Is sodium lauryl ether sulfate safe?
As China's requirements for personal care products align with industrialization and the standards of emerging market countries, consumers can now see ingredient details that were previously undisclosed. More alarmingly, Sodium lauryl ether sulfate SLES can be absorbed through the skin into the body, entering the liver, and cannot be metabolized or excreted. Once accumulated, it mimics estrogen hormones, reducing sperm viability and motility in men, thereby diminishing fertility, and increasing the risk of uterine and breast cancers in women.
Toothpastes containing petroleum-based surfactants like Sodium lauryl ether sulfate SLES can also increase the likelihood of oral ulcers. Many people have experienced a filmy sensation in their mouth after brushing—this is caused by the irritating petroleum-based surfactants in toothpaste. The underlying mechanism remains the same: they disrupt the protective layer of the skin.