a healthier life

Effect of SLS on Acne

Shampoo and toothpaste are among several products which most of us cannot live without. Unfortunately, individuals who suffer from acne rarely suspect that these two products could be contributing to their acne breakouts. If you are someone who is having trouble keeping acne under control with the aid of over-the-counter and/or prescription treatments, your shampoo and toothpaste may be impeding the efficacy of your treatment. Careful consideration needs to be taken while shopping for shampoo and toothpaste for an acne-prone individual. We will be exploring some of the ingredients which should be avoided in the quest for the perfect product.

The majority of shampoos and toothpastes currently available on the market contain an additive known as sodium lauryl sulfate. To understand why this additive is being widely used, we need to consider the type of water that reaches most homes. In the United States, more than three quarters of homes receive what is known as hard water. This water has a significant mineral content. You can generally tell whether or not your home receives this type of water by examining your bathroom fixtures. If you notice mineral deposits in and around them, there is a high probability that you’ve been treating your skin with hard water.

Hard water poses a major obstacle when it comes to skin care. This obstacle lies in the fact that it fails to properly react with cleaning products. When combined with soap, hard water forms soap scum, not a lather to provide a cleaning effect. Hard water does not provide the needed facilitation for soap, and consequently, makes cleaning anything a chore. To accommodate our overwhelming usage of hard water, shampoo and soap manufacturers included SLS in their products. This chemical provides that lather which we all like despite the high mineral content of our water. Unfortunately, this artificially induced lather comes at a cost.

Sodium lauryl sulfate has shown been shown to induce skin irritation in even small concentrations. For someone with acne-prone skin, irritation is very bad news. If you consider the fact this chemical is also used in industrial-grade cleaning products, it should become evident that it is quite harsh. Although not formally labeled a carcinogen, SLS is classified as a pesticide. There is little effort underway in the industry to replace SLS. It is a very inexpensive fix for an otherwise expensive problem. Water treatment would be far more expensive to implement than simply adding SLS to cleaning products.

There are some steps you can take to minimize the harmful effects of SLS. The most obvious is to avoid products that contain this ingredient. Carefully inspect shampoo, toothpaste, and soap labels before making a purchase. In the case of shampoos, you also want to avoid other harsh ingredients such as alcohol. Basic shampoos such as baby shampoo are a good fit for those suffering from acne. Toothpaste can pose more of a challenge in maintaining clear skin because it includes fluoride. Fluoride has been linked to skin irritation, and can commonly cause acne (or an acne-like condition) around the mouth. Those that suffer from persistent acne in this area should switch to a natural toothpaste lacking this ingredient, or consult their dentist for additional options.