Sodium lauryl sulfate on an ingredient list: what Healthline and WebMD say

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Reviewed October 17, 2026

The short answer

Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is a surfactant that helps oil and water mix and makes cleansers foam. Both sources call it an irritant, not a cancer risk. WebMD says very sensitive skin, rosacea or psoriasis may do better without it, and that irritation grows when the product stays on longer or the water is warm.

What is it?

Both articles describe a surfactant that lowers surface tension and gives cleansers their lather. Healthline lists shampoo, facial cleanser, body wash, toothpaste and some creams and lotions, and WebMD adds bubble bath and hand soap. Sodium laureth sulfate is a related ingredient that Healthline calls milder.

What the sources say about skin

• WebMD: research finds SLS can irritate skin, warm water makes it worse, and the irritation tends to fade after you stop using it.
• WebMD: because cleansers and shampoo are rinsed off fast, it can be used if not kept on long. Most reports of extreme irritation involved leaving it on too long or too high a strength.
• Healthline: a 1983 safety assessment found no harm from brief use followed by rinsing. The report says products left on the skin should stay at or below 1 percent. Some tests found continuous exposure irritated animals' skin, mildly to moderately.
• WebMD: where a product stays on the body for long, US limits cap it at 1 percent.

Cautions

• WebMD: very sensitive or rash-prone skin may be better off without it, and so may skin with rosacea or psoriasis.
• WebMD: how it acts depends on the whole formula, so two products with SLS can feel different.
• WebMD: avoid getting it in the eyes, and ask a doctor or pharmacist about a product that bothers your skin.

What about cancer?

Healthline says most research calls it an irritant, not a carcinogen, and WebMD says no large cancer organization or institute has tied it to cancer. WebMD adds that researchers found no link to hair loss. These are summaries of other research, not studies the sites ran.

How to read it on a label

US cosmetic labels generally list ingredients in descending order of amount, but anything at 1% or less can appear in any order after those above 1%. Its position does not tell you the exact concentration. Judge the whole product, how it feels on your skin, and what changes when you add or drop it.

What not to conclude

This page does not say a product with SLS will irritate you or be gentle on you. It rests on two articles, the older one from 2023. If a product with it irritates your skin, stop using it and ask a dermatologist.