Can shampoo lather give you cancer?
Photo credit: Getty Images Sulphates like SLS and SLES create shampoo foam but may harm scalp health.
Prolonged sulphate use can dry skin, cause irritation and weaken skin barrier.
Contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane and Nitrosamines are potential cancer risks.
In the increasingly health-conscious marketplace of today, the lurking dangers in products of daily use are coming under greater scrutiny. One such ingredient group is sulphates, mainly used in shampoo lather. Whilst they provide the rich foamy texture many associate with cleanliness, worries are mounting about their long-term effects on health, particularly the risk of cancer. Dr Jayachandran P.K., consultant-medical oncology and hemato-oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, helps understand the risks.
Sulphates in shampoo: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) are used in shampoos as cleansing agents, producing foam and lather to remove dirt and oil from the scalp.
Sulphate exposure can be damaging: Prolonged exposure to sulphates may have various adverse effects:
-Strip the scalp and skin of natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation and inflammation.
-Weaken the natural barrier of the skin, increasing permeability to environmental toxins.
-Create a pathway for entry of carcinogenic substances into the body.
-Cause allergy or impact people with delicate skin conditions such as eczema or contact dermatitis.
While sulphates themselves are not classified as direct carcinogens, chronic irritation sustained by sulphate-rich products can create an area of weakness. Potentially, over time, this can increase the absorption of carcinogenic contaminants into the body.
Many other worries: It is not so much the sulphates that have to be worried about but the contaminants that may accompany them. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified 1,4-Dioxane, a chemical byproduct formed during manufacturing of sulphates, as a potential human carcinogen. Then there's Nitrosamines. These are known carcinogens and formed when surfactants react with certain other ingredients. Low-grade, chronic exposure to these contaminants may increase the risk of long-term health consequences.
Safer alternatives: As consumer awareness increases, sulphate-free and milder cleansing options are becoming more readily available. Patients often ask how to lower everyday cancer risks. One way is by choosing personal care products that are free of harsh surfactants, parabens and artificial fragrances. It's a small step that can make a meaningful difference over a lifetime. Some of the alternatives are coconut-derived surfactants (Cocamidopropyl Betaine), plant-derived cleansers (Decyl Glucoside and Lauryl Glucoside) and amino acid-derived surfactants, besides natural formulations with specific ingredients such as aloe vera, oat proteins and chamomile.
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In the increasingly health-conscious marketplace of today, the lurking dangers in products of daily use are coming under greater scrutiny. One such ingredient group is sulphates, mainly used in shampoo lather. Whilst they provide the rich foamy texture many associate with cleanliness, worries are mounting about their long-term effects on health, particularly the risk of cancer. Dr Jayachandran P.K., consultant-medical oncology and hemato-oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, helps understand the risks.
Sulphates in shampoo: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) are used in shampoos as cleansing agents, producing foam and lather to remove dirt and oil from the scalp.
Sulphate exposure can be damaging: Prolonged exposure to sulphates may have various adverse effects:
-Strip the scalp and skin of natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation and inflammation.
-Weaken the natural barrier of the skin, increasing permeability to environmental toxins.
-Create a pathway for entry of carcinogenic substances into the body.
-Cause allergy or impact people with delicate skin conditions such as eczema or contact dermatitis.
While sulphates themselves are not classified as direct carcinogens, chronic irritation sustained by sulphate-rich products can create an area of weakness. Potentially, over time, this can increase the absorption of carcinogenic contaminants into the body.
Many other worries: It is not so much the sulphates that have to be worried about but the contaminants that may accompany them. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified 1,4-Dioxane, a chemical byproduct formed during manufacturing of sulphates, as a potential human carcinogen. Then there's Nitrosamines. These are known carcinogens and formed when surfactants react with certain other ingredients. Low-grade, chronic exposure to these contaminants may increase the risk of long-term health consequences.
Safer alternatives: As consumer awareness increases, sulphate-free and milder cleansing options are becoming more readily available. Patients often ask how to lower everyday cancer risks. One way is by choosing personal care products that are free of harsh surfactants, parabens and artificial fragrances. It's a small step that can make a meaningful difference over a lifetime. Some of the alternatives are coconut-derived surfactants (Cocamidopropyl Betaine), plant-derived cleansers (Decyl Glucoside and Lauryl Glucoside) and amino acid-derived surfactants, besides natural formulations with specific ingredients such as aloe vera, oat proteins and chamomile.
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