|
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic means non-allergy producing, or more accurately, having a decreased
tendency to provoke an allergic reaction. However, no product can truly be hypoallergenic
as it is impossible to guarantee that not a single person will have a reaction
to a given product. Manufacturers claim that their hypoallergenic products produce
fewer allergic reactions than other products.
Hypoallergenic products have been marketed for many years by companies claiming
that their products are completely non-allergy producing. Though these products
may cause fewer allergic reactions than their non-hypoallergenic counterparts,
there is no evidence to support that hypoallergenic products are really non-allergy
producing. Consumers with hypersensitive skin, and even those with normal skin,
may be led to believe that these hypoallergenic products will be gentler to
their skin than non-hypoallergenic ones.
Currently, there are no laws regulating the use of the term hypoallergenic, as
it is virtually impossible to put into place a testing system to determine which
products are truly hypoallergenic. Manufacturers of hypoallergenic products are
not required to submit any substantiation of claims or evidence that their products
are hypoallergenic.
The term hypoallergenic may have considerable market value in promoting products
to consumers, but dermatologists say the word has very little meaning.
|
