Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone (aka Kathon CG)

methylisothiazolinoneI don’t know many people who can actually say either of these names.  There are a number of acronyms used, but my favourite coping strategy is used by the owner of a small personal care company who simply refers to the combination as ‘methy whatsits’.  Now I’ve put that out there I hope you’ll join me in trying to make that the standard term for this preservative combination.  

I say combination because these two preservatives always used to be used together.    Recently it has been possible to use just the Methylisothiazolinone.  I’ll come to the motivation behind that a bit later.

Sensitive Skin Newsletter

Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone combined – the perfect preservative?

They are very good preservatives.  The combination works extremely well at astonishingly low levels.  Around 15ppm is just about the maximum that is ever used and it often does well at much lower levels.

Both the components are highly water soluble, and have hardly any potential to penetrate the skin or to build up in the body if they manage to do so.  They are also readily biodegradable.  The combination of very low use levels, high biodegradability and zero risk of accumulation in fatty tissues make them a very environmentally friendly option.  If you have read Silent Spring, or my review of it, you’ll be well aware that accumulation in tissues can  have unpredictable and undesirable consequences.   No such worries with the methy whatsits.

They have also been extensively tested for potential carcinogenicity, and have passed with flying colours.

Is Methylchloroisothiazolinone Alone the Answer?

Unfortunately they have an Achilles heal.  At high concentrations they are quite bad skin irritants.  This is a real tragedy, because in every other respect they really are the ideal preservative system.  It is a shame because this irritancy really isn’t a problem so long as you keep the concentration low enough.  Unfortunately as you’ll see from my post about patch testing of cosmetic preservatives it is only too possible for a preservative to get an undeserved reputation.  And this is particularly true of this pair.

The trade name is much easier to pronounce.  It is Kathon CG.  Kathon CG has been widely criticised for its sensitisation.  I think it is impossible to dismiss the fact that it is a sensitiser, but it is easy to exaggerate just how bad it is.  In particular if you look at the extensive literature it is pretty rare to find it studied at its typical use level in actual products.

Kathon CG is regularly slated on blogs extolling the benefits of natural products.  It is so easy to find data about its skin sensitising properties it would be rather surprising if it didn’t.  Needless to say this information is usually presented as if this is a major scandal.  I don’t know what can be done about this.  The simple statement ‘Kathon CG is a potent skin sensitiser’ is true.   The more accurate ‘Kathon CG is a potent skin sensitiser at levels well above its normal use levels, but despite that it is still a good choice because it is so effective you can use it at really low levels so you get hardly any skin reactions in normal use’ doesn’t really trip off the tongue nearly as well.

How much of a problem are Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone?

The reality is that you are very unlikely indeed to have any problems with a product that contains this preservative.  It is used in some very big selling products indeed and if it was really giving rise to a lot of reactions it would be changed.  But once something gets a bad name it is a devil of a job to shift it.  Recently it has become possible to get the methylisothiazolinone on its own.  This is the least sensitising of the two and so this might be a chance to re-evaluate it.  But the trouble is it is still going to look bad when tested at a high level in a patch test.  And I don’t think many consumers pay that much attention to the details.  But maybe I am too pessimistic and this will give us a new option.   I hope so.

In the meantime, I think that Kathon CG and its derivatives are very close to being the ideal preservative.  Whenever I need to preserve something in the lab – which is quite often, bugs are everywhere – it is my first choice.  It hasn’t let me down yet.

This recent review by the EU’s scientific committee makes it clear just how much data, and just how positive that data is, for this combination of materials.  The only issue of concern was sensitisation, which was considered as not an issue in rinse off products.  It did not draw any conclusion about its suitability in leave on products.

http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_009.pdf

A review paper from 2000 that finds reactions to this material to be comparable to other preservatives.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10908182

Israeli review of skin reactions which again showed relatively low levels of reactions.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16958921

Patch tests on a large sample of nearly 2,000 eczema patients only elicited 1.6% patch test reactions to Kathon CG.  This was using a level much higher than would be used in cosmetics.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18709291




106 thoughts on “Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone (aka Kathon CG)”

  1. Colin,
    (second attempt to submit a comment so I hope this is not duplicated!)
    A really good post on an interesting topic. As an ex-biocider (who can still pronounce the names) I am now pretty neutral on biocide choice. Some points worthy discussion of discussion perhaps:

    If I remember correctly (and I don’t have the data any more) MIT has to be used at higher concentrations than CMIT/MIT blends to achieve the same preservation efficacy – not because MIT is so bad but because CMIT is effective at very low concentrations indeed. This has implications for cost-effectiveness as well as chossing the right concentration when comparing possible adverse effects.

    Microbiologists (who should know better than I do) used to tell me it was a bad idea to base a preservation strategy on only one class of compounds as that means there is only one antimicrobial mechanism in play which may leave gaps in the efficacy spectrum and encourage tolerance. So better to use CMIT/MIT in combination with a completely different preservative.

    Your point about skin senstisation at “much higher than normal use” levels is very well made. The lack of general understanding of the difference between hazard classification and risk assessment leads to opinions of the sort you refer to. I won’t go further into this debate except to repeat the mantra: Risk = Hazard x Exposure…

  2. I’m one of those rare persons who can’t use them (in concentrations permitted in the EU). It took me a while to find out. Previously I’ve thought all liquid soaps (not really soaps, but that’s what they’re called) had to be irritating (drying actually, but dryness irritates). I have been using various Avon Senses liquid soaps, the only difference being fragrance and colour, so after a few bottles I’ve stopped reading the labels. Some 5 or 6 different Avon Senses liquid soaps irritated me. The next one (some LE summer or winter scent) didn’t. I checked the label, these 2 preservatives weren’t listed (the other ingredients were the same).

    Because of paraben scaremongering some products are being reformulated using methylisothiazolinone (Eucerin):( Will there be any products left for me?

  3. Hi Colin,

    I was going to ask you about these very chemicals as I was perusing over my new bottle of Panten shampoo this evening (in the bath) and wondering if those chemophobes were right – the longer the chemical name the more heinous the chemical. My instinct was that they were either misinformed or merely cretins but I needed some facts or at least some sensible discussion. Again thank you for your very interesting artical.

    How about one on sodium lauryl sulphate…is it really that bad? I noticed it in the pantent as well and also have seen it in my kids emulsifying ointment.

    Rebecca

  4. You really DO know how to pick ’em! Interesting read – as with any ingredient, there is a limitation to the levels that can be used without irritating the skin. There are scarier things that could be used. Give me an article on DMDM Hydantoin!

