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• More Evidence Against SLS Products

• HairSite Editorial

• 7/3/00

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• SLS - discussion group

We have covered this topic several times already in HairSite but somehow the never ending discussion on SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) keeps coming back to haunt us. SLS is an emulsifier that can be found in almost all household,  personal and beauty products. SLS helps to mix ingredients together in a chemically consistent state. In addition, SLS creates the foam associated with a lot of the cleaning products. SLS can be found in detergent, soap, shampoo, conditioner,  and toothpaste etc.

One end of the argument suggests that SLS is harmful to our body and it should be avoided at all cost. SLS is used for cleaning garage floors by means of corrosion and the same stuff should not be used on our scalp, face or any part of our body. There are sources suggesting that SLS is implicated in premature hair loss in men and women and may be one of the reasons for widespread incidence of hair thinning. Even scarier, SLS is said to corrode the hair follicle and impair its ability to grow hair; and it also causes a dramatic decline in the hair growth cycle and prolongs the hair loss phase by a factor of 8.  There are also sources saying that SLS is used throughout the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. Laboratories use it to irritate skin on test animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effective they are on the irritated skin. There is a general belief that SLS eats away skin protection and causes rashes and infection to occur.  SLS cleans by corrosion and dries skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can't effectively regulate moisture.

Manufacturers of health and beauty products have been fighting off these claims against SLS for as long as we can remember.

Recently, there are studies confirming or adding to the assaults on SLS. In a study at the University of Oslo, Norway, Dr. Barkvoll and Dr. Brokstad examined the effects of SLS formulated toothpaste. During a 3-month study involving over 20 participants, patients using SLS free toothpaste reported a 70% reduction in gum irritations and canker sores. A similar study was conducted by Dr. Christopher Wagoner and subjects who were put on the SLS free toothpaste reported a 60% - 70% reduction in gum bleeding and mouth ulcers. Scientists concluded that patients using SLS formulated toothpaste displayed a greater amount of desquamation, which is characterized by a loss of skin tissue and skin linning inside the mouth and around the gum. It was theorized that SLS causes the loss in skin tissue by means of denaturization. SLS denatures protective mucus proteins inside the mouth and around the gum. A denatured protein is a protein which has lost its three dimensional shape thereby becoming nonfunctional. The denaturing of mucus proteins makes the cells lining inside the mouth more vulnerable and thereby more susceptible to bleeding, irritation and canker sores etc.

HairSite has not verified the accuracy of the above studies. But if the findings are legitimate, then SLS formulated shampoos may also have the same effects on scalp tissues. Our recommendation: better safe than sorry. There are many shampoos these days that are free of SLS and they are excellent for healthy hair and scalp. Most of the SLS free shampoos on the market are formulated with tea tree oil, an all natural antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent.   A couple also contain a natural sunscreen for added protection against harmful UV.

To see more coverage on SLS, please go to
Consumer Education - SLS

To go to our SLS discussion group, please go to
SLS - Discussion Group

For more info or how to choose a SLS shampoo, please email
HairSite@aol.com

HairSite Editorial
Questions, please email HairSite@aol.com

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