A consultant dermatologist at the Royal United Hospital is calling for a chemical to be banned from everyday cosmetics and household cleaning products because it causes a severe allergic reaction in many people.
Dr Deirdre Buckley says she has seen a big increase in the number of patients having a reaction to methylisothia- zolinone.
The chemical, known as MI, is used in a wide range of products including shampoos, moisturisers, shower gels, sunscreens, baby wipes and detergents, and also in paint.
Dr Buckley said: "Reactions to this chemical have become very common.
"In the first half of this year 11 out of 80 RUH patients with skin problems who were tested for allergies, were allergic to MI.
"MI has been legally permitted in the EU for years, but the permitted limit of concentration of 100 parts per million is more than 25 times higher than the concentration allowed prior to 2005.
"The British Association of Dermatologists is calling for this limit to be lowered to prevent more people becoming sensitised to it."
Kassia Gawronski, from Bath, had an extreme reaction to MI.
She said: "I was referred to the RUH with a skin condition, which did eventually clear, but we didn't know what might have caused it.
"Patch testing was carried out on my back and we discovered I was allergic to MI.
"I had a really severe reaction to the chemical, which blistered my skin, it spread across my back and made it very sore and itchy. It was horrid."