  5. maybe of interest – Low-level efficacy of cosmetic preservatives
    M. D. Lundov1, J. D.
    Synopsis
    Preservation using combinations of preservatives has several advantages. This study shows that the concentration of some of the most frequently used allergenic preservatives can be markedly lowered when they are combined with phenoxyethanol. The antimicrobial efficacy of cosmetic preservatives and known allergens of various potency [diazolidinyl urea, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI), methylisothiazolinone (MI) and phenoxyethanol] was tested alone and in various combinations of two or three preservatives together. The preservatives were tested for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and possible synergy using fractional inhibitory concentration. MCI/MI was the only preservative showing low-level MIC against all four tested microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Different combinations of the preservatives indicated additive effects against the microorganisms. No combination of preservatives showed any inhibitory action on each other. Challenge tests with different concentrations and combinations were performed in a cosmetic cream. Diazolidinyl urea and MCI/MI alone were ineffective against C. albicans in a challenge test at concentrations up to 16 times higher than the observed MIC values. When combining phenoxyethanol with either one of the allergenic preservatives diazolidinyl urea, MCI/MI or MI, the cosmetic cream was adequately preserved at concentrations well below the preservatives’ MIC values as well as 10–20 times below the maximum permitted concentrations. By using combinations of preservatives, effective preservation can be achieved with lower concentrations of allergenic preservatives
    International Journal of Cos Science April 2011

    1. Fascinating stuff Dan. Of course, as I am sure you realise, using a combination of preservatives mean there are more names on the ingredient list which makes you even more vulnerable to scare stories. Ingredient lists are probably, on balance, a good thing. But they do have some perverse effects as well.

  6. Out of the 160 different chemicals I have been wearing on my back for a week, what is the one chemical I am actually allergic to???

    Methylisothiazolinone

    Your right I probably can’t say it, I am a mere diploma graduate.

    I work using my hands in a drying environment where I am exposed to numerous toxins on a daily basis.

    I come home and as I have the dreaded eczema the most allergenic substance I thought I had in my home was the fur the cats drop. I use non bio detergent, I have cold water cleaning system – no chemicals just cloths, and I drink goat or soya milk, never cow.

    After hearing the results of my week without bath, I check through the list of products and ingredients I supplied to my dermatologist and find that the only one with Methylisothiazolinone is my hair conditioner. I’m lucky my hair doesn’t get greasy so I only wash it once or twice a week. I know I have to do a controlled study of not using Methylisothiazolinone for a while before I get reviewed again, but you should have seen the angry mess on my back, exactly where the Methylisothiazolinone was.

    If that was what was causing my splitting, dry and raw hands all this time, then low levels of this chemical can cause people to not be able to do the job they were trained to do, which impacts on health as well as socio-economic and psychological well-being. One tiny chemical with a long name and a lot to answer for.

  7. I’m sorry to hear about your experience Rags. If you have the time, it would be very public spirited to notify the manufacturer of your experience. All big cosmetic companies keep records of skin reactions reported to them and any product with an abnormally high level of complaints will be reformulated.

  8. My original visit to the web was merely to research food that my G6PD deficient son should avoid. My research on Napthalene then took me to MITs with someone referring to them as being chemically similar to ‘Agent Orange’. After reading your post I conclude that the amounts used as an ingredient are most probably harmless but I’d still like to know more. Are they best avoided in cleaning products (one of which I have and had to refer to their website — wasn’t listed on bottle)
    Thank you

    1. Similar to agent orange? I haven’t heard that one before. There is no particular similarity I can see. I think MIT is safe enough.

  9. Colin, this is really interesting. The preservative I use doesn’t contain the M-thingies, but this one looks interesting and I may be tempted to give them a try. Do you know if there are any PH restrictions and are they good for formulas that are low on water and heavy on oil?

    rags and rhelune, check out you local soap makers (do a search on the internet or pop into your local farmers market). Cold Processed soap doesn’t contain preservatives and natural liquid soap (made with lye not from surfactants) doesn’t either. Depending on the style of your local soap maker, they may also sell balms, creams and other things without these preservatives and if you get to know them, may even be able to make something specifically for you, avoiding anything you are allergic to.

    1. @Sabine If you are thinking of using them I suggest you’d do best to pick a blend with other preservatives. Euxyl K100 is one option but there are others. Do bear in mind that they get a lot of bad press and some toxicologists who do assessments are unwilling to sign them off in leave on products. I have never had the slightest problem with pH or oil levels.

  10. My daughter is alergic to Kathon cg or methy and on a recent trip to Turkey her eyes came up like golf balls, tracked it down to the biocide in the swiming pool full uf the stuff so take care.

    1. Preserving a swimming pool with Kathon CG? That must have cost them a fortune. And it wouldn’t work very well either. Oh well, there is no accounting for the things some people do. I hope your daughter has recovered.

  11. I’m just halfway through my allergy patch testing… had 150 one for past two days.
    Patches are now off, and the dreaded Methys “appear” to be my one downfall.
    Thats what has obviously brought me to this site – so thank you for the above informative post!
    Bizarrwe thing is, my body washes, shampoos and shaving gels don’t “seem” to have this ingredient in them.. the only thing in the house I can find is the Fairy washing Up Liquid.
    Surely doing the washing up once a day can’t make my skin that bad… can it?
    Maybe I should be digging deeper to try and find a resolve, but having wasted the last 9 months getting this far I’m running out of patience and bother!

  12. Originally, I was just allergic to formaldehyde but have developed the allergy to Kathon CG, which I’ve found out; it is fairly common to be allergic to both.

  13. Hi there! I too am allergic to this preservative, as my allergy test resulted.. Unfortunately, because there are easier things to be allergic to… I spend a lot of money and time checking all sorts of products in supermarkets and shops, and since this stuff is in almost everything, it’s fairly impossible for me to have no rash at all. My latest “irritation” has been with my lips, because apparently it’s being used in lipsticks and lipglosses too. The nasty thing with cosmetics is, you don’t always get the wrapping with it, so the ingredients are more difficult to trace.
    Imo, the washing up liguids and laundry liquids are unavoidable, because they all have methylisotiazolinone in it.. Still the question remains: could you get a rash from clothes washed in laundry liquid with methy?

  14. Hi – i recently have been tested as being allergic to this aswel. I am a hairdresser and was only working 5 hours a week in contact with it. I get reactions to clothes being washed in it, hair care products etc – some times you feel like you are going crazy as your itchy all the time. Biggest problem i have is not knowing or being able to find the ingredients listed and there are so many names for it. I have read somewhere that is very close to Agent Orange. ( my dad was a vietnam vet) We are now wondering if the exposure from him has been passed down to me. Hence why i am allergic.

    1. Hello Fiona. Sorry to hear about your troubles. I don’t think your father’s experience in Vietnam has anything to do with your allergy to this material. For a start, it bears no resemblance to Agent Orange. And even if it did it isn’t the sort of thing that gets passed on. It should be listed as Methylchloroisothiazolinone (and) methylisothiazolinone on ingredient lists, so it isn’t too difficult to work out what to avoid in cosmetic products. I didn’t realise it was used in laundry products. Maybe try switching to powder ones? They shouldn’t need preservation at all. (I don’t know much about laundry products so I stand to be corrected there if anyone knows better.)

