What is this substance - Sodium Laureth Sulfate - and what is its effect?

Thanks to the advertising that flooded our lives, many heard about the harmful, according to scientists and researchers, a component of most personal care products - Sodium Laureth Sulfate. What it is? Let's look at the article.

What is Sodium Laureth Sulfate?

It is a chemical component, a cheap surfactant with a strong detergent, cleaning, foaming and wetting effect. This ingredient is widely used in industrial production and in household chemicals (cleaning and degreasing agents for washing dishes, floors, machines and other surfaces), also actively used Sodium Laureth Sulfate in cosmetics, namely:

• Foams and gels for washing ;

• Means for removing make-up;

• Shampoos;

• Liquid soap ;

• Shower gels;

• Bath foam;

• Toothpastes;

• Means of intimate hygiene.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is considered less dangerous than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SCS), but despite this, this substance is still the strongest allergen, which can seriously worsen the condition of patients suffering from dermatitis. By destroying the hydrolipid film, the substance reacts with the lipids of the skin and destroys them. Also this component is a good conductor of toxic substances, easily connecting with other ingredients, forms dioxins and nitrates and quickly enough distributes them to all organs.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate in shampoo

This substance is especially often used in the production of shampoos - about 90% of them contain this ingredient. SLES (or SLS, or ALS, or ALES) is the first ingredient in the list of most shampoos and acts as its washing base. Adding these substances is the cheapest and easiest way to get a thick foam, and also to clean the hair and scalp from sebum. The concentration of sulfates in the drug can be different: in shampoos for normal and dry hair, they are less, for fatty - more. In more expensive means use SLES and SLS, in the cheap - ALES and ALS. Find a shampoo that does not contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate or other sulphates, the task is very difficult.

For a long time it was thought that sulfates are one of the provoking factors of cancer development. But later this myth was dispelled and it is proved that sulphates are not carcinogens. However, nevertheless, these substances and in particular Sodium Laureth Sulfate harm to the body can cause tangible.

Effects of sulfate on the human body

• Purify sulfates, oxidizing the surface, including the skin, and leave a film on it. As a result, the epidermis is irritated, itching develops, redness, peeling, allergies. With prolonged use, skin diseases.

• Under the influence of sulfates, the hair is dried, which leads to the formation of brittle, split and dry tips. It can also form dandruff, drop out hair, develop scalp diseases.

• Sulfate influences in such a way that hair becomes fat at the roots, and it is necessary to wash them more often. This is explained simply - the work of the sebaceous glands is activated as a result of a strong degreasing of the scalp.

• Through the dermis sulfates penetrate into tissues and organs: liver, eyes, heart, kidneys, brain. These substances settle there and accumulate, their concentration gradually increases. As a result, the protein composition of cells can change, which, in turn, provokes the development of various diseases (for example, cataracts). Especially it concerns children. Also Sodium Laureth Sulfate and other sulfates can damage the immune system and cause cell mutations.

• With the liver these substances are practically not removed from the body.

How to limit the influence of sulfates on the body?

• Certainly, cosmetic products containing sulfates should not be used by people with sensitive and predisposed to allergic reactions skin. Many companies produce products with the inscriptions "for children", "children's" and so on, but often this is just an advertising gimmick and such means of composition are no different from "adult" products.

• Means with SLS content are generally recommended to be avoided, especially their use for children is not desirable. Rare use of cosmetic products with SLES in the composition of special harm will not bring. But, as a rule, we use such means daily: a dishwashing liquid, gels and soap for a shower, shampoos.

• The content of sulfates in cream and other cosmetics is especially dangerous, because such products stay on the skin for a long time. This applies to the means for make-up and washing, because many make up cosmetics from the eyes with facial.

• Do not succumb to advertising tricks and treat sulfate shampoos with dandruff, itching and flaking. After all, these funds themselves can cause such problems.

Is there an alternative?

Instead of cosmetic products with sulphates, you should choose natural and organic cosmetics. As a rule, the quality of these funds is confirmed by international certificates. Instead of harmful sulphates in such products, plant components are used: lauret sulfosuccinate, lauril glucoside, cocoglucoside, derived from glucose and coconut oil. Such shampoos, gels, soaps do not foam very well, in comparison with sulphate-containing products, which give abundant foam. In our childhood shampoos also foamed badly, but they did not dry hair and as often as today, we did not have to wash our hair.

Finally

Naturally, it is simply impossible to completely abandon the funds, which contain sulfates. But their use can be tried at least to limit, carefully studying the label and choosing cosmetic products with less aggressive ingredients. It is especially necessary to choose the means for children. Recently, more and more often diagnose various skin diseases in babies, because from birth, their tender skin is exposed to the aggressive influence of so-called "children's" funds. Be extremely careful and take care of your health!