Childhood contact allergy rate growing in Finland

Allergic contact dermatitis on human foot

Childhood contact allergies have increased markedly in Finland over the past two decades, according to a study conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland. The rise is especially notable in allergies caused by chemicals in cosmetics and adhesives.

According to the study, published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica, contact allergies are surprisingly common among children. The most significant growth has been observed in allergies caused by cosmetic ingredients. Researchers note that the increase in adhesive-related allergies is linked to glucose sensors used in diabetes care, but among young people, these allergies are also possibly related to eyelash extensions or artificial nails, which are applied using adhesives.

In a press release from the university, the authors note that contact allergies may be permanent once developed and can influence a child’s future career choices.

“We need to address the trend of children starting to use cosmetics at an increasingly early age and in much greater quantities than before,” said study author Dr. Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu, in the release. “Even very young children admire the use of face masks and lip gloss, and teenagers today use cosmetics far more extensively than they did a couple of decades ago. Few parents realize that this significantly exposes children to, for example, preservatives in cosmetics—thus increasing their risk of developing contact allergies, which can cause, for instance, persistent facial rashes.” Dr. Sinikumpu is a dermatologist and allergologist, and an associate professor at the University of Oulu.

No similar nationwide registry study on contact allergies in the entire child population of Finland has been conducted before. Even internationally, there are few comparable studies on the subject.

The study data were derived from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care (CRHC) and included all children diagnosed with contact allergy by a dermatologist in specialized healthcare between 2001 and 2021.