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  16. I am also allergic to this preservative. I have absolutely no other allergies. actually it is not easy and almost impossible to find skincare product that do not contain this preservative. I am hoping to be proved wrong and someone knows an easier way to find them. I have been tested and this is certainly the thing I am allergic to. Instant reaction – eyes water, nose blocks and waters sking itchy and then raw. Any clues for a source and or website to find suitable skin care products (moisturisers etc) without of course promoting any brand. My initial reaction came with eye cream and moisturisers but it was whn the builders got to work with the “eco friendly” water based paint and glues that the really big contact reaction happened.

    Help and SOS

  17. I too have just been patch tested and found to be allergic to this substance. I have spent a few hours already, but can’t find a shampoo that does not contain it.
    Like Lesley above, is there a list of products free from this, it would be much easier to consult this than try and find out product by product, which is not easy. The shampoo I have been using contains this substance but it is not shown on the label, you have to go to the manufacturers site to find out. It seems rediculous that somewhere there is not an easy database that we can consult.
    Anybosy know of one? or at least a shampoo?

  18. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I am beginning to think that it would be useful to have a ‘free from’ list online somewhere. The trouble is it would be troublesome to keep it up to date. I might try and create one on here for a while as an experiment to see how difficult it is.

  19. A free from list would be invaluable. There are lists about of those that contain it but no accompanying list to point you ate the positive (ie products that do not). I have taken to emailing companies and asking them. It is time consuming but there seems no other way. I realise that we that suffer reactions to this preservative are a small minority but still….

    One thing to say is that many “natural” products also contain it. So you really have to be sure. Sadly anything that does not contain it seems to more expensive than those that do (all to do with economy of scale I assume).

    Hope you start your list Colin! I could start with my small list that I have already if you ever decide to experiment.

    Erin

  20. My daughter has developed an allergy to methylchloroisthiazolinone! …and I’ve learned the word as it’s contained in so many different products! Her reaction to it has been severe so I now have to take my glasses and read the labels on every product that comes into contact with her skin, from skin care products, cosmetics and hair products to sun creams to detergents…the list is endless and as some others have mentioned, it isn’t always listed on product labels. L’oreal Elvive is one of the only hair product brands that don’t contain the dreaded ingredient, SOME of the Timotei range are OK but we got caught out with that one as some of the range contains it. Ironically, the product that caused the worst reaction in the patch testing (apart from the individual ingredient) was Huggies baby wipes, the packaging claiming them to be ‘as gentle as cotton wool and water’!

  21. Hi interesting coments. I to have just been tested and the results show that my allergy is methylisothiazlino which came up in my Clarins make up and pantene shampoo. I was so bad over christmas with my eyes and face it spoilt my holiday the make up was a gift from my husband who thought that I would be better with this class of product. I am trying simple soap and shampoo as it is not listed as having this agent in it. Avon produts appear to use this agent as well.

    1. Thanks for sharing that Gill. I think Simple are generally a pretty good bet for people with sensitive skin, but it would be good to hear of a positive experience from an actual sufferer. Incidentally Simple tend to use the parabens as their preservative of choice from what I can see. This is probably the best option for minimising skin reactions overall, but it obviously won’t suit everybody.

  22. Hi I just linked to your website from British Beauty Blogger and I think it’s great. I get so annoyed about mis-represented test results – in all areas of science, so thank you.

    Also if you are looking for more products for your list, I *think* the NakedBodyCare products are free of the Methy Whatsits.

    1. Thanks for your kind words Sarah. Naked look like a responsible natural company who don’t indulge in scaremongering, and their products look fun. They don’t talk about the azonilones on their website but I haven’t found any listed on any of their packs yet. As a green company they shouldn’t have any particular issue with them so I don’t think we can assume they are all okay.

  23. Hi just thought I would let you know that I have had an email from ECOVER they have confirmed from their lab in Belgium that their products do not contain Methy Whatsits so thats good news for me I am so scared to use anything at the moment having just been tested and found that all my swollen eyes, face and iritation was due to this horrible chemical. I can start cleaning again.

  24. HI Colin I have spent some time with the girls in my local Body Shop they have huge books which contain all the ingredients they use in their products, they also gave me some samples to try. Early this week I e-mailed Body shop and have just had a reply back from their customer services to say that their technical team can confirm that they do not use METHLISOTHIAZOLINONE in any of their product and it doesn’t have an alternative name. I thought this might be helpful to you. Only last week I was tested and confirmed that it was methy whatsit that was causing all my problem and was so worried that I could not use any cosmetics again but I now have new hopes.

    1. @Dr Jardin – thanks for drawing this to my attention. Can I draw your attention to the link at the bottom. http://ijt.sagepub.com/content/29/4_suppl/187S.abstract of that link. It shows that this paper was included in the CIR review’s assessment of this product which specifically concluded that it was not a neurotoxin at the levels used in cosmetics. Thanks for your contribution and hopefully I have put your mind at rest.

  25. Hi, Does anyone know which household cleaners do not contain methylchoroisothiazolinone i have recently had a patch test which has concluded i have an allergy to this.

    Thanks

  26. Wow – can’t believe there are other folks out there with same allergy to ‘methy thingies’ as me. I was patch tested in 1987/88 and have never met anyone with same allergy!

    It was much harder back in the 80’s and 90’s, before the level of product labelling we have today, to find ‘methy thingie’ free products.

    However, my biggest reaction has always been to paint and as there is no labelling on paint pots it’s always been a case of try it and see and then having to live with the rashes etc.

  27. After suffering for years with swollen, itchy eyelids, and cracked hands an allergy test six years ago showed I was allergic to a range of ingredients, one of them methychloroisothiazoline also formaldehyde. I religiously check shampoos , creams and conditioners and have found the Simple range, some Loreal,do not contain methy. however, I do check everytime because I have found that manufacturers change ingredients quite often. This is I feel an important point to make as you do get complacent. I came to this site after suffering again in the past week with itchy burnt skin and swollen lips, and feel quite relieved that the others suffer and I am not just neurotic as I have been told! I have always used Nivea lotion to take off my make up but after checking was horrified to see it has methy in! So going to look for a cleanser without this at lunchtime, which may take some time. I am pleased I have found a no nonsense site.

  28. I have also bee tested allergic to the methy….. I am a hairstylist & am finding it in everything I use. I have had a terrible problem with exema on my lips & am reading labels & searching the net for info. I also can’t find a list of products free of methy.. I apreciate chatting w people who share my dilemma!

  29. Interesting read. Well written and thought out, a very balanced and un-bias article and I appreciate the personal level of the conclusion…an honest opinion is always refreshing.

    I must conclude that it seems no-one has enough data to make a definitive statement on this topic.

    For me, a point of concern about the studies ratifying the use of ‘Methy’ such as the one referred to on March 11th by ‘Dr Jardin’ & ‘Colin’ is the conflict of interest in these studies, both for and against the matter.

    This is the review aforementioned.
    http://ijt.sagepub.com/content/29/4_suppl/187S.abstract

    This review is part of the ‘International Journal of Toxicology’ directed by one F. Alan Andersen, Ph.D.
    http://www.fdaaa.org/fdaaa_leadership/aAndersen.php

    Here is an interview with F. Alan Andersen, Ph.D.
    http://personalcaretruth.com/2011/08/the-cosmetic-ingredient-review-and-safe-cosmetics/

    In this interview, Andersen states, “The CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) program was created 35 years ago by the cosmetics industry with the support of the FDA and the Consumer Federation of America.”

