Betaine

5+ year old childrenSkin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Betaine?

YES - Generally Safe
Danger Score: 2 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Betaine is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children when used in topical products. Kids may have different tolerance levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For children 5 years and older (school-age kids), betaine is usually safe and used to moisturize the skin. Most kids won’t have problems, but there are notes from safety reviewers about possible contamination and some people can have skin or eye irritation.

What to Do

If you use a product with betaine on a child: choose brands that test for purity or provide safety information, do a small patch test on the arm before widespread use, avoid applying to broken or very irritated skin, keep products away from the eyes and mouth, and stop use if you see redness, swelling, blisters or persistent irritation.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for irritation (redness or stinging) — limited irritation reports come from the European Chemicals Agency and Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Also be aware of contamination concerns (dioxins, PAHs, PCBs, lead) noted by Environment Canada and other reviewers, and that the ingredient can appear in foods too (FDA) leading to multiple small exposures. Some product certification programs restrict this ingredient unless the manufacturer shows proof of safety — prefer products with purity testing or clear supplier information.

Confidence: MEDIUM

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Cancer: The ingredient's contamination listing names dioxins, PAHs and PCBs as possible impurities. Those contaminants are known to raise cancer risk, so if the ingredient is contaminated there is a real cancer concern (based on the ingredient's contamination listing).
Organ Risk: Lead and some of the listed contaminants (for example PCBs) can harm organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys in children. The ingredient's contamination listing includes lead, so organ damage is a possible hazard if contamination occurs.
Long-Term Risk: High contamination concerns plus note that the ingredient may be used in food or as an additive mean repeated or combined exposures could lead to long-term health problems over time (this is noted in the ingredient profile and the FDA-related exposure note).
Builds Up: The contamination profile lists chemicals (PCBs and dioxins) that are known to accumulate in body fat. If those contaminants are present, they can build up in a child’s body with repeated use (based on the ingredient's contamination listing).
Breast Milk: Some contaminants named in the ingredient's contamination listing (for example dioxins and PCBs) are known to pass into breast milk. That means contaminated exposure could reach nursing infants (based on the ingredient's contamination listing).
Environmental: The listed possible impurities (PCBs, dioxins, PAHs) are persistent pollutants that can harm the environment. Their presence as contamination is flagged in the ingredient profile, so there is an environmental concern if they are present.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Betaine

This ingredient may also be listed as:

(TRIMETHYLAMMONIUMYL)ACETATECAPRYLIC AMIDOPROPYL BETAINEEC 203-490-6GTPL4550CHEMBL1182BMSE0009484-04-00-02369 (BEILSTEIN HANDBOOK REFERENCE)AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, SUBSTITUTED, (CARBOXYMETHYL)TRIMETHYL-, HYDROXIDE, INNER SALT (7CI)Z2756787719METHANAMINIUM, 1-CARBOXY-N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-, INNER SALT (9CI)betaineL BetaineBetain

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

Products Containing Betaine

This ingredient is found in the following products:

This list shows products that contain Betaine or its alternative names.

Common Questions About Betaine

Is this kid-friendly to use Betaine?

Yes, Betaine is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children based on current research.

What are the cancer risks of Betaine for children?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure.

What are the organ risk risks of Betaine for children?

May harm organs like liver, kidneys, or lungs with repeated use.

What are the long-term risk risks of Betaine for children?

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure.

What are the builds up risks of Betaine for children?

Builds up in the body over time with repeated use.

What are the breast milk risks of Betaine for children?

Detected in breast milk, meaning it can pass from mom to baby.

What are the environmental risks of Betaine for children?

Possible negative effects on the environment

What products contain Betaine?

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

When can kids start using products with Betaine?

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

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