For children aged 5 and older (school-age kids, elementary-age children, tweens), lauric acid is generally low risk when used on the skin in normal amounts. It’s a common ingredient found in coconut oil and many mild skin products.
Use products made for children or labeled for sensitive skin when possible. Apply a small amount at first and watch your child for any redness or irritation. Do a small patch test on the arm and wait 24 hours before widespread use. If your child has eczema or very sensitive skin, talk to your pediatrician before regular use. Rinse off if irritation occurs.
Watch for skin irritation or allergic reaction (redness, itching, rash, swelling). Stop use and rinse if this happens. Note that some safety reviews recommend limits on how much lauric acid is used in products (Cosmetic Ingredient Review), and regulatory bodies note it is also used in food so children may get it from more than one source (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Official reviews classify it as unlikely to cause cancer (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and of low concern for human health in other evaluations (Environment Canada). Some product verification programs may restrict use of this ingredient unless companies show supporting data, so check product labels and company information if you want stricter assurances.
Scan the full ingredient label and understand if it's safe for your child.
This ingredient has the following documented risks:
Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.
This ingredient may also be listed as:
Always check ingredient labels carefully, as ingredients may be listed under different names.
This ingredient is found in the following products:
This list shows products that contain Lauric Acid or its alternative names.
Scientific research related to this ingredient:
These research articles provide scientific evidence about Lauric Acid safety and effects.
Yes, Lauric Acid is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children based on current research.
No immediate health concerns found based on current research.
Lauric Acid is commonly found in skincare products, cosmetics, and topical applications. Always check ingredient labels before use.
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.
Use our camera scanner to analyze more ingredient labels
Scan Another Product