    The CIR website states, “The Cosmetic Ingredient Review was established in 1976 by the industry trade association (then the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, now the Personal Care Products Council), with the support of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. Although funded by the Council, CIR and the review process are independent from the Council and the cosmetics industry. CIR operates under a set of procedures.”

    From the Personal Care Products Council website, “Based in Washington, D.C., the Personal Care Products Council is the leading national trade association representing the global cosmetic and personal care products industry. Founded in 1894, the Council represents more than 600 member companies who manufacture, distribute, and supply the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the U.S. As the makers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on everyday, from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, lipstick and fragrance, personal care products companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation.”

    My point? Andersen himself said that the CIR, set up to help regulate the practice of the cosmetics industry, is bankrolled by the cosmetics industry. As someone who is not a docter, an end user of said products and reliant on the integrity of these reports, the conflict of interest here means I simply cannot trust any report coming from the CIR and affiliate companies. So who can you trust? Although their practice is completely legal, and this may make people sleep easier at night, the moral implications for me on a personal level are massive.

    I have found the same problem when comparing test results of supposed ‘independent’ review companies bankrolled by chemical companies involved in the production of psychotropic medication. It seems logical to assume (despite assumption being a very dangerous business) that other areas of the scientific study are payed for in much the same way.

    Wherever profit is involved, it will forever be a difficulty to find out the true facts.

  30. Juan Carlos Rodriguez

    It is true that Methylthiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone are used to straighten and relaxing hair , in products in high concentrations.
    If this is possible, what concentration can be used ?

    best Regards

    Juan Carlos Rodriguez

    1. The concentrations used are tiny and way too low to have any effect on the hair. I don’t think that they would have a hair straightening effect at any concentration.

  31. I have also recently patch tested positive to these two ingredients and just wanted to warn everyone thinking they’re buying products without these, that they can be hidden under the term “fragrance” and “parfum.”
    This information came directly from my amazing dermatologist. You can’t find hardly anything without fragrance so I’m trying to find products that a) don’t list either preservative, b) are fragrance free, & c) or lists fragrance as the very last ingredient in hopes that at least lowering the exposure may help.
    Good luck to everyone…this is miserable!

    1. Sorry to hear that patch test result Tracy. As you say, it really is miserable.

      I don’t think that thing about fragrances is right. I have never come across a fragrance that contained any preservative and I can’t think of any reason why one should contain one. If a product isn’t labelled with methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone then it shouldn’t contain them.

  32. Hi, My partner has recently tested allergic to Kathon so we’re busy researching. Thank you everyone for your comments and useful information. Someone asked about laundry liquid and makeup (okay he doesn’t wear makeup but I’m trying to clear everything in the household for him). We tend to buy organic, so that has helped. So far the Castille style “soaps” have proved clear, and so has the “Ecover” brand of household products. The beauty of Ecover is their website lists all ingredients. Our next big challenge is the pool. I have emailed the pool chemical supplier (as provided by the pool company) but no reply yet. Good luck everyone – but take heart, his symptoms cleared very quickly once we took control of the chemicals in the house and his workplace.

  33. Hi just had patch testing done and have found out allergic to Methylisothiazolinone, is this known by other names Help please

    Thanks

    1. @Anne EU regulations and similar ones in most other countries require consistent ingredient labelling so it should be labelled as methylisothiazolinone on all products that contain it. Very small companies sometimes get these things a bit wrong and put the trade name on. In that case it will be called Kathon CG or Euxyl K100. But most of the time you can trust the ingredient list.

  34. I had patch testing done this week and am allergic to Methylisothiazolinone. Wow! This is so new to me and is very overwhelming.. Thank-you for having this website. It has been very helpful. My dermatologist recommended free & clear products. Have not tried them yet. Also vanicream products.

  35. I too am allergic and my immunologist gave me a list that is updated in almost real time of products that are free of both kathon and benzoyl peroxide (my other irritant). These lists come from databases and your doctor should be giving you one as part of treatment

  36. Last week a patch test revealed I’m severely allergic to methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone – a cause for celebration, really, because now I at least know what caused the horrific eczema that has eben covering my face for the last three months. Apparently, I got sensitized back in October while doing a complete renovation of my apartment, using common white paint for all the walls and ceilings in every room. None of my cosmetic products contain the methy stuff – but since the paint does, it could easily be singled out as the main offender. Unfortunately, even three months later I’m still reacting quite strongly to the fumes when I’m in the apartment. According to the methylisothiazolinone-allergy-hotline from the paint company (amazingly almost every paint company here in Germany seems to have one) that problem might last another six months if I’m unlucky. However, they also told me that it’s possible to neutralize the methy whatsits with a solution of sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, which needs to be applied to all surfaces covered with the paint. I decided to wait another month before I try this, hoping the fumes lessen to a tolerable degree by themselves until then. Has anyone else heard of the sodium thing or maybe even tried it? I’d love to know if it’s really worth the trouble.

  37. I have just done some alergy tests because I’ve had rashes for months on and off and it is because Kathon CG, so it’s not so ideal…

  38. Linda C.Farsund

    Merhylizothiazolinone ( and yes, i can pronounce it) has made my life a living hell for almost a year before i got tested and my dermatologist identified the problem( the specialists waiting list are very long in Norway so its not uncomon to have to wait almost a year before you get an appointment) I have big boils and exema inside my hands and arms and have to cover them with ointment, gauze and gloves both during day and at night because of the pain. The product that triggered my reaction was Aussie shampoo and conditioner (Australian brand)

  39. I have been dealing with this for a couple years. I have had eczema from the time I was an infant to about 17 years old. Then I pretty much kept it under control with creams. I have never been able to wear lipstick or nail polish but could wear eye shadow, eye liner and mascara. About 3 years ago my eczema came back with an attitude. I finally broke down and had the tests, after 25+ years of peace. I was allergic to MCI and MI (shorten version). I am still finding products that don’t list these ingredients, like dish detergent. I even break out playing with my daughters hair because she uses products with these ingreds. My poor husband had to change shampoos for this reason.
    I have found I can use Aveeno bodywash and Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. I am going to try some of the products you guys have listed. I am Still looking for a good sunscreen because I seem to break out after using several of them. I am allergic to Caine products so thats tricky on sunburn. Lol And I don’t know if Gain Laundry detergent has MCI and MI in them but I can just hug someone who washes their clothes in that stuff and go crazy. Anyone else have that problem?
    Colin, I read the post about the swimming pool and Biocide and was curious about the relations to MCI and MI because after I’m in a pool for a few minutes my eyes and face start itching like crazy and I end up having to get out and dry my face off.
    Thanks again for the helpful information on here and I can’t wait for that list either. I don’t blame you if you give that idea up though. Exhausting work!

