Re: SLS

[Guest guest]

Are you sure it is not allowed in Europe? I have never heard that. In

fact, I remember seeing several popular shampoos (Clairol Herbal Essences,

Suave, etc.) when I was there two years ago. These all have SLS.

Best of Health,

Autumn Blum

Organix Natural Health

www.organix.net

>

> Message: 17

> Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 16:38:26 -0500

> From: Nelsie@...

> Subject: SLS

>

> Though SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) is allowed in topical products in

North

> America, it is not in Europe. It is allowed here because we either rinse

it

> off or spit it out (it's in toothpaste). That, and the petrochemicals

> allowed, is the reason why I started seriously making my own toiletries

and

> got the business going.

>

> There's a lot on SLS, both pro and con, on the Internet if you want to

> check it out.

>

> Shucky 8-) +

> --<-<@ Nelsie's Cupboard/Scarborough, Ontario/M1G 1C5/Canada @>->--

> --<-<@ Tel. (416) 431-6063/Fax (416) 431-9213 @>->-- +T+

> --<-<@ URL: http://www.netcom.ca/~nelsie/welcome.html @>->--

>

[Guest guest]

When I read the labels of all my things in my bathroom, I see SLS

everywhere!!!! Even in the children shampoo. It is not forbidden here in

Switzerland. And since Switzerland has the same laws in cosmetics

production like the EU (European Union) I would say it's also allowed in

Europe.

Best wishes -

Franziska

Nelsie@... schrieb:

> From: Nelsie@...

>

> Though SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) is allowed in topical products in

> North

> America, it is not in Europe. --

Just A Perfect Day - The Soap Factory

http://www.perfectday.ch

[Guest guest]

I do not think that this is a bad product for most

people. However, my daughter developed a severe

itching problem when she was about 4-5 years old. We

noticed it most after using antibiotics, thinking it

was yeast. What it really was turned out to be the

red dye (FD & C Red#40) in most kids prescriptions,

drinks, cereal, etc. in the U.S. However, after

eliminating colors, fragrances, going to natural shoes

(cotton or leather - not plastic or vinyl) and more

natural cleansers (I thought), she still had some

problems. Then I found out about SLS, because her

scalp was always itchy. We changed shampoos, and that

helped everything. I think some of it she has

outgrown (she's now 13), but why put up with anything

that you don't have to, if there is a good

alternative? We are soaked in unnecessary chemicals

in the U.S., for the convenience and profit of big

manufacturers. They don't affect most people (not in

an immediate sense), but that doesn't mean they are

good for you! Especially in the long run!

Thankfully, it is much easier to find lots of products

without dyes, and without so many unnecessary

chemicals. Keep the faith, Bev in Texas

bevhammond@...

--- Franziska Pedersen

<franziska.pedersen@...> wrote:

> When I read the labels of all my things in my

> bathroom, I see SLS

> everywhere!!!! Even in the children shampoo. It is

> not forbidden here in

> Switzerland.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> From: B Hammond <bevhammond1@...>

Then I found out about SLS, because her

> scalp was always itchy. We changed shampoos, and that

> helped everything

You can't really conclude that. Unless ALL of the shampoos she was using

before had the same ingredients, and the shampoo she switched to was exactly

the same except for the lack of SLS, THEN you can say that it was caused by

SLS. There are many things found in cosmetics that can cause an itchy

scalp - she could have just been using a brand that's bad for her. Maybe it

was the fragrance or colorant (since she has a colorant allergy anyway). The

possibilities are endless, and it's really not correct to point the finger

at SLS when you can't really know that for sure.

