Laureth-4

Laureth-4 molecular structurePubChem

2-5 year old preschoolers • Skin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Safe for preschoolers to use Laureth 4?

⚠️
USE WITH CAUTION
Danger Score: 4 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Laureth 4 use with caution for 2-5 year old children when used in topical products. Consider preschooler activity levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For children aged 2–5 years (toddlers and preschoolers), Laureth-4 is usually low in long-term toxicity but can cause skin or eye irritation. There are also worries about trace contaminants that can come from how it’s made. Overall, it can be used with care, but it’s better to be cautious with products for young children.

✅What to Do

Prefer products made for kids and those that rinse off (like shampoos or washes) rather than leave-on lotions. Do a small patch test on the child’s inner arm before full use. Avoid products with this ingredient near the child’s eyes, mouth, or broken skin. If possible choose brands that test for or state they limit impurities like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.

⚠️Warnings

Stop use and rinse with water if the child develops redness, stinging, swelling, or eye irritation. The concern about irritation and contamination comes from an industry safety review and notes about possible manufacturing impurities (ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane). Avoid products that list this ingredient in leave-on baby creams if your child has very sensitive skin or a history of skin reactions.

Confidence: MEDIUM

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Irritant: A formal safety review (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) found strong evidence that this ingredient can irritate skin, eyes, or lungs in people. The same review flags moderate irritation as a real concern for topical use, so babies with sensitive skin may get redness, itching, or rashes.
Cancer: This ingredient can carry contamination from ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. International health agencies (IARC/WHO) list ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible carcinogen. Because these impurities can be present, there is a real cancer-related risk from contaminated product exposure.
Long-Term Risk: Regulatory and industry safety reviews note impurities and data gaps for this chemical and recommend limits on impurities and manufacturing methods (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). Persistent exposure to the listed contaminants is tied to long-term health effects, so repeated use raises longer-term risk.
Absorbed: This is a topical, ethoxylated ingredient and industry reviews warn that manufacturing impurities can remain. Those impurities and the ingredient itself can be absorbed through skin, so some chemical can reach the body after use (noted in CIR assessments).

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Laureth-4

This ingredient may also be listed as:

laureth-4M445FATTY ALCOHOL POLYOXYETHYLENE ETHER(O-20)KS-00000Y05FT-0627728POLYOXYL 4 LAURYL ETHER, UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA (USP) REFERENCE STANDARDNCGC00159385-03TETRAETHYLENEN GLYCOL MONO-N-DODECYL ETHERFT-0710803NCGC00159385-02MCULE-2882952206LAURETH-4

Always check ingredient labels carefully, as ingredients may be listed under different names.

Products Containing Laureth-4

This ingredient is found in the following products:

This list shows products that contain Laureth-4 or its alternative names.

Common Questions About Laureth-4

Safe for preschoolers to use Laureth-4?

Use caution with Laureth-4 for 2-5 year old children. Some safety concerns have been identified.

What are the irritant risks of Laureth-4 for preschoolers?

Can cause skin redness, itchiness, or rashes—especially on sensitive baby skin. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the cancer risks of Laureth-4 for preschoolers?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the long-term risk risks of Laureth-4 for preschoolers?

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the absorbed risks of Laureth-4 for preschoolers?

Can be absorbed through the skin and get into the bloodstream. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What products contain Laureth-4?

Laureth-4 is commonly found in skincare products, cosmetics, and topical applications. Always check ingredient labels before use.

Is this suitable for preschoolers to using products with Laureth-4?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredient properties and concentration. This analysis is for 2-5 year old children. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

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