Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is an emulsifier and foaming agent. It is generally found in cleaning products, cosmetic products like body wash. Although SLS is obtained from coconuts, it is polluted with a toxic byproduct during the making process. Here, we are discussing the risks of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is commonly used in skincare products like cleansers, hand wash, and many other personal care products. It is due to the presence of this ingredient why we get bubbly and foamy when we use face washes or cleaners. There are many other kinds of sulfates including Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. All these are foaming agents that make foam or lather when mixed with water. Among these, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the most used ingredient.
When we use a face wash or any beauty product, it is a liquid made with a combination of water and oil. As all of us know, water and oil do not mix, so something is needed to hold the ingredients together. That something is known as a surfactant.
A surfactant binds water and oil molecules together. This is what is found in detergents and soaps so when we wash our face or dishes with water, we get the foam.
This ingredient is known to cause skin irritation. It can take out the natural oils from the skin which makes the skin dry and cause reactions and irritation. It can also irritate the eyes. Inflammatory skin reactions could include itchy scalp and skin, dermatitis, and eczema.
If a person has sensitive skin, then he or she may find the area that encountered SLS to be red, itchy, sore, and scaly. Many of you might ask if the dangers of SLS are known to be irritating to human skin, then why don’t the medical authorities ban its use?
For the risks of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it would have to be in contact with a person’s skin for a long time. Usually, with customer products like washes that include SLS, it is believed that they will not be in contact with the skin for a long time, proving the chance of your skin being affected is incredibly low. So, medical authorities do not ban its use, but instead, limit the maximum percentage in which it can be used in different products.
This limit varies depending on how long the product is likely to be in contact with the skin. So, products that have more than 0.05 to 2.5% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and will be on the skin for a long time are safe to use.
If you are worried about the possible effects of SLS accumulation, choose toothpaste, shampoos, and various other personal care products that have the label, “SLS free.” As per the Mother Nature Network, an associated product known as sodium coco sulfate, which is a coconut derivative, may be very irritating when compared to SLES or SLS. It is always better to choose shampoos that are sulfate-free, and which are made of essential oils and wash your hair using baking soda.
Variations
SLS may be listed as sodium dodecyl sulfate, sulfuric acid, sodium salt, monododecyl ester, sodium dodecyl sulfate, aquarex me, or sodium dodecyl sulfate, as per the reports by EWG. Related chemicals include Sodium Laurenth Sulfate or SLES, which has a high foaming ability and is less irritating when compared to SLS. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, or ALS, is as same as SLS and poses the same risks.
Toxicity
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review reports that SLES, ALS, and SLS are irritants at concentrations of 2 percent or more, and recommends that cosmetic items should not contain concentrations more than 1 percent. Undiluted SLS can cause eye and skin irritation, and also nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting if ingested, as per the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
As per Mercola.com, the SLS and SLES are often contaminated with 1, 4 dioxanes. This is a byproduct of the manufacturing procedure that is “ probably carcinogenic to human beings” and may also cause negative effects in the liver, kidney, and central nervous system, as per the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
How does SLS work
SLS is what is known as a “surfactant.” This means that it reduces the surface tension between ingredients, which is why it is used as a foaming and cleansing agent. Most concerns about SLS arises from the fact that it can be found in different self-care and beauty products and also in household cleaners. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a surfactant with the same chemical formula. However, SLES is milder and less irritating than SLS.
Where will you find SLS
If you look below your bathroom sink, or on the shelf in your shower, it is likely you will find SLS in your home. It is used in various products, including:
- Grooming products, like shaving cream, hand sanitizer, lip balm, makeup remover, nail treatments, facial cleansers, liquid hand soap, and foundation
- Hair products, like shampoo, conditioner, dandruff treatment hair dye, and styling gel
- Dental care products like teeth whitening products, toothpaste, and mouthwash
- Bath products, like bath oils, salts, bubble bath, and body wash
- Lotions and creams, like masks, hand creams, sunscreen, and hair-removal items
You will notice that all these products are topical and applied directly to the body or skin.
SLS is also used in the form of a food additive, generally as an emulsifier or a thickener. It can be found in dried egg items, like marshmallow items, and a few dry beverage bases.
Risks of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regards SLS as safe. Let us find out if there are any risks of Sodium Lauryl Suflate.
Regarding its use in body products and cosmetics, the safety assessment study of SLS, published in 1983 in the International Journal of Toxicology found that it is not harmful if used briefly and washed off from the skin, as with soaps and shampoos.
The report says that the products that stay on the skin for a long period exceed 1 percent concentration of SLS.
However, a similar assessment did suggest some possible, albeit minimal, risk to people who use SLS. For instance, some tests found that repeated skin exposure to SLS could cause mild to moderate irritation in the animals.
Nevertheless, the assessment concluded that SLS is safe in formulations that are used in personal care products and cosmetics. As many of these products are designed to be washed off after a short application, the dangers are minimum.
According to research, SLS is an irritant but not a carcinogen. Studies have proved that there is no link between the use of SLS and the increased risk of cancer.
As per the 2015 study, SLS is safe for use in household cleaning products.
Should you be sulfate-free?
Going sulfate-free depends on your problems. If you are worried about skin irritation and know that sulfate products are the cause behind it, then look for products that guarantee they are sulfate-free or do not come under SLS or SLES in their ingredients. How sulfate affects your skin may depend on the manufacturer and brand. Not all sources are similar.
Some of the natural alternatives include:
For cleaning hair and skin: Choose solid and oil-based shampoos and soaps rather than liquid. Some products you can consider to buy are African Black soap and body cleansing oils. Foam and lather are not the only things that can be used to clean hair or skin-sulfate-free items can also be used for the same purposes.
For cleaning products: You can make cleaning products by using diluted white vinegar. If you do not like vinegar, then you can use lime juice. As long as you can freshen your space while cleaning, there must not be any kind of irritation.
Conclusion
Over the years, Sulfates have developed a bad reputation due to their production procedure and the myth that they are carcinogens. One of the biggest risks of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the irritation they cause to skin, eyes, and scalp. Try to go sulfate-free for a week to find out what difference it makes to you