Ethanol

5+ year old children • Skin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Ethanol?

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YES - Generally Safe

Danger Score: 1 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Ethanol is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children when used in topical products. Kids may have different tolerance levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For school-age children (5 years, older kids), ethanol (skin alcohol) is usually low risk when used in normal amounts in cleansers, hand sanitizers, or some creams. It can sometimes dry or mildly irritate skin.

✅What to Do

Use products with ethanol sparingly on children. Apply only to small, healthy areas of skin. Don’t put it on cuts, rashes, or inflamed skin. Keep it away from the eyes and mouth. If a product stings, causes redness, or makes the skin flake a lot, stop using it and rinse the area with water.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for skin dryness, redness, burning, or new rashes. Laboratory studies have shown ethanol can increase how much other chemicals get through the skin, so avoid combining it with other strong actives on the same spot. Public health reviews (for example Environment Canada) have noted possible organ effects at high or repeated exposures — this refers to heavy or prolonged exposure, not normal topical use. Also be cautious with products that use denatured alcohol (alcohol mixed with other solvents) because those additives can irritate more than plain ethanol.

Confidence: HIGH

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Organ Risk: Environment Canada classifies ethanol as “expected to be toxic or harmful” to non-reproductive organs and lists it as a medium human-health priority. That means repeated or heavy exposure (even from skin use) could hurt organs such as the liver or kidneys.

Long-Term Risk: The ingredient record notes non-reproductive organ-system toxicity at a low-to-moderate level and the Environment Canada classification implies possible effects from repeated or long-term exposure. This points to potential health effects after years of use.

Absorbed: Animal studies (published research in 2003 and 2006) show ethanol can act as a penetration enhancer and change how chemicals move through skin. That means topical ethanol can increase how much of itself or other ingredients get into the body.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Ethanol

This ingredient may also be listed as:

sugarcane alcoholethyl alcoholethanolSPECIALLY DENATURED ALCOHOL, 200 PROOF, SDA 35A, CONTAINS ETHYL ACETATESPECIALLY DENATURED ALCOHOL, 200 PROOF, SDA 2B-4, CONTAINS N-HEPTANEDEHYDRATED ALCOHOL, PHARMACEUTICAL SECONDARY STANDARD; CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALETHANOL, ABSOLUTE, REAG. ISO, REAG. PH. EUR., >=99.8% (GC), LIQUID (CLEAR, COLORLESS)SPECIALLY DENATURED ALCOHOL, 200 PROOF, SDA 3C, CONTAINS ISOPROPANOLALCOHOL DETERMINATION-ALCOHOL, UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA (USP) REFERENCE STANDARDSPECIALLY DENATURED ALCOHOL, 200 PROOF, SDA 2B-5, CONTAINS N-HEXANEETHANOL CALIBRATION KIT, AMPULE OF 10 X 1.2 ML, CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALETHANOL, FOR SPECTROSCOPY, ANHYDROUS, DENAT. WITH 5% 2-PROPANOL + 5% METHANOLSPECIALLY DENATURED ALCOHOL, 200 PROOF, SDA 40B, CONTAINS TERT-BUTYL ALCOHOL AND DENATONIUM BENZOATE

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

Products Containing Ethanol

This ingredient is found in the following products:

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

Common Questions About Ethanol

Is this kid-friendly to use Ethanol?

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

What are the organ risk risks of Ethanol for children?

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

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

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

What are the absorbed risks of Ethanol for children?

Can be absorbed through the skin and get into the bloodstream.

What products contain Ethanol?

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

When can kids start using products with Ethanol?

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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