ANBESOL

oral pain reliever • For 0-6 month old infants • Skin contact 🧴

oral pain reliever

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Is this safe for 0-6 month old newborns to use ANBESOL?

🚫

NO - AVOID

Danger Score: 65 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: ANBESOL contains 12 ingredients. 4 avoid, 3 concerning, 2 caution. Avoid - Contains Dangerous Ingredients 🚫 Always consult your pediatrician for newborns.

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Ingredients Analysis (12 found)

Benzocaine

🚫10/10

Benzocaine is not safe for newborns and babies under 6 months. Their skin soaks up medicines more easily, and benzocaine can cause a serious drop in the blood's ability to carry oxygen in babies.

Banned - Health Canada and the EU Cosmetics Directive list benzocaine as banned or unsafe for use in cosmetics. Those official bans mean regulators found reasons to restrict this ingredient in products applied to the skin.

Cancer - The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reports limited evidence that benzocaine may be linked to cancer. That means some studies raise concern that long‑term exposure could raise cancer risk.

Absorbed - The ingredient record flags enhanced skin absorption, and agencies (ECHA and the U.S. National Library of Medicine) note limited evidence of dermal toxicity or allergic reactions. This shows benzocaine can get through skin and enter the body, which can matter for small children.

Confidence: HIGH

D&C yellow no. 10

🚫9/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months): this synthetic yellow dye is not a good choice. There are safety concerns about impurities, possible hormone-like effects, and allergic or irritant reactions. Baby skin is more sensitive and absorbs more, so it’s safest to avoid it.

Immune system - A scientific re-evaluation report and case studies found people had immune or allergic reactions to this dye. That report specifically notes human cases of allergic or immune effects, so it can trigger immune responses in some users.

Eczema - Human case reports in the scientific re-evaluation noted allergic skin reactions. That means this ingredient can worsen or trigger eczema and related rashes in sensitive children.

Brain Development - Case studies and a scientific opinion report describe possible nervous-system effects in people exposed to this dye. Because of those reports, there is concern about effects on the developing brain with exposure.

Organ Risk - The ingredient record flags contamination concerns including heavy metals and industrial contaminants (for example cadmium and aniline). These contaminants are known to harm organs like the liver and kidneys with repeated exposure, so contaminated batches pose organ risk.

Absorbed - This color is used on skin and the ingredient notes call out enhanced skin absorption. That means some of the chemical (and any contaminants) can get through baby or child skin and enter the body.

Banned - Regulators restrict how this color can be used. For example, a major national regulator does not approve it for cosmetics around the eyes and enforces concentration/usage limits. Those official rules mean it is restricted or banned for certain uses.

Confidence: HIGH

FD&C red no. 40

🚫8/10

Red 40 is a synthetic dye not approved for infant skin use and may cause irritation or allergic reactions likely used for color

Irritant - Red 40 (Allura Red AC) has been reported to cause skin irritation, especially in individuals with sensitive skin, and babies are particularly vulnerable to topical irritants.

ADHD/ADD - Some studies have linked artificial food dyes like Red 40 to increased hyperactivity and attention issues in children, though evidence is stronger for oral exposure than topical, risk cannot be ruled out for sensitive populations.

Confidence: HIGH

benzyl alcohol

🚫8/10

For newborns and babies 0–6 months: this ingredient has a higher risk of causing allergic skin reactions and irritation. Because infants absorb more through their skin, it’s safer to avoid benzyl alcohol in baby skin products when you can.

Immune system - Benzyl alcohol is a known human allergen with strong evidence of immune effects. Regulators and scientific reviews list it as an allergenic or immunotoxicant and there are human case reports of allergic reactions, so it can trigger immune responses in children.

Eczema - There are strong reports and regulatory listings showing benzyl alcohol can cause allergic skin reactions. Because of this, it can trigger or make eczema and similar rashes worse on sensitive baby skin.

Irritant - There is documented evidence of skin and eye irritation from benzyl alcohol (including agency evaluations of irritation), so it can cause redness, stinging, or rashes—especially on sensitive or infant skin.

Organ Risk - Government hazard classifications and peer-reviewed sources have identified benzyl alcohol as toxic or harmful to organ systems at some exposures. These classifications indicate repeated or higher exposures could affect organs (for example liver or kidneys).

