Poloxamer 188

2-5 year old preschoolersSkin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Safe for preschoolers to use Poloxamer 188?

YES - Generally Safe
Danger Score: 1 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Poloxamer 188 is generally considered safe for 2-5 year old children when used in topical products. Consider preschooler activity levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For toddlers and young children (2-5 years), Poloxamer 188 is generally safe when used on the skin in normal products like wipes and lotions. It rarely causes irritation or allergy in this age group.

What to Do

Use products containing this ingredient as directed. Do a small patch test on your child’s arm before first full use. Avoid putting products with this ingredient on broken or very red skin. Keep products away from the child’s eyes and mouth. If your child has frequent rashes or a history of sensitive skin, choose fragrance-free, simple formulations and limit repeated heavy use over large areas.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for any new redness, itchiness, rash, or swelling after use and stop the product if these occur. Government reviews (Environment Canada) have noted concerns about environmental persistence and possible non-reproductive organ effects, and industry reviews (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) point out some gaps in safety data—these are reasons for extra caution even though direct risk to skin is low. Also note some verified product programs restrict this ingredient unless additional safety information is provided.

Confidence: MEDIUM

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Organ Risk: A government assessment found this ingredient is “expected to be toxic or harmful” to non-reproductive organs and gave it a medium human-health priority. That means repeated or high exposures could harm organs such as the liver or kidneys.
Builds Up: A regulatory review flagged the ingredient as persistent and potentially bioaccumulative with moderate toxicity concern. This means the chemical can stay in the body or environment and build up over time.
Environmental: The same government review listed this substance as a suspected environmental toxin, indicating it may harm aquatic life or other wildlife if released into the environment.
Long-Term Risk: Industry reviewers note data gaps and that safety assessments relied on related chemicals and on reported use levels rather than full data. Paired with persistence and organ-toxicity flags from regulators, this raises concern for possible health effects after long-term or repeated use.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Poloxamer 188

This ingredient may also be listed as:

poloxamer 188UNII-68T8I45V23CHEBI:3202652901V8XARJP0CK963E0.ALPHA.-HYDRO-.OMEGA.-HYDROXYPOLY(OXYETHYLENE)POLY(OXYPROPYLENE)POLY(OXYETHYLENE) BLOCK COPOLYMER199SZS8E2QTVM 37075-H-14001AZW43116LMST-188

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

Common Questions About Poloxamer 188

Safe for preschoolers to use Poloxamer 188?

Yes, Poloxamer 188 is generally considered safe for 2-5 year old children based on current research.

What are the organ risk risks of Poloxamer 188 for preschoolers?

May harm organs like liver, kidneys, or lungs with repeated use. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the builds up risks of Poloxamer 188 for preschoolers?

Builds up in the body over time with repeated use. Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the environmental risks of Poloxamer 188 for preschoolers?

Possible negative effects on the environment Young children may be more sensitive to these effects.

What are the long-term risk risks of Poloxamer 188 for preschoolers?

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

What products contain Poloxamer 188?

Poloxamer 188 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 Poloxamer 188?

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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