Branwen

Ona-Stella Enterprises

http://www.ona-stella.com/

[Guest guest]

>>Then I found out about SLS, because her

>> scalp was always itchy. We changed shampoos, and that

>> helped everything

>You can't really conclude that. Unless ALL of the shampoos she was using

>before had the same ingredients, and the shampoo she switched to was exactly

>the same except for the lack of SLS, THEN you can say that it was caused by

>SLS.

i will totally agree with branwen. i'm incredibly glad you found a shampoo that

worked for your daughter, though, because i know first hand what a terribly

annoying (and sometimes dangerous) thing it is to have itchy or irritated skin!

when i first heard about SLS being a supposed cancer-causing agent, i did some

research on it and then concluded that since my skin is so sensitive and i've

had recurring bouts with various skin disorders on my scalp it was wiser to try

something else. however, everything else i tried shampoo-wise left me horribly

itchy and peeling from either not cleaning enough or cleaning too harshly (even

plain castile soap), or else left a rash or made my hair fall out from an

alternate irritation. some people say that those are an even tradeoff for not

getting cancer, but they leave me that much more vulnerable to photosensitivity

and skin cancers.

i figured that my skin has been dealing with SLS for many years and has grown

accustomed to it, and any other surfactant is as bad in its own wonderful way.

i stick with sodium lauryl sulfate and avoid sodium laureth sulfate, and test

out my own concoctions on my skin. right now i'm working with shampoo bars to

see if i can make a formula that doesn't strip my skin. in the meanwhile, i'll

opt for quality of life over potential quantity.

~risa

[Guest guest]

Sorry about the cross post. That message was intended for another list.

Jerry & Willis

Care about what you put on your skin?

All natural herbal soap and aromatherapy

bath products at www.heavensoap.com

[Guest guest]

It's sodium lauryl sulfate. And then there is SLES. Here's something that

Ellen sent out back in July:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - SLS is used in harsh detergents and wetting

agents used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, and auto cleaning

products. SLS is well-known in the scientific community as a common skin

irritant. It is rapidly absorbed and retained in the eyes, brain, heart, and

liver, which may result in harmful long-term effects. SLS could retard

healing, cause cataracts in adults, and keep children's eyes from developing

properly. This is a very common ingredient in toothpastes and may be linked

to one cause of gums receding because of the everyday, prolonged use. Also,

commonly found in shampoos and bubble baths, it is absorbed through skin

contact and has been shown to be retained for up to 5 days in eye tissue. It

is extremely harmful to young children when eyes are developing. Statistics

show more and more people having to wear glasses or contacts. Maybe we have

a reason why?

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) - SLES is the alcohol form

(ethoxylated) of SLS. It is slightly less irritating than SLS, but may cause

more drying. Both SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic formation

of nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with

other product ingredients. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood

system from just one shampooing.

And here's something I recently came across:

SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES). Chemical Name:

Sodium Lauryl " Ether " Sulfate

An ether chain is added to SLS. Called a premium agent in

cleansers and shampoos. In reality, it is very inexpensive,

but thickens when salt is added in the formula and produces

high levels of foam to give the concentrated illusion it is

thick, rich and expensive. Used as a wetting agent in the

textile industry. Irritation to scalp and may cause hair loss

(). SEE SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE.

We examined an anionic detergent Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which

is commonly found in soaps and shampoos, that showed

penetration into the eyes, as well as systemic tissues (brain,

heart, liver, etc.). SLS also showed long-term retention in

tissues.

Because SLS and related substances are widely used in many

populations on a daily basis in soaps and shampoos, there is an

immediate concern relating to the penetration of these

chemicals into the eyes and other tissues. This is especially

important in infants, where considerable growth is occurring,

because a much greater uptake occurs by tissues of younger

eyes, and SLS changes the amounts of some proteins in cells

from eye tissues. Tissues of young eyes may be more

susceptible to alternation by SLS (Green).

Forms nitrates, a possible carcinogen when used in shampoos

and cleansers containing nitrogen-based ingredients. These

nitrates can enter the bloodstream in large numbers from

shampooing, bubble baths, shaving gels, bath and shower gels

and facial cleansers.

These synthetic substances are used in shampoos for their

detergent and foam-building abilities. They can cause eye

iritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to

dandruff and allergic reactions. They are frequently disguised

in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic

explanation " comes from coconut. " Let's save the coconut from

defamation of character and NOT USE products with sodium lauryl

sulfate, etc! (Hampton).

