Body care/cosmetic products and cosmetics
Microbial contamination in body care products and cosmetics poses a great danger to consumers.
These products, which can even be found in supermarket shelves and are easy to buy, are not subject to the same strict controls as prescription products. Known properties of these products are changing the appearance, perfuming, cleaning the skin or protecting the skin from external influences. In addition to the term "body care/cosmetic products", which we use in our daily lives, we should also know the term "cosmeceuticals".
Cosmetic products are defined by dermatologists as products that go beyond beautifying or perfuming the skin and improve the skin and contain biologically active ingredients. The majority opinion is that these products should be evaluated to the same extent as alternative cosmetic products.
Evaluation of microbial load in body care/cosmetic products
For healthy skin, most body care/cosmetic products are harmless. If the production, storage, transport, and sale of the products take place under suitable conditions and undergo strict controls, no known problems arise. However, if the necessary conditions are not met, this is problematic from the point of view of quality and consumer health. In particular, it can lead to contamination of the product with microorganisms and thus to spoilage.
This means a health risk for the consumer.
Mechanical injuries, burns or skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis are sensitive conditions that can lead to a dysfunction of the skin barrier. In this case, the use of contaminated body care/cosmetic products increases the possible damage. This also applies to children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system.
There are two possibilities for microbial contamination in a body care/cosmetic product.
- During manufacture or packaging
- During use by the consumer
Every product that is manufactured on the basis of the relevant regulations or international standards must be analyzed with regard to the specified ingredients and the microbial properties and confirmed as compliant by a competent authority.
Otherwise, there is a risk of harming the consumer. This possibility also leads to damage for the manufacturer, for example through a recall of the product or the failure to pass the corresponding controls.
Studies on microbial contamination
In a study on this topic, the contamination risk of the relevant products was examined using unopened/unused products, and notable results were obtained. In the examination of 100 personal care and cosmetic products, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli, yeasts and molds, as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination were assessed, and the results were compared with internationally recognized standards.
The products randomly selected in retail stores were examined and identified for microorganisms on the basis of the standard EN ISO 21150. According to this standard, which includes direct colony count and enrichment culture, the following results were obtained:
- Direct colony count: Total number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (total number of aerobic microorganisms and total number of yeasts and molds)
- In the enrichment culture were certain harmful pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans
detected.
For 100 samples, a microbiological risk of 19 % was found. The obtained data are listed in the following table.
In 15 samples, contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria was detected.
| Product | Contamination values |
| Talcum powder | 200 – 8965 CFU/g |
| Toothpaste | 7623 CFU/g |
| Hair gel | 700 – 2345 CFU/g |
| Body care products | 1120 - 5780 CFU/g |
| Care products for face and neck | 4200 – 6876 CFU/g |
| Henna products | 500 – 57,000 CFU/g |
In 13 samples, contamination with yeasts and molds was found.
| Product | Contamination values |
| Talcum powder | 100 – 1872 CFU/g |
| Oral hygiene products | 1239 – 7623 CFU/G |
| Hair gel | 700 – 2345 CFU/g |
| Body care products | 300 - 2462 CFU/g |
| Moisturizing cream for the face | 2369 CFU/G |
| Henna products | 100 - 7500 CFU/g |
As already mentioned, microbial contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeasts was found in new or partially used cosmetic products. The data obtained show that talcum powder and henna products have a high microbial load. The increased contact with air can be seen as the cause of this. The products tested were negative for contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli.
What measures should manufacturers of personal care/cosmetic products take?
Hersteller von Körperpflege-/Kosmetikprodukten sollten zahlreiche Maßnahmen ergreifen, um finanzielle Einbußen und Reputationsverluste zu vermeiden und zu zeigen, dass sie der Gesundheit der Verbraucher Vorrang einräumen. Sie sollten für ausreichende Hygiene sorgen und ihre Produkte regelmäßig von zugelassenen Labors testen lassen. Im Rahmen der mikrobiologischen Untersuchungen von Kosmetika ist es wichtig, mit einem nach “ISO 21150 Kosmetika – Mikrobiologie – Suche nach Escherichia coli” akkreditierten Labor zusammenzuarbeiten, um den Prozess zu beschleunigen und eine Produktion mit korrekten Ergebnissen zu gewährleisten.