Clever advertising slogans like “squeaky clean” and “scrubbing bubbles” may conjure images of health and hygiene, but the effects of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) on your health and environment are questionable. Manufacturers like SLS because it makes their products lather and thicken; you won’t like SLS because its effect ranges from irritation of the skin, eyes and throat, to organ toxicity, according to the Environmental Working Group. Read more for the full details.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a very common ingredient found in many personal care and household cleaning products. You will find it in everyday products like toothpaste, shampoo, face wash, body wash, liquid hand soap, cosmetics and detergents.
The Skinny Science:
Sodium lauryl sulfate is the crystalline salt of sulfated lauryl alcohol. Its primary function is to be a surfactant —a compound that breaks up molecules on the surface layer of a compound via its dual composition of both oil soluble and water soluble parts. This is how SLS lathers and thickens. It disrupts surface molecules, allowing two different materials like soap and your hands, to interact more deeply.
Word to the Wise:
Unfortunately, SLS’s efficacy as a surfactant is ultimately what irritates your skin, gums, throat and scalp.
While no one is dropping dead after using shampoo or toothpaste, in situations like these, it is best to be informed about the cumulative effects of repeated exposure and make consumer choices that are the right fit for you, whether you want to go moderate or go conservative.
If you want to go moderate, you may want to eliminate only some of the products containing SLS from your daily routine but keep a couple of longtime favorites until someone develops an SLS-free replacement that you like better. For example, if you can’t part with your favorite face wash that you’ve been using for five years, keep other products SLS-free, like toothpaste, shampoo, and liquid hand soap. Just make sure to keep a running tally on your daily cumulative exposure to products containing SLS.
If you want to go conservative, you may want to remove nearly every product containing SLS from your daily regimen. This is especially pertinent if you are prone to skin irritation, or if you care for children. Common skin irritations include acne, dandruff, canker sores, contact allergies or eczema.
As you make your choices, keep in mind that the average person uses 10 different personal care products on his or her body everyday and that the skin absorbs over 60% of substances applied topically.
As always, the best strategy is the one that works for you. Stay informed and green your routine to what fits you best.
Extra Tidbits:
- Alternative names quick list: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) has a close cousin called sodium laureth ether sulfate (SLES) that should also be avoided.
- Both SLS and SLES are banned by the European Union, but not by the U.S.
- Coconut oil and soap bark are two common natural surfactants.
- For more information, check out these sources: Skin Deep and the Environmental Working Group.
Other Decoding Household Chemicals Posts
- The Dirt on Bleach: What Makes Chlorine Bleach Bad News?
- What Is Triclosan? A Shady Chemical You Should Unfriend
- For Frog's Eyes Only: What Is Formaldehyde?
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a very well written article...i have bene working on going SLS free...and was planning to write about it in my blog...i think this article has inspired me to collate my thoughts better
Thank you. I never realized that there were health concerns with SLS... I just assumed that it was bad for the environment, and that's why certain products in the natural-foods type stores touted being SLS/SLES-free. Now that I read this article, though, I realize that my previous issues with dry, flaky scalp (something that was not cured by the traditional "dandruff" shampoos) have not bothered me since I switched to one of said SLS/SLES-free shampoos last fall. Makes me glad that I stuck with it and got used to the no-later shampooing!
(oops... missed an "h," that should have said "no-lather" shampooing!)
Thank you for this article. I learned something new today. I always had a feeling that mass market supermarket products contained chemicals that were harmful, but it was just an assumption. Now I know one concrete reason to avoid these products.
I stopped using regular hand and body soaps years ago (switched to Nutribiotic Fresh Fruit Skin Cleanser/Shower Gel). I get tiny tiny blisters (looks like a rash) and my hands get really dry and eventually crack and bleed, no matter how much/how many different kinds of lotion I used. Ever since switching to Nutribiotic, I haven't had problems. Until recently and I just figured out why. My fiance does the sink dishes usually but I got a new gadget that I like to clean myself. And that's when the blisters came back. Turns out Seventh Generation Dish Soap contains SLS! I'm glad they list the ingredients though. Now I'm on a search for a dish soap that doesn't contain SLS or cause my eczema to flare up. Any suggestions appreciated!
That's great, but where do I find products without SLS/SLES? I spent ages in the shampoo section of the grocery store this week reading labels. Even the "environmentally friendly" stuff had lists as long as the cheap crap, with the exact same ingredients.
I've been using Dr. Bronners as shampoo for me, but the hubby wants real shampoo. I need something I can get at a grocery store, but I'm not sure that's even possible at this point.
I never connected SLS to my lifelong dandruff problem. I've just bought "stronger" anti-dandruff shampoos when the one I was using stopped being effective. It's amazing how often the products we use are the cause of the problem we are trying to cure.