Is SLS not good for skin?
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Hello, I am 18 years old. I have a knack of using different beauty products. I have learnt that the products containing SLS are not good for skin. Their use should be avoided. But SLS is a good detergent. My friend also suggested me to avoid skin care products that contain SLS. I have asked them the reason, no one gave me a logical reply. They all told me that they have learnt it from TV. I want to understand what's all the fuss about SLS. Please explain.
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@zenith SLS is the more common name for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, a surfactant that was developed in the 1930s as an alternative to the traditional bar soap. Its primary component is coconut oil, which is naturally high in Lauric Acid, but when combined with Sulphuric Acid (from petroleum) and Sodium Carbonate you form SLS. While its origins are natural, the process it goes through turns it into a chemical compound before it is added to topical cleansing products. The main issue is regarding SLS’s effect on the structure of the skin. Some experts believe that SLS can make severe epidermal changes, from thinning the top layer of the skin to causing intense dryness, which leads to irritation that can be particularly detrimental to complexions that are already on the sensitive side. This type of damage can leave the skin vulnerable to other irritants and bacteria which could cause all manner of problems not just for your complexion.