“Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?”Here!SLS
Appears in 1 scanned product.
In personal care
A synthetic surfactant, typically derived from coconut or palm oil, that creates lather and lifts away oil and dirt.
Why it’s used
A strong, inexpensive cleansing agent used in shampoos, body washes, and toothpaste to produce foam and remove grease and residue.
What the evidence says
CIR has reviewed it as safe in rinse-off products at the concentrations used. It can be irritating to skin and eyes, particularly with prolonged or repeated contact, which is well documented and is why it is more commonly used in rinse-off rather than leave-on formulas. Claims linking it to cancer or organ toxicity are not supported by credible evidence.
Context
Irritation potential is real but concentration- and contact-time-dependent; brief rinse-off use is far less irritating than leave-on exposure, and many formulas pair it with milder co-surfactants to offset this.
Rumors
Irritates skin with prolonged or repeated contact.
Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Studied in: patients undergoing diagnostic patch testing for suspected contact dermatitis.
Measured as an outcome.
- Strengths and Limitations of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate as an Irritant Control in Patch Testing. (Peer-reviewed) · Government-funded
Irritates eyes with prolonged or repeated contact.
We haven’t found evidence strong enough to support this or rule it out.
What was measured is not yet noted.