Dr. H. Fine, the chemist who uncovered NDELA

contamination in cosmetics, estimates that a person would be

applying 50 to 100 micrograms of Nitrosamine to the skin each

time he or she used a nitrosamine contaminated cosmetic. By

comparison, a person consuming sodium nitrite preserved bacon

is exposed to less than 1 microgram of Nitrosamine (Hampton).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Begoin, a Blue Eyeshadow Should Still be Legal,

(Beginning Press, 1988)

Brumberg, Elaine Take Care of Your Skin

(Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1989)

Chase, Deborah The New Medically-Based No-Nonsense Beauty

Book, (Henry Holt and Co., 1989)

Environmental Protection Agency 20 Most Common Chemicals

Found in 31 Fragrance Products. 1991

Friend, Tim USA Today, 4/10/90

Green, Dr. Detergent Penetration Into Young and Adult

Eyes (Dept. of Opthamology, Medical College of GA, Augusta, GA)

Hampton, Aubrey Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients (Organics

Press)

Metarasso, Dr. Seth L. " Faking It " - (Muscle & Fitness,

November 1990)

Novick, Dr. Lee Super Skin, (ston, N. Potter,

Inc.

Publishers,1988)

Strega, " Sweet Nerve Gas " - Shared Vision Magazine.

December 1993

Valmy, & Vons Ulrich, Elise " Mid-Air Skin Care "

( Entrepreneurial Woman, July/August 1990 )

Winter, Ruth A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients,

(Crown Publishers, Inc. 1989)

, Camille S. Shampoo Report, (Images International, Inc.

1989)

In a message dated 12/19/2001 7:56:43 PM Central Standard Time,

tgdamron@... writes:

> what is SLS?

>

The Four Stages Of Life

1. You believe in Santa Claus

2. You don't believe in Santa Claus

3. You are Santa Claus

4. You look like Santa Claus

[Guest guest]

My husband swears that since I have switched him from Irish Spring to a non-SLS

soap that his athlete's foot is going away. Does anyone have info on SMS?

Laurie>oh

[Guest guest]

>Subject: Fw: Check your hair shampoo

>is this

>another marketing scheme to get people to buy Vidal Sasson? To those who

>make shampoo, is there any truth in this story?

>>Sodium Laureth Sulphate

Urban legend - check it out on Swopes. SLS CAN be irritating and drying to your

skin when used in high concentrations but, especially in rinse-off products (as

shampoos), isn't going to hurt you - unless you get it in your eyes or something

(and it is used in rather low concentrations in body care products). I can't use

it in anything as a facial or body cleanser because I have extra sensitive skin

and it causes my skin to dry out and flake. Many people have no trouble with it.

Tonya K.

--

Tonya R. Ketchum - tyrtate@...

Granny Rose Botanicals

http://www.grannyrosebotanicals.com

__________________________________________________________________

Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience

the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape!

http://shopnow.netscape.com/

Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at

http://webmail.netscape.com/

[Guest guest]

Toni wrote:

Good Morning all, (I just

love how my email picks up the color). This was posted by someone on

the raw foods group. With her permission I am posting here and

wondering what you all think. The last link suggests maybe this is an

urban legend.

My

inquiring mind wants to know:)

Have

a beautiful day all

Tone

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

This inexpensive detergent is commonly used

in cosmetic cleansers, hair shampoos, bath and shower gels, bubble

baths, etc. - It is probably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin

and hair-care products. In the cleaning industry SLS is used in garage

floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car-wash soaps, etc. It is very

corrosive and readily attacks greasy surfaces.

Sodium lauryl sulfate 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.

A recent study at the University of Georgia

Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated Into the eyes as well as

brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the

tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's

eyes from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop In adults.

May cause hair loss by attacking the

follicle. Classified as a drug in bubble baths because It eats away

skin protection and causes rashes and infection to occur.

Is potentially harmful to skin and hair.

Cleans by corrosion. Dries skin by stripping the protective lipids from

the surface so it can't effectively regulate moisture.

Another extremely serious problem is the

connection of SLS with nitrate contamination. SLS reacts with many

types of ingredients used in skin products and forms nitrosomines

(nitrates). Nitrates are potential cancer-causing carcinogenics.

Because of the alarming penetrating power of

SLS, large amounts of these known carcinogens are absorbed through the

skin into the body. A variation of SLS is SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE

(Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate- SLES). It exhibits many of the same

characteristics and is a higher-foaming variation of SLS.