Confidence: HIGH

FD&C blue no. 1

🚨7/10

FD and C blue no 1 is a synthetic dye not recommended for infants under 6 months due to potential skin absorption and allergy risk likely used for color

Irritant - There are documented cases of Brilliant Blue FCF causing mild skin irritation, particularly in people with sensitive skin or when used in high concentrations.

Confidence: HIGH

propylene glycol

🚨7/10

For newborns and babies (0–6 months): be cautious. Propylene glycol can irritate sensitive skin and helps other chemicals get through the skin. Babies’ skin is thinner, so they can be more affected.

Irritant - The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists this chemical as a skin, eye, and lung irritant. That means it can cause red, itchy skin, sting the eyes, or make breathing uncomfortable — risks that matter for babies and children with delicate skin and airways.

Immune system - A safety review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review found limited evidence of skin and immune-system effects. This means some people can get allergic or immune reactions after skin contact.

Organ Risk - Environment Canada has classified this ingredient as expected to be toxic or harmful and of medium human-health priority for non-reproductive organ effects. Repeated or heavy exposure could pose risks to organs such as the liver, kidneys, or lungs.

Absorbed - The Cosmetic Ingredient Review identifies this ingredient as a penetration enhancer. It can help itself and other ingredients pass through the skin into the body, so more of the substance may get into the bloodstream.

Asthma - Because it can irritate the lungs (noted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine), inhaling sprays or vapors could make breathing problems or asthma worse in sensitive children.

Confidence: MEDIUM

polyethylene glycol

🚨6/10

For newborns and babies (0–6 months), polyethylene glycol is not shown to be highly dangerous on its own, but because baby skin absorbs more and there are known manufacturing contamination risks, it is safer to be cautious and limit exposure.

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.

Confidence: MEDIUM

polysorbate 80

⚠️5/10

For infants (newborns and babies 0–6 months) Polysorbate 80 is not usually linked to serious long-term harm, but there are worries about tiny amounts of contaminants and the chance it could irritate sensitive baby skin. Because babies have very thin, sensitive skin, we are more careful with this ingredient in this age group.

Cancer - This ingredient can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane. Those contaminants are flagged by international health agencies as chemicals that can raise cancer risk with repeated exposure, so contamination in the ingredient creates a real cancer concern.

Long-Term Risk - Because the ingredient can contain trace contaminants (ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane) and there are noted data gaps and limits set by the industry safety panel, there is a risk of long-term health effects from repeated use over time.

Confidence: MEDIUM

natural flavor

⚠️5/10

Natural flavor is a vague term that can include many chemicals some of which may irritate sensitive baby skin so use with caution in topical baby products

Confidence: HIGH

saccharin

✅3/10

For newborns and babies (0–6 months) saccharin is considered low risk in general, but it’s not needed on baby skin. The biggest concern for infants is mild irritation or an allergic reaction. Major health agencies say it’s allowed in limited use in foods and is not likely to cause cancer, but topical use on babies hasn’t been well studied.

Confidence: MEDIUM

glycerin

✅2/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months): glycerin is a common, mild moisturizer found in many baby lotions and wipes. When used at normal levels in products made for babies, it is usually safe and well tolerated.

Confidence: HIGH

carbomer homopolymer type b

✅1/10

Carbomer homopolymer type B is a thickening agent commonly used in topical products. It is considered very safe for babies 0-6 months in wipes and lotions.

No Known Risk - Carbomer Homopolymer Type B is a synthetic polymer used as a thickening agent in topical products. It is generally considered inert and non-toxic, with no evidence linking it to hormone disruption, organ toxicity, or other health risks in babies or children based on current research.

Confidence: HIGH

Common Questions About ANBESOL

Is this newborn-safe? ANBESOL

ANBESOL is not recommended for 0-6 month old babies due to potentially harmful ingredients.

What ingredients should I watch out for?

We analyzed 12 ingredients in ANBESOL. 4 avoid, 3 concerning, 2 caution. Check the detailed analysis above for specific concerns.

When can newborns start using oral pain reliever?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredients. This analysis is for 0-6 month old babies. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

⚠️ Important Disclaimers

Product Recognition: Product names are identified programatically and may be incorrect. Always verify product identity yourself.

Safety Analysis: Evaluations are for research only - consult pediatricians for medical decisions. Do not rely solely on this analysis.

No Guarantees: Results may be incomplete or inaccurate. Do not rely solely on this analysis.