Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis

BACKGROUND: Children's vulnerability to chemical toxicant exposures demands strong consideration of the chemical composition of products designed for and marketed toward them. Inadequacies in health-protective legislation and lack of mandatory ingredient disclosure in most children's products have created significant gaps in protection and oversight. Scientific literature can provide insight into the chemical constituency of children's products that may be useful for prioritizing future regulatory efforts. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to present a proof of concept for applying systematic evidence mapping methodology to identify which chemicals of potential concern have been reported in the scientific literature to be present in products marketed toward children, compile a compendium of data to inform future regulatory efforts, and identify research needs. METHODS: We conducted a broad, all-encompassing survey of the available literature from four databases to identify chemicals present in children's products. Using systematic evidence mapping methodologies, we constructed a database of children's products and their chemical constituents (termed "product-chemical combinations") based on a broad survey of current and relevant environmental health literature. Our study focused on chemicals listed on the California Safer Consumer Products Program's Candidate Chemicals List, which includes chemicals with one or more known hazard traits. We then conducted an exploratory data analysis of product category and product-chemical combination frequencies to identify common chemicals in specific products. RESULTS: Our systematic evidence mapping identified 206 potentially hazardous chemicals in children's products, 170 of which were found in toys. In total, we found 1,528 distinct product-chemical combinations; 582 product-chemical combinations included chemicals known to be hazardous or potentially hazardous. Ortho-phthalates in plastic toys, parabens in children's creams and lotions, and bisphenols in both baby bottles and teethers were the most frequently encountered product-chemical combinations of potential concern. DISCUSSION: The frequently reported presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in multiple types of children's products raises concerns for aggregate exposures and reveals gaps in regulatory protections for this sensitive subpopulation. Our reproducible and systematic evidence-based approach serves as a case study that can guide other prioritization efforts for transparent regulatory action aimed at improving the safety of chemicals in consumer products. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP15394.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly explored for targeted skin penetration, particularly for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. However, the complex system between NP properties, skin structure, and experimental conditions poses significant challenges in predicting their penetration depth and pathways. To what depth do NPs penetrate the skin, and which pathways do they follow? These are the questions which we tried to answer in this paper. A n in-silico human skin model based on 20 years of literature on NPs skin penetration is developed. The model incorporates 19 independent parameters, including a wide range of NP properties, skin across species, and test conditions. Using random forest analysis coupled with Kennard-Stone sorting, the model achieves a high predictive accuracy of 95%. The study identifies hair follicle diameter as the most critical factor influencing NP penetration across skin layers, surpassing other skin properties, NP properties, or experimental variables. Pig and rabbit skin are the most suitable models for simulating human skin in NP penetration studies. Additionally, the in-silico model reveals that NPs in emulsions and oil-based media predominantly follow the intercellular and transappendageal route. In contrast, those embedded in aqueous media favor the intracellular route. These findings offer insights for optimizing NP-based drug delivery systems.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are first-line pharmacotherapy for various psychiatric disorders. These medications adversely affect hemostasis by limiting serotonin reuptake crucial for platelet aggregation. Increased bleeding risk vs SSRI discontinuation syndrome may have important clinical considerations for plastic and reconstructive surgeries (PRSs). With the increasing use of SSRIs, understanding the associated risk of bleeding in soft-tissue surgeries is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and ensuring safety. In this systematic review, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and Embase databases were searched for publications addressing SSRI consumption and bleeding outcomes in PRS and soft-tissue procedures. Five retrospective cohort studies on SSRIs and bleeding were identified, differing in surgical types, study designs, and reporting of bleeding outcomes, precluding meta-analysis. Post-operative bleeding rates ranged from 1.9% to 2.6%. A U.S. study on breast cosmetic procedures reported a 4.14-fold increase in hematoma reoperations (odds ratio (OR) 4.14; 95% CI 1.90-9.04), while a Danish study on breast oncologic procedures showed a 2.7-fold increased risk (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.6-4.4). Another Danish study found no increased risk of post-operative blood transfusion (OR 1.2; 95% CI 0.7-1.9). Two U.S. studies on facial procedures found no significant differences in bleeding events, though both had low statistical power. Overall, the risk of significant bleeding complications in breast and facial PRS procedures appears low, with SSRI use increasing hematoma reoperation risk for breast procedures to less than 5%, without evidence of life-threatening bleeding. Conclusions regarding SSRI-related bleeding in facial plastic surgery are limited due to the overall quality of existing studies, which often rely on case reports rather than higher-quality research designs, such as cohort or prospective analyses. Therefore, further high-level evaluations of SSRI-related bleeding are necessary, particularly focusing on procedures involving the face, extremities, and flap surgeries.