Nanoparticles in Cosmetics: Are There Lasting Consequences?

Nanoparticles are everywhere in our daily lives. From viruses to ocean spray to the byproducts of internal combustion engines, they’ve become a regular part of our existence. However, a report in the Journal of Pharmaceutics says that nanoparticles used to create cosmetics might actually be harmful to our skin.

Nanoparticles are super tiny crystals that are smaller than one-10,000 of the diameter of a human hair. In beauty products, they are usually considered the active agent or hero ingredient that delivers the promised effect.

According to researchers from the Amity Institute of Pharmacy in Uttar Pradesh, India, despite the fact that novel nanocarriers like liposomes, niosomes, nanoemulsions, and microemulsions can successfully penetrate targeted skin areas and effectively deliver and release substances, they potentially pose high toxicity levels. For Dermatology Times, clinical and research dermatologist, Zoe Diana Draelos, MD, explains how adding titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to sunscreen so it appears less white on the skin could result in turning those raw materials into nanoparticles, which will be permanently embedded in the skin. It’s unclear what kind of long-term consequences could occur from chronic use of products containing nanoparticles. Dr. Draelos says that big cosmetic companies in the United States share this skepticism over nanoparticles, and many have chosen to not use them in their products.  

Cosmetic companies that do use nanoparticles take advantage of lax testing requirements, as their products often don’t need to go through clinical trials before going on the market. The researchers stress the need for more investigation into the possible benefits and side effects of nanoparticles and add that “stringent laws should be imposed on the regulation and safety of cosmeceuticals and nanoparticles used in them.”