TOPLINE:

An analysis of 336 personal care products sold for under $2 at the major US dollar stores revealed that 95.83% contained at least one of the top 10 allergens identified by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG).

METHODOLOGY:

• The study included ingredient lists of 336 personal care products priced under $2 from Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar General stores, including additional online product reviews from the same retailers to avoid geographic bias in May 2025.
• The ingredient lists were reviewed by the researchers for the top 10 allergens as identified by the NACDG and were categorized into six cross-reactive groups: methylisothiazolinone, fragrance, benzisothiazolinone, formaldehyde, cocamidopropyl betaine, and quaternary ammonium compounds.
• Allergen frequency was also determined across the product categories.

TAKEAWAY:

• Only 4.17% of the analyzed products did not contain any of the NACDG’s top 10 allergens. All hair care, body cleanser, hand soap, dish soap, and laundry products contained allergens as ingredients.
• All products marketed as “hypoallergenic” and those targeted for children had at least one major allergen.
• The most common allergens identified were fragrance (93.2%), cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB)-related allergens (49.4%), and methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone (MI/MCI) (43.2%). Formaldehyde-releasing compounds were present in 9.2% of products, including several topical medications.
• Many of the products did not appear in major allergen management databases, such as the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s Contact Allergen Management Program and SkinSAFE.

IN PRACTICE:

“These findings emphasize the high allergen burden in dollar store products, which are often the most affordable option for patients with limited financial resources,” the authors of the study wrote. Low-allergen products recommended by dermatologists, they added, “can cost two to four times more per ounce than commonly purchased alternatives, creating accessibility challenges compounded by limited retail availability in low-income and marginalized neighborhoods.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Sarah Karels, Park Nicollet Contact Dermatitis Clinic, Minneapolis, and was published online on December 31 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The frequent turnover of dollar store product inventories might cause allergen profiles to shift quickly, complicating ongoing allergen avoidance counseling. Additionally, ingredient lists did not capture undisclosed allergens or cross-contamination risks, which could be higher in inexpensively produced products.

DISCLOSURES:

No funding was received for the study. The authors declared having no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.