Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Side Effects

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant / foaming agent with 0 high-severity side effects. Found in 4 products in our database. FDA approved for limited food use.

5
Known Side Effects
4
Products Contain It
0
High Severity
3
Safer Alternatives

What Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)?

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant primarily known from personal care products but also found in some food applications. It is a known skin and mucous membrane irritant.

Also known as:
SLSE487Sodium dodecyl sulfateSDS

Known Side Effects

Moderate Mouth ulcers and canker sores
Moderate Skin irritation
Moderate Mucous membrane irritation
Low Eye irritation
Low Potential organ toxicity at high doses

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA Status

FDA approved for limited food use. More commonly found in personal care products.

🇪🇺 EU Status

Approved with restrictions. E487 for food use.

Scientific References

  1. Studies linking SLS in toothpaste to increased canker sore frequency
  2. Known skin irritant used in dermatological testing
  3. EWG assessment of SLS safety concerns

Products Containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) (4 found)

These products were found to contain sodium lauryl sulfate (sls) or its variants in our database of 26,000+ grocery products.

#ProductBrandScore
1Equate Clear Liquid Hand SoapUnknown4/100
2Spring Valley CinamomSpring Valley24/100
3Spring Valley L TheanineSpring Valley100/100
4Up&up anti itchUnknown100/100

Safer Alternatives to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

Cocamidopropyl betaineSodium cocoyl glutamateDecyl glucoside
📬

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of sodium lauryl sulfate?
SLS can cause mouth ulcers, skin irritation, mucous membrane irritation, and eye irritation. In toothpaste, it has been linked to increased canker sore frequency.

⚕️ Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Side effect data is compiled from published scientific studies and regulatory assessments. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Last updated: 2026-03-05.

Other Ingredient Side Effects

Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) Red 3 (Erythrosine) Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) Aspartame Sucralose Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) All Ingredient Side Effects Banned in Europe Ingredient Encyclopedia
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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/side-effects/sodium-lauryl-sulfate
MLA"Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/side-effects/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/side-effects/sodium-lauryl-sulfate">Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026sideeffectssodiumlaurylsulfate, title = {Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/side-effects/sodium-lauryl-sulfate}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }