Use Patterns of Leave-on Personal Care Products among Swiss-German Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey (by design analogy, non-clinical exposure assessment)
OpenAlex W2020111206 · doi:10.3390/ijerph10072778
What was done
A postal questionnaire survey assessed the usage and co-use patterns of eight leave-on personal care product (PCP) categories across a German-speaking Swiss population (N = 1,196; age range 0–97 years), including data on children younger than 12 years.
What was found
In total, 99% of participants reported using at least one leave-on PCP category in the preceding year. Concurrent use of multiple product categories was common, showing greater complexity among adults. In the youngest demographic (ages 0–4 years), regular application of face cream and body lotion exceeded 79%. Differences in usage patterns were observed when comparing these findings to previously collected data from Germany and the Netherlands.
Why it matters
Provides foundational European exposure data for cosmetic and chemical risk modeling, specifically capturing usage patterns in vulnerable populations such as infants and young children.
Limits
The study is based entirely on self- or proxy-reported postal survey responses subject to recall and reporting bias. The sample was restricted to the German-speaking region of Switzerland, which may not represent other linguistic regions or nationalities. Precise ingredient concentrations and applied product amounts were not measured.
Cited by
- contradicts Teenagers use more personal care products in a 24-hour period than any other demographic group.