SCCP opinion on shampoo ingredient
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Shampoo and conditioner ingredient polidocanol is "of low toxicity and does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer when used up to 3% in leave-on and up to 4% in rinse-off cosmetic products," the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products concludes after reviewing a dossier on the ingredient. The review was initiated upon request from the European Commission in August after a member state raised concern that the use of polidocanol - which has an anesthetic effect in cosmetics - would lead to the inability of skin to perceive signals of damage such as sunburn (1"The Rose Sheet" Sept. 3, 2007, p. 6). SCCP says the scientific evidence "does not confirm that assumed local-anaesthetic effect" and the substance's "presence in cosmetics and skin care products will not affect cutaneous sensation"...