Plastic in Personal Care Products Tied to Skin Disease and Environmental Pollution, Review Finds

The moisturizer, sunscreen, or shampoo used in daily routines may contain dozens of plastic-associated chemicals linked to dermatologic disease, endocrine disruption, and systemic toxicity and a new clinical review is urging dermatologists to become advocates for safer formulations and packaging.¹

Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the review examined the health and environmental evidence surrounding plastic particles (PPs), plastic-associated chemicals (PACs), and other polymers found in personal care products. The authors outlined recommendations for clinical practice, patient counseling, and industry accountability.

Dermatology-Specific Evidence Builds in Skin Penetration and Oxidative Stress

The concerns raised by Anderson and colleagues built on a growing body of dermatology-focused literature. A 2025 review by Kim published in Cosmetics found that microplastics present in cosmetic and personal care formulations were capable of penetrating the skin barrier and triggering oxidative stress, local inflammation, and premature skin aging.² That review also reported that despite increasing regulatory attention, policy implementation remained inconsistent across jurisdictions, leaving meaningful gaps in consumer protection. Growing awareness of these risks was found to have spurred interest in biodegradable polymer alternatives and eco-friendly packaging, though access to such products for patients remained limited.

Microplastics, PACs, and Packaging: A Trillion-Dollar Problem

The scope of the issue shaped the rationale for the 2026 review.¹ More than 16,000 chemicals are involved in plastic production, with 94% unregulated internationally and most carrying unknown or moderate to high safety concerns. The financial burden associated with this exposure was found to be substantial, as health costs attributed to just 3 PACs were estimated at $1.5 trillion in a single year for one-third of the global population.

Since 1950, approximately 10 billion tons of virgin plastic have been produced globally, with roughly half manufactured after 2011. Of plastic produced today, 70% was found to become waste within 1 year, and fewer than 10% of new plastics are recycled worldwide. Since 1970, an estimated 300,000 tons of personal care product–derived microplastics have accumulated in the environment. Plastic manufacturing was also reported to account for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Chemicals Found Across Common Products

The review identified several classes of plastic-derived ingredients with documented health risks present in everyday products. Bisphenols—including bisphenol A, an endocrine-disrupting chemical associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and reproductive dysfunction—were detected in 39% of personal care products, primarily leaching from plastic packaging rather than being intentionally incorporated into formulations.

Phthalates, which are intentionally added to many personal care products as solvents and fixatives in fragrances, were associated with reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity, and hepatic effects in animal studies. Increased personal care product use was correlated with higher urinary phthalate metabolite excretion across multiple populations, including infants, children, adolescent girls, and adults.

Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters, which are widely used in sunscreen products, have not been generally recognized as safe and effective by the FDA. These compounds were associated with endocrine, reproductive, and neurologic effects in some in vitro and animal studies, though evidence of these effects in humans remained debated by researchers. Notably, the UV stabilizer UV-328 was added to the Stockholm Convention, an international treaty targeting persistent organic pollutants.

Among polymers not classified as plastics, dimethicone was found in 20% of personal care products and carbomer (polyacrylate) in 11%, with limited human safety data available for either ingredient in cosmetic applications.

From Nanoplastics to Atopic Dermatitis: Skin and Systemic Disease Associations

Nanosized microplastics and PACs were associated with multiple dermatologic conditions, including cutaneous inflammation, skin senescence, acne, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, and urticaria. PACs and their metabolites detected in human biospecimens were further linked to carcinogenic capacity, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, metabolic toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, renal toxicity, and neurotoxicity.

Evidence Gaps and Practical Steps for Clinicians and Patients

The authors noted that evidence linking plastic particle exposure to disease remains preliminary. Accurately measuring plastic particles in human biospecimens presents significant methodological challenges. Data on transdermal absorption of nanoplastics were limited, and no published animal or human safety studies specifically examining carbomer use in personal care products were identified. Most safety reviews of dimethicone relied on industry-sponsored studies and did not evaluate carcinogenicity or long-term human toxicity.

The authors outlined several actionable recommendations, including lobbying for improved hazard assessments, supporting regulation to phase out harmful ingredients in personal care products, and encouraging evidence-based, minimal-use skincare approaches. Patients were encouraged to seek products free of microbeads, PACs, and plastic-derived polymers. The United Nations–sponsored "Plastic Free Future" mobile application was highlighted as a resource patients could use to scan ingredient lists for chemicals of concern.

The authors underscored the long-term stakes of current prescribing and purchasing choices. "Decisions we make now regarding the use of plastics have consequences for future generations," the authors wrote, calling on medical professionals to promote environmentally responsible practices.

References

1. Anderson A, Tan E, Dunlop S. Plastic in dermatology: impacts on human health, skin disease, and the contribution of personal care product use to environmental pollution. J Am Acad Dermatol. Published online April 20, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2026.03.105
2. Han JH, Kim HS. Microplastics in cosmetics: emerging risks for skin health and the environment. Cosmetics. 2025;12(4):171. doi:10.3390/cosmetics12040171