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Do all soaps contain harmful chemicals?
Are there chemicals in soap?
Is a soap a cosmetic or a drug?
Should soap be labeled under FHSA?
CPSC does not oversee any requirement to list the ingredients of a soap on the label. Soaps that are a hazardous substance under the FHSA must identify the substance responsible for the hazard as part of the cautionary label. For more information on cautionary labeling, visit our FHSA business guidance page.
- Overview
- Does all soap contain harmful chemicals?
- What can these chemicals do to the skin?
- Chemicals
- Soap alternatives
- Summary
Some soaps contain chemicals, including fragrances, that may harm health or cause skin irritation.
Soaps may contain certain chemicals to help the soap bind together, lather up, or add fragrance.
Some chemicals may affect health or irritate the skin, particularly if people have sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema.
This article discusses potentially harmful chemicals in some soaps, possible effects, and alternative options.
Not all soaps contain potentially harmful chemicals. Vegetable-based soaps, such as castile soap, may not contain harmful chemicals and have a low hazard score on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep database.
Natural soaps usually contain oils and fats from plants or animals as the main ingredients, without additional components such as preservatives, parabens, or binders.
People can look for soaps with short ingredient lists and those that do not contain:
•fragrances
•preservatives
•skin irritants
Certain chemicals in soap may irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis. This may include fragrances such as:
•linalool
•limonene hydroperoxides
•hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde
•treemoss absolute
•oakmoss absolute
Formaldehyde
The EWG lists formaldehyde on its toxic chemical list. The following terms for formaldehyde may also appear in ingredient lists: •paraformaldehyde •methylene glycol •quaternium 15, which releases formaldehyde Formaldehyde is a carcinogen, which may cause some types of cancer, although people may have an increased risk if they have high exposure to the chemical at industrial levels.
Triclosan
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many antibacterial soaps contain triclosan. The effects of triclosan on human health are unclear, but animal studies suggest the chemical may harm hormonal health. Triclosan may also affect how bacteria respond to antibiotics, possibly increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a surfactant that can help cleaning products such as soap to foam and join ingredients together. According to the EWG, SLS may irritate a person’s skin. According to the American Chemistry Council, SLS is not corrosive to the skin and is safe for use. No scientific evidence suggests SLS causes hair loss or is a carcinogen.
For washing, people may want to use water or make a homemade body scrub with simple ingredients, such as honey, coffee grounds, or oatmeal.
Soaps labeled “antibacterial” may contain more chemicals than regular soap for handwashing.
The FDA advises that people do not need antibacterial soap for handwashing. Using plain soap and warm water is sufficient to help prevent germs and illness.
Read about the best soaps for eczema.
Some soaps may contain chemicals that can affect health or cause skin irritation.
People can look for short ingredient lists on soaps to minimize exposure to damaging chemicals. People may choose a certified organic or natural soap containing plant or animal ingredients without fragrances, preservatives, or additives.
- Beth Sissons
To meet the definition of soap in FDA’s regulations, a product has to meet three conditions: What it’s made of: To be regulated as “soap,” the product must be composed mainly of the “alkali...
In general, soaps would be subject to the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) and the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). If the product meets the definition of a hazardous substance under the FHSA, then it must bear precautionary labeling.
Jul 10, 2017 · The soap cannot be: Toxic Corrosive Irritating A strong sensitizer Combustible or flammable Cause anyone in harm in the course of normal use We now know what soap is and how it’s regulated. Although true soap is not regulated by the FDA, it is still regulated and it must be safe.
Soap, Cosmetics & Handcrafted Products. Very few products made or sold by soap and cosmetic handcrafters are hazardous substances. However, there are a few products that might be considered hazardous substances under certain circumstances and therefore would require special labeling and handling:
Apr 2, 2024 · Soap and detergent, substances that, when dissolved in water, possess the ability to remove dirt from surfaces such as human skin, textiles, and other solids. The seemingly simple process of cleaning a soiled surface is, in fact, complex. Learn more about soap and detergent in this article.
