Why does sodium lauryl sulfate cause dry skin?

What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

All ingredients in cosmetics and hair care products are labeled as "sodium lauryl sulfate." The English name is sometimes abbreviated to "SLS." It is a surfactant derived from coconut oil, palm kernel oil, petroleum, etc.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is used in cosmetics for the following purposes:

Improves foaming

It creates fluffy, fine bubbles that feel good on the skin and also attract oils from the skin, enhancing cleansing power.

Increase cleaning power

Sodium lauryl sulfate removes oil from the skin. You will feel refreshed and clean after washing. When added to face wash or body soap, it creates good foaming, so even a small amount has a cleaning effect. It can also break down the oil in makeup and remove it effectively.

Emulsifies water-based and oil-based ingredients

Oil and water do not mix, but by adding sodium lauryl sulfate, the water and oil can be kept mixed together.

Strong cleaning power of sodium lauryl sulfate

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a relatively inexpensive ingredient in cosmetics. Because it improves foaming and cleaning power, it is often found in soaps, facial cleansers, body soaps, makeup removers, shampoos, and toothpastes.

However, while it is highly effective, it also has some drawbacks. Strong cleansing power means strong degreasing power. The degreasing power that easily removes makeup and excess oil can cause dry skin. Also, it may be too much of a burden on people who already have dry or sensitive skin .

In addition, the following people should avoid it:

• Allergic constitution
• Sensitive Skin
• Extremely dry skin
• Atopic dermatitis
• Have skin problems such as a rash

Even if you don't have any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may feel irritation if you don't rinse it off properly and it remains on your skin. It is also a strong ingredient that can irritate the eyes. If it gets in your eyes while washing your hair or face, you should be careful as it will sting.

Why dishwashing detergent can dry out your hands

Sodium lauryl sulfate is not only used in cosmetics. It is also used in dishwashing detergents under the ingredient name "sodium alkyl sulfate."

The reason it is used is because of its strong cleaning and grease-removing power. It is powerful enough to remove grease from frying pans without scrubbing.

Detergents can cause rough, chapped hands. In severe cases, they can even cause rashes. The reason for this is that sodium lauryl sulfate removes excess sebum from the skin. It has also been pointed out that using hot water can make skin irritation even more severe.

When washing dishes, it is a good idea to protect your skin by using natural rubber gloves.

41.8% of people had irritation reactions

A German study conducted patch tests on 1,600 people. 41.8% of people had irritation reactions to sodium lauryl sulfate at a concentration of 0.5%. Another study was conducted over a period of three and a half months. It was reported that skin troubles occurred not only immediately after use, but also continued after use was stopped.

People who experience skin irritation from sodium lauryl sulfate experience symptoms such as redness, dryness, itching, and a stinging sensation. If you scratch the skin, the symptoms may worsen and develop a rash or blisters. In some cases, the symptoms may persist for a long time.

People who are sensitive to sodium lauryl sulfate should be careful of these ingredients

People who experience skin irritation from sodium lauryl sulfate are also more likely to experience allergic or erythema reactions to the following ingredients:

• Fragrances
• Propolis
• Lanolin alcohol
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• TBHQ (t-butyl hydroquinone)
• Triethanolamines such as DEA and TEA
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Octyl Gallate
• N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (used in hair color)
• Paraphenylenediamine (used in hair color)

If you continue to have skin problems, check to see if your product contains these ingredients.

Differences from sodium laureth sulfate

There is an ingredient called "sodium laureth sulfate" that has a similar name to sodium lauryl sulfate. In the list of all ingredients in cosmetics, it is written as "sodium laureth sulfate." The English name is also sometimes abbreviated to "SLES."

Both are surfactants that improve foaming and cleaning power, and they play almost the same role, so they are easily confused.

However, there is a slight difference in irritation. Sodium laureth sulfate tends to bind less to proteins on the skin surface than sodium lauryl sulfate.

This means that it is less irritating to the skin than sodium lauryl sulfate, which is why it is increasingly being used in place of sodium lauryl sulfate.
(However, sodium laureth sulfate is not yet considered "gentle on the skin.")

When to use cosmetics containing sodium lauryl sulfate

As mentioned above, sodium lauryl sulfate is not an ingredient that can be recommended for people with sensitive skin. On the other hand, there are people who like facial cleansers that foam well! If you are one of those people, you should pay attention to the following points when using it to avoid unexpected skin problems.

Apply to wet skin

Harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate can increase the risk of skin irritation if applied to dry skin, so wet your skin with lukewarm water before applying a cleanser.

Also, once you have spread the foam on your skin, it is important to wash it off as soon as possible, as leaving it on your skin for too long can lead to irritation.

Do not use on face

Even if you want to thoroughly remove makeup that you've been wearing for a long time, we don't recommend using a cleanser with too strong a cleansing power every day. This is because removing too much sebum can damage the skin barrier and disrupt the natural sebum balance.

If you use a product with strong degreasing power on a daily basis, your skin may become so dry that moisturizing after washing your face cannot compensate. Dry skin is the enemy of beautiful skin. It may be a good idea to choose a makeup product that is easy to remove and does not require strong cleansing power.