A typical MSDS

Data sheet on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:

Read about the governments: SLS Alert

Study from Norway on dangers of Sodium

lauryl sulfate and recurrent aphthous ulcers

Short Important Article on Sodium

Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

For safe, effective products

without Sodium Lauryl sulfate, visit

www.ineways.com/shelleykramer

back to www.healthy-communications.com

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/shampoo.htm

==================================================

Okay you asked. SLS is toxic. Period. It is a synthetic chemical. It

does not occur naturally in nature, contrary to what a lot of companies

will tell you. It has to be processed out of coconuts using synthetic

chemicals. It will penetrate your skin and can and will cause health

problems. Yes, it is used to clean engines and driveways. It will strip

the natural oils from your hair and skin. I do not know about the

cataracts though. I will not buy a commercially prepared shampoo or

conditioner. I will not use SLS in my own soaps either. I prefer not to

use anything that may be hazardous to my health. Sometimes this is a

really hard thing to achieve. However, I do my best to cut out all

synthetics or chemically derived chemicals.

I also don't know about the nitrate aspect either so I can't comment on

that one. I just know that I will not use any product that has it in

it. This is one of the reasons why I make my own soap too. I do not

know if this stuff is carcinogenic or not. I really am not interested

in testing this theory out. All detergents are synthetic. Synthetic

chemicals have not been proven to be safe for anyone.

Sometimes I really wonder about Snopes. I am beginning to question how

well they do their research. I also am beginning to believe that their

interests lie not with our good health but more in line with the FDA,

USDA, etc. But that is just my observation.

Per the Merck Index: Anionic detergent prepared bhy sulfation of

lauryl alcohol, followed by neutralization with sodium carbonate. Here

is a brief on how they make lauryl alcohol. Doesn't sound real natural

to me.

LAURYL

ALCOHOL

[Dodecyl

alcohol]

Submitted by S. G. Ford and C. S. Marvel.

Checked by C. Whitmore and D. J. Loder.

1. Procedure

The central neck of a 5-l.

three-necked round-bottomed flask is fitted with a stopper

carrying a mercury-sealed mechanical stirrer.

One of the side necks is connected by means of a short piece of heavy

rubber tubing to a large reflux condenser

about 2 m. long, with an inner tube 2.5 cm. in diameter (Note

1). The third neck is fitted with a separatory

funnel.

In the flask are placed 70

g. (3 moles) of sodium

and 200 cc. of dry toluene

(Note

2). The flask is heated in an oil bath

until the sodium

is melted. The stirrer is then started; when the sodium

is finely divided, the oil bath is removed and the mixture allowed to

cool. Stirring must be continued during the cooling in order to keep

the sodium

finely divided.

When the mixture has cooled to about 60°, there

are added from the separatory funnel, first, a solution of 114 g. (0.5 mole) of ethyl

laurate (Note

3) in 150 cc. of absolute alcohol

(Note

4), then 500 cc. more of alcohol,

as rapidly as is possible (Note

5)

without loss of material through the condenser. The time required for

the addition of the ester solution and the alcohol is less than five

minutes, usually two or three minutes. When the reaction has subsided,

the flask is heated on a steam bath until the sodium

is completely dissolved (Note

6). The mixture is then steam-distilled to remove the toluene

and ethyl

alcohol.

The contents of the flask are transferred to a separatory funnel while

still hot and washed three times with 200-cc. portions of hot water to

remove the sodium

laurate (Note

7). The lauryl

alcohol is extracted with ether

from the cooled mixture and the washings. The combined ether

extracts are washed with water, sodium

carbonate solution, and again with water, and dried

over anhydrous magnesium

sulfate. The ether is evaporated and the lauryl

alcohol distilled under diminished pressure. The yield is 60–70 g. (65–75

per cent of the theoretical amount) of a product boiling at 143–146°/18 mm. or 198–200°/135

mm. (Note

8).

2. Notes

1. The reaction is very

vigorous and, unless the condenser has a wide bore, finely divided sodium

may be forced out the top and bad fires may result. The inner tube of

the condenser may advantageously be made of brass or copper.

