Cetrimonium Chloride

Cetrimonium Chloride molecular structurePubChem

5+ year old children • Skin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Cetrimonium Chloride?

✅
YES - Generally Safe
Danger Score: 3 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Cetrimonium Chloride is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children when used in topical products. Kids may have different tolerance levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For children aged 5 years and older this ingredient is usually used in shampoos and conditioners and is generally okay in rinse-off products at normal amounts. Some people can get skin, eye or breathing irritation or an allergic reaction.

✅What to Do

Use products that rinse off (shampoo/conditioner) as directed. Avoid leave-on products for young children. Don’t use on broken or very irritated skin. If your child has sensitive skin or a history of allergies, do a small patch test on the arm and wait 24 hours. Choose products made for children when possible and follow any age recommendations on the product label.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for redness, itching, rash, watery or sore eyes, coughing or breathing trouble after use. Stop use immediately if any of these happen and rinse well; seek medical care for severe reactions. These warnings are based on expert reviews and regulatory findings (Cosmetic Ingredient Review and the European Chemicals Agency) that list irritation and allergic concerns, and on animal and lab studies that note reproductive or neurological effects at higher exposures. Also note some regions restrict its use or concentration (EU cosmetics rules).

Confidence: MEDIUM

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Banned: This ingredient is restricted for some uses in cosmetic rules in the European Union and is allowed only at limited concentrations, so some countries limit or control it (EU Cosmetics Directive; Cosmetic Ingredient Review).
Immune system: There is strong evidence this chemical can cause allergic reactions and affect the immune system, including being listed as a human skin toxicant or allergen (Cosmetic Ingredient Review; asthmagen compilation).
Asthma: This substance is listed as an asthmagen and has been linked to respiratory allergies in people exposed at work, so it can make breathing problems worse (asthmagen compilation; peer-reviewed occupational studies).
Irritant: Lab and human data show it can irritate skin, eyes and the lungs in some people, so it may cause redness, stinging, or breathing irritation on contact (European Chemicals Agency; Cosmetic Ingredient Review; peer-reviewed studies).
Organ Risk: Some regulatory reviews and human data flag possible harm to organs after exposure, so repeated or heavy exposure could affect non-reproductive organs (European Chemicals Agency; peer-reviewed toxicology reports).
Fertility: Animal studies show reduced fertility after exposure, so it has been linked to effects on male and female reproductive systems in lab animals (peer-reviewed animal studies on quaternary ammonium compounds).
Brain Development: Lab tests and some human case reports suggest effects on nerve cells and development, so there is concern for effects on early brain growth from exposure (in vitro neurodevelopment studies; European Chemicals Agency case reports).
Hormones: Research shows this chemical can interfere with hormone-related pathways, including cholesterol production that hormones need, so it may disturb normal hormone function (peer-reviewed study identifying inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis).
Confuse Hormones: Because it can act on hormone-related processes in lab studies, it may mimic or block normal hormone signals and confuse the body's messaging (peer-reviewed endocrine disruption research).
Metabolism: Studies found the ingredient can change how the body makes cholesterol, so it may affect basic metabolism pathways (peer-reviewed study on cholesterol biosynthesis inhibition).
Environmental: Government reviews list this compound as suspected to harm the environment, so it may be toxic to wildlife or ecosystems if released (Environment Canada; European Chemicals Agency).

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Cetrimonium Chloride

This ingredient may also be listed as:

cetrimonium chlorideAMMONIUM, HEXADECYLTRIMETHYL-, CHLORIDEHEXADECYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE (6CI)HEXADECYLTRIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDEEC 203-928-6UNII-KB94658IHQ COMPONENT WOWHHFRSBJGXCM-UHFFFAOYSA-M(C14-C18)ALKYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDEDSSTOX_CID_6901C19H42CLNEINECS 268-077-5HEXADECYL(TRIMETHYL)AZANIUM CHLORIDE

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

Products Containing Cetrimonium Chloride

This ingredient is found in the following products:

This list shows products that contain Cetrimonium Chloride or its alternative names.

Research Articles on Cetrimonium Chloride

Scientific research related to this ingredient:

Allergic or Not: Final Interpretation of Doubtful Patch Test Reactions From the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, 2019-2020.

PMID: 38320244PubMed ↗

These research articles provide scientific evidence about Cetrimonium Chloride safety and effects.

Common Questions About Cetrimonium Chloride

Is this kid-friendly to use Cetrimonium Chloride?

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

What are the banned risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Banned or heavily restricted in one or more countries.

What are the immune system risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Could weaken or confuse immune system.

What are the asthma risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Can make breathing issues like asthma worse in babies and kids.

What are the irritant risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Can cause skin redness, itchiness, or rashes—especially on sensitive baby skin.

What are the organ risk risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

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

What are the fertility risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Some studies link this to future fertility or reproductive issues.

What are the brain development risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Possible effects on early brain growth and mental development.

What are the hormones risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

May mess with natural hormone development in babies and children.

What are the confuse hormones risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Acts like fake hormones in the body, confusing natural signals.

What are the metabolism risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

May interfere with how the body breaks down food and nutrients.

What are the environmental risks of Cetrimonium Chloride for children?

Possible negative effects on the environment

What products contain Cetrimonium Chloride?

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

When can kids start using products with Cetrimonium Chloride?

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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