Hypoallergenic, meaning "below average" or "slightly" allergenic, is a term meaning that something (usually cosmetics, pets, textiles, food, etc.) causes fewer allergic reactions. The term was first used in 1953 in an advertising campaign for cosmetics[1][better source needed] or perhaps as early as 1940.[2] A 2017 study of the top-selling skin moisturizers from Amazon, Target, and Walmart found 83% of those marketed as "hypoallergenic" contained at least one potentially allergenic chemical.[3][4]
The term is also commonly applied to pet breeds which are claimed to produce fewer allergens than other breeds of the same species, due to some combination of their coat type, absence of fur, or absence of a gene that produces a certain protein. All breeds still produce allergens and a 2011 study failed to find a difference in allergen concentrations in homes with dogs of "hypoallergenic breeds" and other breeds.[5]
- ^ "CBC News: Marketplace – Microscope". Archived from the original on June 19, 2006.
- ^ "hypoallergenic". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
- ^ "'Hypoallergenic' And 'Fragrance-Free' Moisturizer Claims Are Often False". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ Xu, Shuai; Kwa, Michael; Lohman, Mary E.; Evers-Meltzer, Rachel; Silverberg, Jonathan I. (2017-11-01). "Consumer Preferences, Product Characteristics, and Potentially Allergenic Ingredients in Best-selling Moisturizers". JAMA Dermatology. 153 (11): 1099–1105. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3046. ISSN 2168-6068. PMC 5710429. PMID 28877310.
- ^ "Hypoallergenic Dogs?". ACAAI Public Website. 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2021-04-11.