美国国家公共电台 NPR 'Hypoallergenic' And 'Fragrance-Free' Moisturizer Claims Are Often False

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

We have news for anybody who uses a skin moisturizer. Many brands claim that their products are fragrance¹-free or hypoallergenic. NPR's Patti Neighmond reports on a new study that found most of those claims to be false.

PATTI NEIGHMOND, BYLINE²: For most of us buying a fragrance-free moisturizer that turns out not to be fragrance-free might be frustrating³ but not harmful. That's not the case for people with skin conditions, like Kathryn Walter, who has severe eczema.

KATHRYN WALTER: I'll use a moisturizer that says there are no fragrances⁴, there are no additives⁵, no dyes and lanolin and any kind of masking fragrance.

NEIGHMOND: And when that turns out not to be the case, she often feels it immediately.

WALTER: I will start to itch⁶, and I have to get it off my body right away.

NEIGHMOND: For people like Walter, moisturizers aren't just for smoothing skin. They can actually treat the dry, cracked and reddened rash of skin disorders⁷. But more often than not, Walter ends up with a product that does the opposite.

WALTER: My ankles and calves⁸ are all scratched up as we speak, and my hands.

STEVE XU: Every single day, I get questions about what moisturizer should I use, what sunscreen should I use?

NEIGHMOND: Steve Xu is a dermatologist⁹ at Northwestern University who sees lots of patients like Walter.

XU: And I found myself really struggling to provide evidence-based recommendations for my patients.

NEIGHMOND: So he decided¹⁰ to do a study examining the top 100 best-selling moisturizers, and what he found was pretty surprising. Forty-five percent of those labeled fragrance-free actually contained some form of fragrance. And of those labeled hypoallergenic, 83 percent contained an ingredient with the potential to cause an allergic¹¹ reaction, which means...

XU: The vast majority of moisturizers that are best-sellers that are popular have some form of potential skin allergen.

NEIGHMOND: In large part, deceptive¹² labels result from the lack of federal regulation. The FDA considers moisturizers cosmetic¹³ and barely regulates them. There are some labeling requirements, but Duke University professor of medicine Rob Califf says they are easily avoided by company claims that ingredients are trade secrets.

ROB CALIFF: Well, the cosmetics¹⁴ industry is highly competitive, and if someone could easily copy someone else's successful cosmetic, that would be a competitive disadvantage.

NEIGHMOND: And manufacturers aren't required to report consumer complaints. Califf, a former commissioner¹⁵ of the FDA, says this means the agency doesn't know the extent of the problem.

CALIFF: I don't think it's too much to ask of manufacturers that they register what they're selling so that it can be tracked.

NEIGHMOND: Congress is considering legislation that could make the industry more accountable. In the meantime, dermatologist Xu recommends a skinny skin diet.

XU: What we mean is using the least amount of products with the least amount of potentially allergenic materials or chemicals in them to reduce the risk.

NEIGHMOND: Things like Vaseline or products that have just one ingredient...

XU: The shea butters and the food oils like sunflower oil, cocoa butter.

NEIGHMOND: ...Pure and simple products that can minimize the risk of a harmful skin reaction. Patti Neighmond, NPR News.

1 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 fragrances   

n.芳香，香味( fragrance的名词复数 )；香水

参考例句：

• The bath oil comes in various fragrances. 这种沐浴油有不同的香味。
• This toilet soap lathers so nicely and has several fragrances. 这种香皂起泡很多，并且有好几种香味。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 additives   

n.添加剂( additive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• chemical additives in petrol 汽油中的化学添加剂
• It'says on the packet that these crisps contain no additives. 包装上说这些炸薯片不含添加剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 itch   

n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望

参考例句：

• Shylock has an itch for money.夏洛克渴望发财。
• He had an itch on his back.他背部发痒。

7 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 calves   

n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解

参考例句：

• a cow suckling her calves 给小牛吃奶的母牛
• The calves are grazed intensively during their first season. 小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 dermatologist   

n.皮肤科医师

参考例句：

• I think you should see a dermatologist first.我想你应当先看皮肤科大夫。
• The general practitioner referred her patient to a dermatologist.家庭医生把她的病人交给了皮肤科医生。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 allergic   

adj.过敏的，变态的

参考例句：

• Alice is allergic to the fur of cats.艾丽斯对猫的皮毛过敏。
• Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.许多人对空气传播的污染物过敏，比如花粉。

12 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

13 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

14 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

15 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。