What’s in a Hand Cleanser? ‘Some’ typical ingredients…
What is a Hand Cleanser?
What is a hand cleanser? It’s just alcohol… No
Although some particularly toxic and rapidly fatal hand washes have been taken off the market suggesting remaining hand washes are safe, this is not the full story. This is a particularly hard piece to investigate and write. Mainly because it is impossible to link new chemicals with health issues conclusively until decades have passed and the health issues have arisen. Even then it makes it very difficult to link a health problem back. In addition, the huge number of varied chemicals added to Hand Cleansers makes this review a never-ending task, most cleansers have in excess of 5 ingredients, many a lot more. Most of these ingredients have not been used liberally multiple times per day historically. Below we have reviewed some common ingredients, along with scientific studies showing a connection to health problems… Check your hand cleanser ingredients.
Triethanolamine
Systemic and respiratory tract toxicity. Contact Dermatitis. Tumor/Cancer links.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1592523/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11156016/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17384563/
Cocamide DEA
Combines with N-nitrosodiethanolamine to cause cancer. Listed by OEHHA as a cancer causing agent. Minor irritant.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1665417/
- https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27144883/
Methylchloroisothiazolinone Methylisothiazolinone
Contact Dermatitis. Linked to body weight gain, organ and cell toxicity. Official 2013 allergen of the year.
- https://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/methylisothiazolinone/
- https://europepmc.org/article/med/9580801
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Officially 2004 allergen of the year. Often contaminated with dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA.
- https://www.the-dermatologist.com/content/review-acds%E2%80%99-allergen-od-year-2000-2015
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15573641/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1479082/
Fragrance
Can be anything literally… by naming something fragrance allows the manufacturer to describe secret and unknown ingredients. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4266660/
Others:
- Color
- Lauryl Glucoside
- Benzyl Alcohol
- Glycerin
- Glycol Stearate
- Glycol Distearate
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Chloride
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Carbomer
- Pigment