  40. I’m so pleased I’ve stumbled upon this website, I shall continue to check for updates on what I can and cannot use. After 18 months of suffering with eczema/dermatitis on my body and face, I’ve finally been patch tested and today discovered I am allergic to methychloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, thimerosal, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol and nickel. My initial feeling is one of being overwhelmed and afraid I’m allergic to the entire world, but I really want/need to sort this and get my life – and healthy skin – back. I still can’t pinpoint when/why my various eczema areas began to flare up on a daily basis, but I’m hoping one day it will all be history. Recently I’ve been using Aveeno products which are very comforting. Any other advice happily received!

  41. A few more MCI/MI free products e-mailed privately to me by Mitzy

    This is from my Allergist – Examples of Products FREE of CI+ e-Isothiazolinone. Free ‘N’ Clear Shampoo & Conditioner. Almay products. Sisley Botanical Pressed Powder with Hawthorne. Orlane Creme Cover-up. Sisley Botanical eye shadow.

  42. Diane Harrison

    I was diagnosed earlier this year with contact dermatitis and then I used asda little angles baby wipes on my face they must have changed their formula and my face broke out terribly I went back to hospital and got patch tested last week and found out im allergic to methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone(kathlon CG) so far I have detected it is contained in anti bacterial products in a high dose found it in fairy liquid and handwash. I also found out the contact dermatitis is down to these products too!!!!! where can I find out ALL the products this horrible product is in????

  43. Colin thanks for all your valuable and helpful information. My wife found she has the methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone allergy. its a real nightmare finding products that are not only safe for her to use and for me to use as well. we found the soap and shave cream i was using was also causing her skin irritation. i’ve switched them and it has alleviated some of her problems, but i need a dandruff shampoo….any suggestions?

  44. Thanks for drawing that article to my attention – I was wondering why this post was getting so much traffic over the last couple of days. I can’t say that I have seen anything that indicates anything like an epidemic. This preservative does get used a lot, and consequently does generate a lot of reactions but I haven’t seen anything to justify that news story. In particular, the regulations haven’t changed so the statement that higher levels are now permitted is simply factually wrong.

    The reality is that any widely used preservative is going to generate reactions. If everyone in the industry uses the same small number of preservatives then people who have a problem with them are going to struggle to find products that they can use.

  45. I wish I could upload a photo of my fingertips a few weeks ago, before I was diagnosed with this allergy. My friends actually said it looked as though I had leprosy. Secondary infection crept in and my fingernails were literally being pulled off by the infection underneath, my hands looked as though I had severe chemical burns. It was horrific. If you could have seen that, you would know just how bad this preservative can affect the skin.

  46. Just got a note through from Janet

    Allergy
    Message I have received a message from Ecover that all their products are MI/MCI free except Stain Remover, Non Biological Laundry Gel and Bio Laundry Gel. They do a wide range of household cleaning products. I am based in UK so not sure if these products are available worldwide.

  47. Another range that is free of MI/MCI from Janet. I don’t know anything about this company myself.

    “I am delighted to confirm that a wonderful skin care range called Emma Hardie http://www.emmahardie.com do not contain MCI & MI had this confirmed from the company direct.”

  48. Hi, really hoping you can help as I have a few technical questions which I’m struggling to find answers to! For the last few months I’ve looked like a cross between a chemical burns / car crash victim on a daily basis. This has finally been attributed to a Methylchloroisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone allergy following patch testing last week. I’m therefore trying to eradicate my home of everything that contains it – so far ALL my cleaning products and 90% of my cosmetics! I just wanted to know if Isothiazolinone, Benzisothiazolinone and Chloroisothiazolinone are the same as Methylisothiazolinone? Or similar enough that I should be removing them too? Also am I correct in thinking Methylparaben is safe? I’m so paranoid of anything staring ‘Methyl’ or ending ‘Lione’, the last few months have been a living hell and I’m just desperate to do everything I can to make sure this problem doesn’t keep returning. Thanks in advance!

    1. Hi Beth,

      Okay you have asked two questions. To the first one, the way allergies work is that they are basically your body having a problem with a particular shape. That shape can be any size. So any molecule that has that shape will trigger off the reaction. There is no way of knowing without doing a lot more work whether you are allergic to methylchloroisothiazolinone alone, or if any member of the family will have the same effect. If I were in your position I’d avoid anything with the ‘thiazolinone’ bit in the name. I can’t be sure this is good advice, but that does seem to be the bit that causes the most problem.

      The methyl bit of the name is a group that is found on a great many chemicals and I doubt very much you are allergic to that bit. This means that you should be fine with methylparaben. Methylparaben and its relatives like propylparaben are very different in structure to the thiazolinones so you should be fine with them. In fact skin reactions to parabens are very infrequent indeed which is one of the reasons they are so popular with cosmetic scientists. I think you should be fine with them.

      I have just today posted a list that a sufferer has passed onto me of safe products compiled by an American dermatologist. You might find it helpful.

      http://colinsbeautypages.co.uk/list-mimci-free-products/

  49. Hello me again,

    Sorry to be a pain but I need some further advice… despite eradicating MI etc. from my home, the flair ups keep happening. My face is no better than before. I was told by a lady in Lush yesterday that in this country companies aren’t legally required to list ingredients on beauty products if the ingredient makes up less than 3% of the item. Surely this can’t be true, but I’m thinking if it is, maybe I’m still using cosmetics which have it in and it’s just not listed on the packaging…

    1. I’m afraid the lady in Lush is misinformed. If a product contains MI then it will be on the pack. Cosmetics aren’t the only things that contain MI so that might explain it. Or you could be allergic to something else in addition.

  50. I have been suffering from swollen, burning, itchy eyes for a few months now. Was told by dermatologists to use no cosmetics, no perfumes, and no fragrant candles. They told me to use Cliniderm shampoo and conditioner, cetaphil as a body soap, glaxal base as a moisturizer and Vaseline petroleum jelly, marcelle deodorant,along with a prescription for cortisone cream for the eyes. All these products are fragrance free and preservative free. I still don’t know what I am allergic to and will only be getting my patch tests at the end of the month. I am convinced that I am allergic to methylchloroisothiazolinon . A few months ago we built a new room in our home I am wondering if the products used are causing me this problem, also decided to use a huggies wipe last week without thinking that gave me a severe allergic reaction that sent me to the hospital. Do any of you feel that you get a reaction simply by something someone else uses in your household? I am currently having a flare up and I have not used anything that would trigger me, except perhaps entering that newly renovated room….hmmmm??

  51. Hi. My daughter over tha last 2 yrs has suffered severe reactions to her hands and lips with what looks like chemical burns and was patch tested and found she is allergic to mythlwhatsit. And since the test it has spread across her body. It’s been horrid and very upsetting to see her suffer in such pain and that her 2 young children have had to do the washing cleaning and sometimes dressing of their mum whilst in so much pain and distress this alone has made her feel like a but if a useless mum. Though she is a wonderful mother to her children and they love her so much. I am very grateful to everyone of you who unfortunately suffer from this same debilitating problem but would like to thank you for your input. As this has given her hope that there is things to use without this mtthlwatsit in and to get better and maybe through my search I can leave some info and new advice to help others. Thank you. Sharon.

