Sodium
Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
What it is, where to find it and how to avoid it.
Both
Sodium
Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and
its close relative Sodium
Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) are commonly
used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and
other products that we expect to "foam up". Both
chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically
known as
surfactants.
Unfortunately,
both sodium laureth sulfate and its cousin are also very
dangerous, highly irritating chemicals. Far from giving
"healthy shining hair" and "beautiful skin", soaps and
shampoos containing sodium laureth sulfate can lead to
direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent
eye
damage in children and even liver toxicity.
Although
sodium laureth sulfate is somewhat less irritating than
SLS, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects
are
therefore
much longer-lasting. This not only means it stays in the
body tissues for longer, but much more precious energy
is used getting rid of it.
A report published
in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in
1983 showed that concentrations of SLS as low as 0.5% could
cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin
corrosion
and severe irritation. National
Institutes of Health "Household Products Directory" of
chemical ingredients lists over 80 products that contain
SLS and SLES. Some soaps have concentrations of up to 30%,
which the ACT report called "highly irritating
and dangerous".
Shampoos
are among the most frequently reported products to the
FDA. Reports include eye irritation, scalp irritation,
tangled hair, swelling of the hands, face and arms and
split and fuzzy hair. This is highly characteristic of
sodium laureth sulfate and almost definitely directly
related to its use.
Click
here to learn of the possible health effects of sodium
laureth sulfate
So
why is a dangerous chemical like sodium laureth sulfate used in our soaps
and shampoos?
The
answer is simple - it is cheap. The sodium laureth sulfate
found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find
in a
car
wash
or
even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.
In
the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines,
SLES also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause
a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures
skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also
allows environmental contaminants easier access to the
lower, sensitive layers of the skin.
This
denaturing of skin proteins may even be implicated in skin
and other cancers. Perhaps
most worryingly, sodium laureth sulfate is also absorbed
into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed,
one of
the
main effects of SLS is to mimic the activity of the hormone
Oestrogen. This has many health
implications and may be responsible for a variety of
health problems from PMS and Menopausal
symptoms to dropping male fertility and
increasing female cancers such as breast
cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be
involved.
Products
commonly found to contains SLS or Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Soaps
Shampoos
Bubble-baths
Tooth paste
Washing-up liquid / dish soap
Laundry detergent
Childrens soaps / shampoos
Stain Remover
Carpet Cleaner
Fabric glue
Body wash
Shave cream
Mascara
Mouthwash
Skin cleanser
Moisture lotion / Moisturiser
Sun Cream
To find hair, personal and household products without ANY SLS or other harmful chemicals, please click this link - SLS-free products.
The
use of sodium laureth sulfate in childrens products
is particularly
worrying. It is known that, whether it gets in the eyes
or not, skin application DOES lead to measurable concentrations
in the eyes of children. This is known to affect eye development,
and the damage caused in this manner is irreversible. If
you have children DO NOT USE products containing sodium
laureth sulfate or SLS - they will thank you for it one
day. Do not
believe that just because a product is labeled as "natural" it
is free from SLS or sodium laureth sulfate. Most common
brands of "Natural" or "Herbal" shampoos
and cleansers still use these harmful chemicals as their
main active ingredient - check your labels!
That
is not to say that you can't get sodium laureth sulfate-free
shampoos, soaps, detergents and toothpastes. Some highly
reputable companies have been producing such products
for years. These products not only contains no sodium laureth
sulfate, they are also free of other harmful chemical
colorings, preservatives and even flavourings.
Others
forget to take supplies on vacation or business trips.
Take our advice and make sure you replace the products
in your wash-kit as well as your bathroom. You will be
very grateful you did.
The
potential effects of SLS on health are discussed here and
the NLM's data on the subject is available here.
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Possible
Effects of SLS on Health
Journal of the American
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