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Environmental health
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Does a shampoo additive (sodium lauryl sulfate) cause cancer?
Originally Published: July 12, 2002
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Hi Alice! I was wondering about the chemical Sodium Laureth Sulfate. I have received several forwarded e-mails about this causing cancer by a lawyer looking into the matter. This chemical was said to be in many shampoos to create a nice lather, but it's actually a garage cleaner and is a cheap substance for the manufacturer, and in the past, only 1 in 2000 would get cancer from this, and now it's about 1 in 10. I was just curious if it really causes cancer, or is it just a prank? And if it really does cause cancer, what kind of cancer is it? Thank you. I would appreciate an honest answer.
Dear Reader, Wash those e-mails right out of your hair; they are hoaxes being perpetrated on innocent cyber-surfers in various forms and attributed to several different "experts," all spouting claims that commonly used health or beauty items are actually cancerous. Other products that have been the target of Internet smear campaigns include tampons and antiperspirants (click on the Related Q&A links below for the details). According to the American Cancer Society, neither Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, nor its more potent cousin Sodium Laureth Sulfate, causes cancer. Both of these additives are cleansers (a.k.a. detergents) that remove oil and dirt from hair and skin. Sodium Laureth Sulfate is also used as an ingredient in household cleaners, so it could be in detergents that you use to clean your garage, your bathroom, or your car. This does not necessarily mean that it is toxic — only that it does a pretty good job of removing grime and grease from everyday surfaces. The concentrations of these two additives that are used in cosmetic cleaners are much lower than the concentrations used in household cleaners (because, hopefully, your face has less ground-in grime than your garage floor). Sodium Laureth Sulfate has been shown to cause skin or eye irritation in some people, so the more mild Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is typically used in baby shampoos and other products advertised as being "more gentle" on skin and/or eyes. As with any product, if you experience discomfort or irritation when using a cleanser containing either detergent ingredient, you need to find an alternative that's free of these substances. But if your favorite, most trusted shampoo contains these cleaners, there is no reason to start having bad hair days in the name of health.
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