  52. I have found out (without patch test) that I am also allergic to methylisothiazolinone. I do not get any itching, eczema or watery eyes, but a small swelling appears above my upper eyelids whenever I come into contact with MI. The swelling lasts for a few days, then goes down again. Does anyone else get a similar reaction?

    It is indeed difficult to avoid the stuff. I now use Timotei Pure shampoo which does not contain MI and is a very nice product, too. Cream E45 is good, as is the Ecover range of household cleaners.

  53. Does anybody know whether maybelline foundation has an ingrediant as known as ‘methylchloroisothiazolinone’ in it , its covered with that name when actually its ‘bleach’

  54. I recently took a patch test after multiple doctors to me that I had eczema. I am allergic to the chemical combination and it is VERY difficult to deal with. I used Herbal Essences for YEARS and it was in it. The company was great with customer service. I feel that after being named Allergen of the year. Awareness of this chemical preservative has risen and more and more people are being tested and coming up with a positive allergy to it. I think companies need to rethink the chemicals that they are putting in the products.

  55. Hello, I found out that I’m allergic to nickel and kathon cg. They gave me a list of names for this kathon, but I wonder if all those paraben names also contain kathon? (Methylparaben , ethylparaben, propylparaben) and what are the benzoyl ingridients are?… I’m being paranoid… I have itch that doesn’t goes away 🙁
    Thanks

    1. Kathon is the trade name for methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothazolinone. Those are the only names that should be used on ingredient lists and those are the only ones you need to avoid. The parabens such as methylparaben have a very low incidence of allergic reactions to them, so you can use products that contain them.

  56. roseane Alves Silva

    Tem um ano que fez o teste e descobri que sou alérgica a karthon CG.Fiquei um ano sofrendo sem saber fiquei muito mal meus braços enxado, meu corpo todo empolado sem falar a coseira .Agora é só evitar o conservante que fico bem; difícil quase tudo têm.

  57. I too am allergic to this dreadful chemical. Though I use the word ‘allergic’ I am not sure if that is correct. It is more that I am now sensitized. You see, I never had a problem until….I did.

    With this chemical you aren’t necessarily ‘born with’ an allergy, sensitization occurs after repeated exposure. That being said, some people are ‘born with’ highly sensitive skin. When these individuals are exposed to MI/MCI, or its other forms, they have a reaction. Some individuals, like myself, used products contains MI/MCI over a period of time and then had a reaction.

    I have been working to eradicate my home of all products that contain this chemical and it’s other variations and have discovered it is in EVERYTHING! Well, maybe not ‘everything’, but it is in alot more products than not. It is not always listed on the bottle, or on the ingredients list and is often included in many companies’ “proprietary formula”.
    Methyliothiazolinone/Methylchlorothiazolinone goes by other names and has other chemicals in its family. In the book, Contact Dermatitis fifth edition, it states “Isothiazolinones are marketed under many brand names, which make it easy to overlook the presence of these chemicals in the formulations.” This does make it difficult at times to know for sure if a product contains MI/MCI or another closely related chemical. Some other names to look for can be found at http://orlandoskindoc.com/Contact%20Dermatitis%20Forms/test.methycloroisothiazolinone.htm and https://books.google.com/books?id=sSHIlWSOiroC&pg=PA564&lpg=PA564&dq=methylisothiazolinone+other+names&source=bl&ots=lgEQQRt-Hc&sig=eqRpTH6SGEH72ubm-2VDSXJ_y0E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2Bk2VZTAO7XIsASx6YHQDw&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=methylisothiazolinone%20other%20names&f=false . This list continues to change but it is a start for those interested.

    As you can imagine, it is difficult but necessary for me to get these chemicals out of my home. I do not have as severe of a reaction as some, but my reactions are definitely bad. I have reacted to sheets at a hotel that were washed in detergent containing this chemical. I have reacted to my husband and kids after they washed their hands with soap contain this chemical. I have reacted going in to someone’s home after they sprayed air freshener, because it contains this chemical. Truely the worst is when I reacted to toilet tissue. YES, toilet tissue where MI/MCI was used in the paper pulp process. The list goes on, but I am sure you get the point.

    My story is not uncommon and I am learning that the number of people allergic to MI/MCI is growing. The chemical under the brand name Kathon CG began use in the 80’s and had instant success, followed by a number of people becoming sensitized. In the 90’s the number of those sensitized to MI/MCI remained steady and in some countries even decreased. Since then, there has been a surge in companies opting for preservatives/biocides in the Isothiazolinone family instead of parabens. With it being used in more products, there is more exposure, leading to more people becoming sensitized. It was even the American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year in 2013.

    On paper this family of chemicals seems to be wonderful. The reality is, many suffer because of exposure to this product and that number will keep growing. I am not saying that a ban should take place (everything has a purpose), but I strongly feel that ANY product containg ANY of the Isothiazolinones should have it listed ON THE LABEL.

    1. Hello Melissa, I certainly agree that all products that contain preservatives should make that clear to purchasers. It is of course the case with cosmetic products that the preservatives will be included with the other ingredients on the ingredient list. Unfortunately there is no such requirement for other categories such as household goods and paints.

  58. I have had a skin issue for almost three years now. Until recently the dermatologist could not find a reason for my skin condition. I had redness, swelling, itching and fluid-filled blisters on my face, neck, arms and hands. I had problems sleeping because of the burning and itching on my skin. I had patch testing done and it was discovered that I am allergic to Methylisothiazolinone. Now doing research into what products I can use without this preservative. I am tossing out most of the soaps, lotions, sun screens etc. Most products do not have a complete list of ingredients on their products, so I am contacting the companies that manufacture the products.

  59. After 6 years of high potency steroids for a rare hand scalp and lip eczema. IIt was determined that I’m allergic. It was under my nose the whole time. In my shampoos and conditioners the lotion my dermatologist recommended and in others I substituted for. In my tooth paste.. The bar of soap that was also recommended. How much havoc did it cause me? I was covering 500 dollars in prescriptions. My head was crusted and itched constantly, and my hands I suffered secondary infections. It got so bad I could no longer work . they bled and oozed. I could no longer hold my child hands they were constantly wrapped.. Two weeks after removing it from my care products it cleared no steroids needed. I have scarring and nerve damage in my hands but I can tell you the allergy never existed when I was younger. It was a very emotional time for me so for those of us that are allergic it can be devastating.

  60. Tell that to my hands! Sure, in low doses these chemicals may well be fine, but if it’s in nearly everything (even toilet paper!!?!) then it becomes near impossible to NOT have high exposures. Since finding out these chemicals have been responsible for the horrific chemical burn reactions on my hands, I have had to get rid of 95% of the household products that I have relied on. Dish and clothes washing detergents, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, my sons eczema treatment, razors, surface sprays, fabric softeners, window cleaners, air fresheners, cream cleansers, make up, hair products, hair dyes, paint, carpet, cleaning sponges, carpet cleaners, stain remover, paper towels, baby wipes, womens sanitary products, hand wash… And pretty much any new things I buy with flame retardant in them – which is used in virtually all new products from bedding to upholstered furniture, to underwear and socks. So yeah, all good when the exposure is low – but when you are literally swimming in these products, all of those exposures add up to extremely painful chemical burn type reactions that leave my hands itching, weeping, bleeding, cracking, peeling, and becoming easily infected… Try doing normal daily activities in my state! I can’t even take lids of jars or containers at times its so bad.

