A shampoo is one of the personal care products that we have used since a long time ago. Our ancestor used shampoo to clean their hair and keep its beauty, just like what we do nowadays. Right now, most of the shampoo products that we used contains synthetic chemicals.
Factories made shampoo from a lot of ingredients, including the chemicals ingredient. By chemicals, we mean an ingredient that was synthesized chemically and do not occur naturally, or even if it does occur naturally, they are taken out from their origins and then processed chemically in a lab.
Below you will find a list of chemicals factories usually used to make a shampoo. Brace yourself, because it might surprise you a little bit. Well, not a little actually, but a lot. Without further ado, here is the list of chemicals in shampoo.
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General properties
The first list of chemicals in shampoo is Sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, a chemical compound with a chemical formula CH3(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na. This chemical formula can be found in a lot of personal care product other than shampoos, such as soaps, toothpaste, and etc. This happens because SLS is not expensive while at the same time is a very effective foaming agent. Its molar mass is around 420 g//mol.
Danger
SLS is a known irritant to our eyes and skin. Other findings suggest that SLS can cause cancer in an animal. In addition to that, production of SLS might leave a trace of 1,4-Dioxane. Some products that contain SLS was discovered to contain up to 279 ppm of 1,4-Dioxane. 1,4-Dioxane was discovered as a potential carcinogen. In other words, SLS might contribute indirectly to the development of cancer.
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General properties
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a mixture of an organic compound derived from coconut oil and another chemical compound called dimethylaminopropylamine. It is a viscous solution that has a pale yellow color. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a common surfactant in many personal care products. Its chemical formula is C19H38N2O3.
Danger
The main danger to Cocamidopropyl betaine or CAPB is it potential to become an irritant to our skin and eye. In addition to that, it also can cause allergic to some people if they interact with it. This chemical compound is actually voted as Allergen of the Year in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society because of the numerous allergic case related with CAPB.
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General properties
Triclosan, sometimes also called TCS, is an antibacterial and antifungal agent used in many personal care products such as shampoos, soaps, detergents, and others. Its chemical formula is C12H7Cl3O2. Since its development in the 1960s, triclosan has been used as one of the main chemical used as the antibacterial agent. However, starting in September 2017, FDA prohibits it to be used because its low efficacy to fight bacteria.
Danger
Triclosan can accumulate in our cells and keep our body in a state of toxicity. The main danger of triclosan is it can cause irritation to our eyes, lungs, and skin. In addition to that, triclosan can mimic our hormone activity and in results can cause endocrine disruption. Moreover, it can also cause organ system toxicity.
Because of it lows efficacy in fighting bacteria and fungi, triclosan might increase the possibility of an immune bacteria to an antibiotic. In other words, it might help bacteria to become stronger that to some extent can survive our immune system and cause many health problems.
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General properties
Polysorbates are a class of emulsifiers derived from ethoxylated sorbitan esterified with fatty acids. This oily liquid is used in cosmetics, food preparation, or pharmaceuticals products. It has a variant, such as polysorbates 80 (mainly in cosmetics) or polysorbates 60 and others. The number indicates how many oxyethylene group (-CH2CH2O-) that was found in the molecule. Polysorbates main use is as a solvent to dissolve fragrance or other oil additives.
Danger
Polysorbates can leave a residue on our skin or scalp, which will disturb the skin’s natural pH balance. It will also destroy our skin and scalp natural protective barrier. To what extent polysorbates can damage us is debatable. It is suggested that polysorbates can cause irritation to some people. Therefore, you should be careful in using polysorbates.
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General properties
Polyethylene Glycol or simply PEG is a polyether compound that has another name which is polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE). Its chemical formula is C2nH4n+2On+1. PEG is used in many different fields, starting from medical to industrial uses. In the medical field, a doctor uses PEG as laxatives, protein medications, excipient, and others.
PEG is also used to make personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, soaps, toothpaste, and others.
Dangers
Some research suggests that PEG contains dangerous dioxin levels, found as a by-product of the ethoxylation process in its manufacturing process. Dioxins have a direct link to cancer development. In other words, PEG might contribute indirectly to the increase of cancer development.
