allergenic’, which describes something that causes a reaction. So when something is hypoallergenic, it is less likely to cause a reaction than something that isn’t hypoallergenic.
Allergic reactions usually present themselves as
- Swelling
- Itchiness
- Congestion
- A headache
- Watery eyes
- A runny nose
- Rash or hives
- Reddening of the skin
Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. At its most severe, an allergic reaction can cause anaphylaxis, a state of shock that causes more serious symptoms like wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, low blood pressure, vomiting, and increased heart rate. Anaphylactic shock can even be fatal.
Any product that comes into physical contact with the body can produce an allergic reaction, including food, make-up, soap, clothing, and even metal.
What makes a product hypoallergenic?
The fact that there’s no standard that brands must meet to prove hypoallergenicity means they can essentially create their own definition. The FDA states that,
“There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labelled as hypoallergenic are not required to submit substantiation of their hypoallergenicity claims to FDA.”
This means customers must trust the brands to uphold a tested and true definition of hypoallergenicity rather than just using the term as a marketing aid. This can be dangerous because not all brands are truthful about how hypoallergenic their products really are.
For example, in a study carried out in 2018, researchers tested 254 childrens’ products that were labelled as ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘dermatologically recommended and tested’. The study found that 93% of the products contained at least one allergen.
In another study carried out in 2004, a woman was referred to the hospital with worsening eczema. Chemical testing of two products she used regularly labelled as ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘preservative-free’ found that the products contained methyl-dibromo glutaronitrile and formaldehyde at high concentrations, both of which are allergens.
Unfortunately, not all brands are trustworthy when it comes to claims of hypoallergenicity. So, it’s good to know how to tell if a product is hypoallergenic to protect yourself and your brand.
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How to Tell If a Product Contains an Allergen
What are hypoallergenic products? Unless otherwise specified by the brand, hypoallergenic products should present the least possible chance of causing any allergic reaction. So, any product that contains any known allergen is not hypoallergenic.
People can be allergic to myriad different substances and materials. So the best way to determine if a product is safe for you or your child is to know what you are allergic to and check the ingredients for that allergen. Check the Wikipedia complete list of allergens, their reactions, and where they are typically found.
Ingredients in a product are listed in order of concentration, the first ingredient being the highest concentration. Reading an ingredients list can sometimes be confusing because the manufacturer may use the chemical or Latin name instead of the common name. Find all the alternative names for your allergens to ensure you don’t miss them. Here are some examples.
| Common name | Other names |
|---|---|
| Penicillin | Amoxicillin, flucloxacillin, clavulonic acid |
| Henna | Paraphenylenediamine, PPD, phenylene diamine |
| Tea tree oil | Melaleuca oil, melaleuca alternifolia |
| Marrigold | Calendula officinalis, C. officinalis |
All products that contain two or more ingredients must provide an ingredients list on the product, but there are some exemptions. If you’re unsure whether a product really does contain your allergen, you can always contact the manufacturer to ask.
INCIDECODER is a helpful tool that explains the ingredients in cosmetics and what they do to the body in layman’s terms. Here’s an example from the SDS ingredients list of PDI Hygea Hands and Face Personal Washcloths using INCIDECODER.
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Can you be allergic to hypoallergenic products?
Because there’s no official standard for hypoallergenicity that companies must prove to stamp their products with this label, people can still be allergic to these products.
Even if a brand states its product is hypoallergenic, that may simply indicate that it doesn’t contain one specific ingredient or group of ingredients. To find out more about a company’s definition of ‘hypoallergenic’ you may want to look at their website or contact their customer service.
For example, Tower 28 Beauty says on its website that it is the only make-up brand to “100% follow the National Eczema Association's ingredient guidelines and avoid known irritants and allergens for those with sensitive skin, including essential oils and synthetic fragrances.” For the brand, this is sufficient to be able to call its products hypoallergenic..
How do we ensure hypoallergenicity at Steroplast?
As a leading healthcare brand, we know that our customers put their trust in Steroplast to protect their health and safety. Because of this, we feel it’s our duty to provide products that our customers can count on.
When we say our products are ‘hypoallergenic’, it’s because they are biotested for compatibility and risk assessed to ensure they are as safe as possible for all people to use. There’s no such thing as a totally non-allergenic product. There are so many variables in the world that there’s simply no guarantee that one product could contain no materials that produce a reaction in any one person’s body. So we simply ensure the chances of an allergic reaction are minimised as much as possible in products that we label ‘hypoallergenic’.
For example, some of our plasters contain latex, but we also sell hypoallergenic plasters that do not contain any latex and contain no common allergens in the adhesives used. Some Steroplast plasters that are hypoallergenic are:
We also conduct other types of testing to prove our products' benefits and the benefits of products we sell made by other manufacturers.
For example, PDI Sani-Cloth® AF Wipes (formerly known as PDI Sani-Cloth Universal Wipes) that we sell have been:
- Proven to be effective at killing the coronavirus strain that causes Covid-19 through the EN14476 testing method.
- Tested to meet British Standards, EU standards, and registered with the MHRA, meaning they meet a certain level of quality and are safe to be sold to UK consumers (all products that bear the CE mark have met these standards).
- Certified as a class IIA medical device for use disinfecting devices that do not enter the body.
- Tested for the contact time necessary to kill various viruses, bacteria, fungi, and TB.
Our Quality Assurance
We adhere to certain quality markers and guidelines to ensure our customers can trust our products.
All Steroplast products bear the CE mark, demonstrating our 100% guarantee that they comply with EU and British Standards. We uphold a quality assurance system that is maintained under the supervision of our notified body, SGS, to ensure our products are proven to comply with these standards.
We also work to BS EN ISO 13485:2016 guidelines (a third-party measure of quality and safety applicable to medical instruments, equipment, and technology) supported by The Medical Device Directive.
If you have any questions about how our products are made and if they contain an allergen you are sensitive to, don’t hesitate to contact us. One of our advisors will be happy to answer your questions.
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