  61. Natasha holloway

    I’ve been suffering with an horrendous dry itchy scalp which has now caused a rash on my neck and scaling in my ears my eyes have been itching and I realise it must be my shampoo I’ve been using Aussie shampoo for long hair I didn’t notice it was in it I reacted a while back to biore charcoal face wash where I looked like a burns victim after using once ! I wish companies would stop using this dreadful ingredient I’ve heard it’s used as a preservative but I would be happy to buy products with a shorter shelf life than have this

  62. Like many on these pages I am allergic to Kathon CG and related compounds, e.g. DMDM hydantoin, as I learned from patch testing after admission to hospital for anaphylactic shock. The dermatologists at the hospital where I was tested said that they found many cases of allergic reactions to these kinds of preservatives when used in shampoos, conditioners, and domestic cleaning materials.In their view and mine these compounds should never be used. They are included by manufacturers for their own benefit (prolongation of shelf-life) and have no benefits for consumers or the environment.

  63. Catherine Shaw

    Methylchloroisothiazolinone gave me horrible contact dermatitis on my face. Just awful! Redness, bumps, crusts, itching, pain. It should be banned.

  64. Who can tell me what helps your skin to “relax ” from Extreme reaction To Kathon CG
    What do u take ? Put on your skin ??

  65. Barbara Kingsley

    Yep. Just diagnosed by allergy patch tests – Methyisotriazolinone (hope I spelled it right). I have rewashed all clothing and fabrics I come in contact with. I use Dr. Bronner’s products for laundry, washing dishes, my hair, etc. Beware of toothpastes and mouthwashes. Check every label or go to websites. It has taken 3 months for the “burns” on my torso and legs to settle down a bit. I am wondering if some dental procedures include this chemical? I have had 2 failed dental implants and don’t want to go back to try it again until I’m sure.

  66. Pingback: Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) Free Dandruff Shampoos | Dandruff Deconstructed

    1. No it wouldn’t be legal to include methylisothiazolinone in a fragrance and not include it the ingredient list. It is also not something that any company would do. Why on earth would they? This is a story that I see from time to time in Facebook groups. It is pure fantasy.

  67. Hi Colin,

    There is a lot of info on the net regarding fragrance being a blanket term so it is very confusing, for me at least.

    “The term ‘fragrance’ is often a generic term used by manufacturers. A single listing of fragrance on your product’s ingredient list could represent dozens or even hundreds of unlisted chemical compounds which were used to create the final individual fragrance.

    Manufacturers do not have to list these individual ingredients as fragrance is considered to be a trade secret.”

    I enquired with Unilever about a specific shampoo and conditioner which doesn’t list MI in its ingredients. I asked if MI is “hidden” under fragrance / parfum. They sent me loads of links to their site which didn’t answer my question with a yes or no and they finally said there could be traces of MI.

    1. Hi Maria, I have just read your 2017 post with interest as I have done exactly the same by emailing Unilever to ask about 2 of their products that I’m happily using that don’t list MI/MCI as an ingredient (2nd time of asking them). First time they directed me to the ingredients but I hadn’t thought of it being hidden in fragrance. So emailed again but they just replied with the ingredients list again very promptly. I have again gone back to them as my question hasn’t been answered yet.
      Looks like I will be an avoiding their products now though.
      Did you ever get to the bottom of these hidden ingredients? Have things changed in the past 6 years?

      1. Hello Deborah, there is absolutely zero chance of MI/MCI being used in a fragrance intentionally, and I can think of no conceivable circumstances where it could happen accidentally. I don’t think there is a fragrance factory on earth that would even have the items together in the same warehouse. This is one thing you can definitely stop worrying about.

  68. Colins Beauty - Dishonest Sellout

    are you being paid by methylisothiazolinone manufacturers or something? funny how in the decade since you posted these, science has moved to disagree with your downplaying of this preservative. Many countries have reduced the levels of methylisothiazolinone allowed in products dramatically. It is widely recognized as a perverse allergen and irritant, and was named the contact allergen of the year a few years after you posted this! The truth is that this chemical compound causes skin reactions worldwide, people like you minimizing its potential for reactions and irritation is contributing to people not being able to identify this ingredient as the cause of their suffering as well as companies continuing to use it, furthering this cycle! Anyone reading this fool’s blog right now I beseech you, get off this site and go somewhere that offers real information that can help you and lead to relief. Because this aint it.

    1. I am not paid by methylisothiazolinone manufacturers. If I have made any errors in my blog I am happy to be corrected. But I will say there is a lot of very misleading information on the internet on this subject.

  69. Methylchloroisothiazolinone allergy has blighted my life for years.

    I’ve had eczema since I was a few months old. About the time that people started getting worried about parabens, the skin on my hands and face started to get unbearably itchy, swollen, red, dry. I started wearing cotton gloves. I couldn’t do any housework (and I have a dust allergy so that’s a problem – I hired a cleaner), I couldn’t brush or tie-up my young daughter’s hair, I couldn’t see properly, I couldn’t socialise, I had problems studying (I usually study to try to take my mind off my physical discomfort), I struggled to attend school events like sports days and Christmas plays (I was in too much discomfort, and reacting to other people’s perfume, hair products and laundry products), I wasn’t sleeping etc etc I ended up suicidal.

    EVENTUALLY a doctor took it seriously enough to refer me to a hospital dermatologist and I was diagnosed with this allergy. The dermatologist said she was seeing an “epidemic” of allergy to this substance and explained that legislation was coming in to have it removed from many products.

    I cut out everything in my house with this ingredient listed (shampoo, furniture polish, kitchen cleaning products, bathroom cleaning products, laundry products, air fresheners, paint, body wash, moisturisers etc etc etc) and the relief was incredible. I cautiously started cleaning with vinegar and added products slowly into the house. Some products do not list this as an ingredient, but my skin tells me that it’s there. I inform companies when I react. I think there is a minimum concentration level, below which manufacturers don’t need to declare it? I react below this level. They also hide it in “parfum” or “fragrance” sometimes.

    I see people using products containing this chemical on their young kids (my dermatologist explained that the more often you’re exposed to it, the more likely you are to become sensitised, and the more severe your reactions are likely to become), I see some other people suffering the same kinds of symptoms I experienced, oblivious to their allergy, as I was.

    Hopefully, the more people who become sensitised, the more quickly this thing will be outright banned. Until then I am ultra cautious about what I buy, and I still have to “socially distance” from anyone who’s using too much themselves. I cannot go into rooms that have been recently painted, or where certain plugin air fresheners are being used.

