Use Of Coumarin In Cosmetics: Safety, Permissible Limit, Indian Regulations Etc

 

Coumarins are a kind of fragrant compound that belongs to a class of benzopyrone chemical class. It has been used widely as aroma enhancers in a different cosmetic product. But some of the toxicity studies have revealed that coumarins are somewhat toxic to the human liver as well as kidneys and might cause liver cancer as well as lung cancers. This is the reason coumarins are under regulation irrespective of the fact that they are found in several edible plants.

Coumarine is found in a large number of cosmetic products along with personal care products as per the ingredients database of the market research and is prevalent in most of the perfumes. It helps in imparting strength to the perfume along with a characteristic's note. It has a very sweet vanilla-like aroma very much similar to that of freshly-mown hay.  Coumarine is a kind of chemical compound that occurs naturally in some of the essential oils as well as absolutes like cinnamon, lavender, tarragon etc.

Some of the animal experiments have also proved that a high concentration of coumarin can also cause cancer. Research says that customers could be highly exposed to a dangerous level of coumarin by use of varied cosmetics that contain the ingredient. Even some of the skin gels, body lotion as well as oils Therefore for the proper regulation of coumarin in cosmetics, it was recommended to limit the use of coumarin in all cosmetic products and negligible use in the cosmetics of infants. As it has been proved in some of the studies that those infants who are exposed to coumarins while in the womb may develop some of the behavioral problems. The health of some of the heart patients is also put into risk when they are exposed to coumarin.

Therefore, as per the cosmetic safety regulations set by the required authority, its use is allowed under the permissible limit so that the use of the cosmetics containing coumarin is safe for use. Coumarine should not also be used topically as these ingredients get absorbed in the skin directly and it possesses a risk to the health. But the concentration of the ingredient is important. It should not be very high as it may cause risk to the liver as well as kidney. Many researches have also proved that they are not safe for children as well as pregnant women.