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General properties
A potassium sorbate chemical formula is C6H7KO2. It appears as a white crystal that has an odor. It is soluble in many solvents with different levels of solubility. Mainly soluble in ethanol or propylene glycol, slightly soluble in acetone, very slightly soluble in chloroform, ether or corn oil, but insoluble in benzene.
Potassium sorbate is a synthetic chemical that factories or people in general use as food preservatives. Factories produce it by neutralizing the sorbic acid with another chemical compound called potassium hydroxide. Other uses of potassium sorbate include an application in a personal product, such as shampoos, and others. In shampoo, potassium sorbate is used as preservatives.
Danger
The main danger of potassium sorbate is skin irritation and toxicity to our organ. It is better if you avoid potassium sorbate if you have irritation to it.
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General Properties
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in many different fields, from cosmetics to other pharmaceuticals. It is also used as a perfume fixative, insect repellent, antiseptic, and others. Its IUPAC name is 2-Phenoxyethanol. Phenoxyethanol chemical formula is C8H10O2. This colorless oily liquid has a weak rose-like odor. It is mostly soluble in alkali, diethyl ether, or chloroform solvent. It is produced by a process called Williamson synthesis.
Danger
Some research suggests that phenoxyethanol can cause irritation to the eyes, lungs, or skin. It might even cause a shut down of the CNS, contact dermatitis, and also vomiting.
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Retinyl palmitate, also known as vitamin A palmitate, is a chemical compound with chemical formula C36H60O2. It is the ester of vitamin A and a palmitic acid. This oily and dry chemical compound is a common vitamin supplement available in the market under the brand name of Palmitate A or another brand. This chemical compound is also commonly used as an antioxidant and a source of vitamin A in low-fat milk or other dairy products to replace the natural vitamin A due to loss of the natural vitamin A because of the removal of the milk fat.
Danger
The EWH (Environmental Working Group) and Chuck Schumer, a New York Senator, have called attention to the fact that high doses of retinol are linked to speeding up cancer in lab animals. In addition to that, National Toxicology Program at the US concluded that the addition of retinyl palmitate exacerbated the frequency and rate of tumors. To put it simply, retinyl palmitate is a potential carcinogen that can cause cancer. Other danger of retinyl palmitate might include reproductive toxicity and organ toxicity.
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General properties
Dimethicone is a chemical compound commonly known as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS. This chemical compound belongs to a group of organosilicon. PDMS is the most widely used silicone in many fields. For example, the application of PDMS is contact lenses making, medical devices, elastomers, and personal care product such as shampoos. It can make the hair become shiny and slippery.
Dimethicone chemical formula is (C2H6OSi)n. It is made by polymerization reaction involving hydrochloric acid and dimethyldichlorosilane. This chemical is viscoelastic, but at a short flow time (low temperature) it can act like an elastic solid like a rubber.
Danger
Dimethicone can cause the skin and scalp become incredibly dry. In some case, it might cause irritation to the skin, eye, and scalp. It will also form a barrier on the outside of the skin that traps bacteria, sebum, and impurities. For the environment, it can become a pollutant that is hard to degrade to the environment.
General properties
Behentrimonium chloride also called BTAC-228 or docosyltrimethylammonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt. It belongs to an organic compound group that is widely used as a disinfectant or antistatic agent. Its chemical formula is CH3(CH2)21N(Cl)(CH3)3. It has a yellow wax-like appearance. BTAC-228 is also used as a preservative.
Danger
The potential danger of behentrimonium chloride is irritation inflammation. With only a 0.1% concentration, it can cause damage to the eyes. Not only that, it also irritates the skin.
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Here is the list of chemicals in shampoo that may be harmful for you to use:
11. Fragrance
A fragrance is a chemical property that can be made from many chemicals. Chemical fragrance can be dangerous because it clogs our lymphatic system. In addition to that, it can also induce major organ toxicity. In extreme, it can also cause endocrine disruption. Endocrine disruption can cause significant health problems.
12. Parabens – This chemicals most uses for hair conditioner
13. Quaternium-15 – This chemicals maybe harmful for you and can cause you skin allergic.
14. Dimethicone – This chemicals compound may cause you reproductive damage to skin such as skin irritation and sensitive.
That is the list of chemicals in shampoo. Beware of those dangerous chemicals, and if you can’t avoid to use it, be careful of its side effects.
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