  70. It’s really not so rare anymore to find people troubled by this nasty chemical. Not only am I one of them but it has become increasingly problematic since it was determined that when used in combination,that is to say one product had Methylisothiazolonone and another product had Chloroisothiazolinone, new allergy sufferers can be created where they werent so before.
    It has become so prevalent we have our own group help page on Facebook, and it grows exponentially.
    I cant emphasize enough how how debilitating this chemical can be. And it literally takes very brief exposure for it to illicit a reaction in me. Simply washing my hands at a restaurant that seemingly had antibacterial soap in the dispenser, unbeknownst to me, caused me to wake in the middle of the night palms swollen to extremes and itching so bad scratching offered no relief. It was such a frustrating experience you literally wanted to cry. So please think twice before dismissing its victims as few and far between. Last I read it was 7 to 8 percent of the population was naturally allergic, but dont hold your breath on that figure new ones are being created every day.

  71. I find your cavalier attitude toward those of us who are highly allergic to this life wrecking unnecessary shelf life increasing poison disturbing at best.
    And this ad highly dubious, deceptive, and extremely hard to believe. Interesting how you make no mention of the scores of scientific data and reports about the neurological, cellular and genetic damage this dangerous chemical is causing, and Im sure you see people using products with it in them on their babies. Primarily because people like you make deceptive ads and cover up the damage it does. Trust me if those parents read a few of the lab reports that have been written up on this garbage they wouldnt be using it on their babies or themselves anymore.
    And why is this even necessary we’ve been living before it’s creation just fine. The only possible answer is extreme profit, and I’m a capitalist I believe in profit, but not like this, either that or your simply trying to un populate the planet by wrecking our DNA..

    It’s not only being used in a great deal of industrial products like paint carpet cleaning foams, adhesives, and now laundry detergent, and dish washing detergent and since it probably doesnt all get rinsed off we are now ingesting it to.
    Didnt you stop and ask yourself why the new name? You claim you arent promoting this product or being paid by them. Again another dubious claim since I just read about 8 marketing tricks and selling tactics in this article. “The perfect preservative” ” I saw people using it on their babies” “it is only too possible for a preservative to get an undeserved reputation”.

    Are you kidding me? Well I suppose it is an undeserved reputation, since it’s still being used and they haven’t . been charged with any crimes or sued into oblivion. I wonder if you’d like an invite to the Facebook support group page we have so you can see the lives this chemical has ruined.

    You make issue about it being used in low level amounts making it safe. No level of a substance with this kind of toxicity is safe, and funny how you never indicate the safe level your describing is 1 product, yet you neglect to point out the obvious. Its not only in personal care products galore but your being exposed by your laundry detergent adhesives, your ingesting it from dish washing detergent, its in baby wipes, It may be a safe level in the sense you wont have a reaction if your not allergic but then you use shaving creme, lotion, cosmetics, damn near everything which jacks up your exposure exponentially to disastrous levels. And saying it doesnt absorb through the skin is sheer lunacy, what do you think lotion does, or make up ? There is an absorbtion factor to everything that touches your skin. So your either ignorant or lying.

    They have also been extensively tested for potential carcinogenicity, and have passed with flying colours”
    It did no such thing and is being linked to neurological damage cell death, the kind that causes defects and cancer. Including a neuroscience lab report in 2002 showing positively in vitro
    RESULTS
    MIT is neurotoxic to neurons in culture
    https://www.jneurosci.org/content/22/17/7408?fbclid=IwAR3lnXkrHuL6cfeqksvZ77L8FMFa2e0TtCTPZXwgfASkWP6pkZwkXm1vdP0

    Heres what this 2002 lab report had to say about Kathon Cg so you cant claim your mixture and perfect preservative is any different.

    Isothiazolinone (or isothiazolone)-derived biocides, such as Kathon CG [a 3:1 mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT) and MIT], are widely used for controlling microbial growth in water-containing solutions (Collier et al., 1990). The biocidal applications of these agents range from industrial water storage tanks to cooling units, in processes as varied as mining to energy production. Their widespread use has resulted in a large number of reported cases of human occupational exposure. This occurs primarily, but not exclusively, when workers come into contact with stock solutions (containing 15 gm/l or 0.1 m of the active ingredients) during the dilution process, usually resulting in caustic burns, contact dermatitis, and allergic sensitization (Ng and Tay, 1996; Primka and Taylor, 1997). Nonoccupational exposure to isothiazolinones by the general population also occurs, albeit at much lower concentrations. Because of their use in dehumidifiers, these compounds can be detected in air-conditioned indoor air (Nagorka et al., 1990) and are also present in a very large number of commonly used cosmetics (Rastogi, 1990). The long-term consequences of low-level chronic exposure to isothiazolinones on the CNS have not been investigated.Which literally means they know enough to say it wont be good news.

    The cell death process also involves activation of NADPH oxidase, generation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and overactivation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, all occurring downstream from ERK phosphorylation. The toxic effects of methylisothiazolinone and related biocides on neurons have not been reported previously. Because of their widespread use, the neurotoxic consequences of both acute and chronic human exposure to these toxins need to be evaluated.
    In other words this type of cell death is not natural and occurs after only 10 minutes of exposure to MI/MIT
    In 2016 it was named allergen of the year
    Epidemic of allergy to preservative Methylisothiazolinone
    https://www.occderm.asn.au/health-professionals/epidemic-of-allergy-to-preservative-methylisothiazolinone-mi/
    Drs Jennifer Cahill and Rosemary Nixon, dermatologists with the Skin Health Institute (formerly the Skin and Cancer Foundation Inc) In 2011 “Our current rate of positive test reactions to MI to November 2013 is 11.3% (40 patients who had relevant reactions of a total 353), compared with a rate of 3.5% (15/428) in 2011 and 8.4% (38/454) in 2012”, Dr Cahill wrote.“MI is now the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in our patient population.

    The worst thing you wrote was that this chemical passed cancer screening with flying colors.
    Neither of the two top cancer organizations, when searching their database show any information for either chemical. Which doesnt mean its safe or passed it means they havn’t screened it yet.
    Alternatively after 7 searches on the web in varying ways no information come up with anything for them having been tested as a carcinogen.

    Shame on you, little of what you posted was even marginally close to true or fact. I have provided you with enough legitimate links and studies from reputable doctors, health organizations and public health organizations. including a link for the many class action suits against companies claiming this chemical is safe and natural
    https://classactionsreporter.com/green-works-natural-cleaning-products-deceptive-advertising-class-action/

    These chemicals Methylisothiazolinone is a biocide similar in chemical structure to Agent Orange and has been linked to nerve damage, allergies, immune disorders, and brain cell damage

    https://www.holistichelp.net/blog/common-household-cleaning-ingredients-to-avoid/

    Now that some facts about this crud have been posted, tell me again what a perfect preservative
    it is? Perfect for shelf life maybe but certainly not anything that lives.

    1. @anonymous and Glenn – I am not dismissing the suffering of the people who are allergic to this chemical. If I had a solution I’d be very happy to pursue it.

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