2. The toluene

is dried by distillation; the first 10 per cent is discarded and the

remainder is stored over sodium

until used.

3. The ethyl

laurate used was prepared by the alcoholysis of cocoanut oil

and fractionation of the resulting esters. The material boiled at 127–132°/5 mm. See Org. Syn. 20,

69, and Organic Chemical Reagents III, Univ. Illinois Bull. 19

(6) 62 (1921).

4. The grade of absolute alcohol

used in the reduction is very important. Alcohol dried with magnesium

methoxide (Org. Syn.

Coll. Vol. I, 1941, 249) was used in this preparation.

Alcohol dried over lime gives very low yields.

5. The best yields are

obtained when the reductions are carried out rapidly. If the reaction

seems to be about to get out of control, the stirrer is stopped and the

mixture is cooled with an ice pack.

6. When several

reductions are being made, time is saved by transferring the mixture at

this point to another flask, thus having the original apparatus ready

for another reduction.

7. Unless the sodium

laurate is carefully removed, it causes trouble some

emulsions.

8. Ethyl

undecylenate has been reduced to undecylenyl

alcohol (b.p. 123–125°/6 mm.)

in 70 per cent yields; ethyl

myristate to myristyl

alcohol (b.p. 170–173°/20 mm.;

m.p. 39–39.5°) in 70–80

per cent yields; ethyl

palmitate to cetyl

alcohol (b.p. 178–182°/12 mm.;

m.p. 48.5–49.5°) in 70–78 per cent yields by this same procedure.

3. Discussion

Lauryl

alcohol has been prepared by the reduction of the aldehyde;1

by the reduction of esters

of lauric acid with sodium

and absolute alcohol2

or with sodium,

liquid ammonia

and absolute alcohol,3

or catalytically;4

and by the reduction of lauramide

with sodium

and amyl

alcohol.5

The method in the above procedure is essentially that described by

Levene and .2

This preparation is referenced from:

Org.

Syn. Coll. Vol. 2, 246

Org.

Syn. Coll. Vol. 2, 468

-- Peace, love and light,

Don "Quai" Eitner

"Spirit sleeps in the mineral, breathes in the vegetable, dreams in the animal and wakes in man."

In compliance with the highest standards of Universal Law, this email has been

thoroughly disinfected and purified in the solar flares of the sun.

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

Version: 7.0.306 / Virus Database: 266.4.0 - Release Date: 2/22/05

[Guest guest]

I also make my own soaps and lotions.. have not gotten to the shampoo making yet... but I do not use SLS in my soaps... i do use SLSA in my bath bombs tho and it is supposed to be much more mild then SLS.... I also understand that the cancer causing is not really the SLS but the combo on ingredients that are used in making the commerical shampoos today.... i can not find the article i once had explaining this.... and what that other ingredient was....I was also told of Sodium Coco Sulfate which is a naturally derived alternative to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.. http://www.chemistrystore.com/sodiumcocosulfate.htm

Lynn there are alot of good anti-perspirants out there that you can make your own self... pearlmoon@... wrote:

Don

You say you make your own soap? Would you mind posting your recipe for it? I have a couple recipes for natural soaps but one more can't hurt. I'd be grateful. I want to get into making most of my own personal products instead of going to the store for them. I have recipes for shampoo, deodorant, powder, tooth cleansers, and even perfume. I have not started to make soap yet. The only thing I can't seem to do without is the antiperspirant. I know it's not that good for me but I just can't stand the feeling of sweaty underarms. lol Between making most of my own products and eating simi-raw and my juice cleanses I'm starting to feel a bit better. It took some time. I have even lost a few pounds. Which is good for me because of my back problems it's hard for me to do hard exercise. I walk as much as I can. Sometimes though, the pain overcomes me and I have to

stop. But so far so good. So, when you have some time if you could post that it would be a big help. Thanks Don.

Many Blessings

Lynn

I will not buy a commercially prepared shampoo or conditioner. I will not use SLS in my own soaps either. I prefer not to use anything that may be hazardous to my health. Sometimes this is a really hard thing to achieve. However, I do my best to cut out all synthetics or chemically derived chemicals.