Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: acne-prone

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Acne Breakouts

There are several household products which we use on a regular basis that seem safe in respect to acne. Among these multiple items are shampoo and toothpaste. If these two products pose no risk to our skin's health, why is it that so many of us suffer from acne that is unresponsive to traditional treatments? Could the ingredients contained within these two commonplace products be interfering with the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide and the like? Common sense says yes.

Most people would be hard-pressed to guess the common denominator that exists between soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and car wash fluid. The similarity which all of these products embody is none other than sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS. This harmful additive has been in use for several decades, for reasons that stem from our limited accessibility to pure water. In the United States, most homeowners and apartment dwellers are supplied with hard water. This form of water contains a significant concentration of minerals. While these minerals may be beneficial to consume, they pose a problem when it comes to skin care.