Polyethylene Glycol

5+ year old childrenSkin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Polyethylene Glycol?

YES - Generally Safe
Danger Score: 2 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Polyethylene Glycol 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 and older), polyethylene glycol is usually safe to use on the skin in typical amounts. The biggest concern is not the ingredient itself but small impurities that can come from how it’s made.

What to Do

Choose products used on your 5+ child that list full ingredients. Prefer brands that say they test for or limit impurities like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Use PEG products as directed, don’t apply them to cuts or very red, broken skin, and avoid heavy daily use over large areas unless recommended by a doctor.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for skin irritation or a rash — stop use and check with your pediatrician if one appears. The ingredient’s safety notes point out possible contamination with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane and some reviews note non-reproductive organ toxicity concerns; those are the reasons to prefer products that test for impurities and to avoid frequent long-term use on large areas of skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Are you holding the product?

Scan the full ingredient label and understand if it's safe for your child.

Scan the full label for free
Get instant analysis of all ingredients together

Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Organ Risk: The ingredient entry cites a government assessment that classifies this chemical as likely to be toxic or harmful to organ systems (non-reproductive) and as a medium human-health priority. That means repeated topical use could pose risks to organs such as the liver or kidneys.
Cancer: The ingredient data flags high contamination concerns because polyethylene glycol can contain impurities named ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane. Those contaminants are the reason cancer risk is raised by regulators and ingredient reviewers, so their possible presence makes cancer a real concern.
Long-Term Risk: Because the ingredient is noted to carry harmful contamination risk and is assessed for organ toxicity by government reviewers, ongoing or repeated exposure over years could increase chance of long-term health problems.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Polyethylene Glycol

This ingredient may also be listed as:

polyethylene glycol27283-EP2287162A127283-EP2281823A227283-EP2287160A127283-EP2284160A127283-EP2292612A227283-EP2308510A127283-EP2308562A227283-EP2305673A127283-EP2287161A1RESIDUAL SOLVENT CLASS 2 - ETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA (USP) REFERENCE STANDARD

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

Products Containing Polyethylene Glycol

This ingredient is found in the following products:

This list shows products that contain Polyethylene Glycol or its alternative names.

Common Questions About Polyethylene Glycol

Is this kid-friendly to use Polyethylene Glycol?

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

What are the organ risk risks of Polyethylene Glycol for children?

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

What are the cancer risks of Polyethylene Glycol for children?

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

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

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

What products contain Polyethylene Glycol?

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

When can kids start using products with Polyethylene Glycol?

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.

📱

Want to scan another product?

Use our camera scanner to analyze more ingredient labels

Scan Another Product