Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- What Is Tetrasodium EDTA in Skin Care?
- What Is Tetrasodium EDTA Used for?
- What is The Difference between Tetrasodium EDTA and Disodium EDTA?
- Is Tetrasodium Edta and Disodium EDTA Safe to Use In Skin Care Products?
- Side Effect of Tetrasodium EDTA and Its Toxicity?
- Consumer Considerations and Alternatives
- Why Should You Avoid Tetrasodium EDTA?
- Conclusion
In the quest for effective and long-lasting skincare products, manufacturers often turn to preservatives and stabilizing agents. But what if you discovered that some of these ingredients have a controversial origin? This brings us to an important question: How much do you really know about the preservatives in your personal care products?
Tetrasodium EDTA, has been raising eyebrows among health-conscious consumers. Despite its widespread use and safety approval from regulatory bodies, its synthesis from potentially harmful chemicals has sparked a debate in the beauty community. As we dive deeper into the world of skincare ingredients, let’s explore why Tetrasodium EDTA deserves a spot on our ingredient watch list.
What Is Tetrasodium EDTA in Skin Care?
Tetrasodium EDTA (full chemical name: tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate) is a synthetic preservative and chelating agent commonly used in skincare and cosmetic products. Its controversial origin stems from its synthesis process, which involves ethylenediamine, formaldehyde (classified as a carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute), and sodium cyanide (a compound derived from the toxic gas hydrogen cyanide).
Tetrasodium EDTA functions as a chelating agent, which means it binds to metal ions in a solution. This property makes it useful for improving the stability and shelf-life of skin care formulations. According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), Tetrasodium EDTA is used in 7,691 cosmetic formulations as of 2019, highlighting its widespread use in the beauty industry.The ingredient’s ability to bind to metal ions also enhances the efficacy of other preservatives in the formula, and increases the penetration of other chemicals in a formula. By sequestering metal ions that could otherwise promote bacterial growth, Tetrasodium EDTA indirectly contributes to product preservation. The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (see below for more information on who is funding this expert panel) reviewed newly available studies since their original assessment in 1998, along with updated information regarding product types and concentrations of use, and confirmed that EDTA (even though the National Institutes of Health state that it can cause reproductive and developmental effects in animals) is safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentration.
What Is Tetrasodium EDTA Used for?
Tetrasodium EDTA is a versatile compound widely used across various industries due to its powerful chelating properties. Its primary functions include:
- Tetrasodium EDTA binds to metal ions in solutions, making it useful in a wide range of products and processes.
- While not a direct preservative, it improves the effectiveness of other preservatives by sequestering metal ions that bacteria need to thrive.
- It prevents the degradation of other ingredients in formulations, particularly those containing sensitive components.
These fundamental properties can make Tetrasodium EDTA valuable in numerous industries:
- Cosmetics and Personal Care: In 2019, it was reported in 7,691 cosmetic formulations. Concentrations typically range from 0.000002% to 1.9%, with the highest levels in hair dyes and colors. In leave-on skin care products, it’s usually used at 0.084% to 0.12%.
- Food Industry: Used as a food additive (E385) to preserve color, flavor, and texture in various products.
- Cleaning Products: Common in household cleaners, laundry detergents, and industrial cleaning solutions, where it improves cleaning efficiency by softening water and preventing mineral scale buildup.
- Water Treatment: In industrial settings, it’s used to soften water by removing calcium and magnesium ions.
- Medical Applications: EDTA and its salts are used in chelation therapy to treat heavy metal poisoning.
Laboratory Use: In biochemistry and molecular biology, it serves as an anticoagulant and in buffer solutions.
What is The Difference between Tetrasodium EDTA and Disodium EDTA?
Tetrasodium EDTA and Disodium EDTA are closely related compounds, both belonging to the EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) family. The main difference lies in their chemical structure and the number of sodium ions:
- Tetrasodium EDTA: Contains four sodium ions (Na+) and has a stronger chelating ability.
- Disodium EDTA: Contains two sodium ions (Na+) and has a slightly weaker chelating ability.
This structural difference affects their properties and applications:
- pH Range: Tetrasodium EDTA is more effective in alkaline conditions, while Disodium EDTA works better in slightly acidic to neutral formulations.
- Solubility: Tetrasodium EDTA is more water-soluble than Disodium EDTA.
- Chelating Strength: Tetrasodium EDTA generally has a stronger metal-binding capacity.
According to the CIR data, Disodium EDTA is even more widely used than Tetrasodium EDTA, appearing in 12,509 cosmetic formulations as of 2019. Its concentration in skin care products ranges from 0.00002% to 3%, with the highest levels found in hair coloring preparations.
The choice between Tetrasodium EDTA and Disodium EDTA often comes down to the specific formulation needs. Tetrasodium EDTA is preferred in products requiring stronger chelation or those with higher pH levels, while Disodium EDTA is often used in more acidic formulations or when a milder chelating effect is desired.
Is Tetrasodium Edta and Disodium EDTA Safe to Use In Skin Care Products?
Build Your Perfect Skin Care Regimen
Take QuizWhile Tetrasodium EDTA can offer significant benefits in skin care formulations, its safety profile has been a subject of debate among consumers and researchers.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, which evaluates the safety of skin care ingredients, has concluded that Tetrasodium EDTA is safe as used in current cosmetic formulations. Before moving on, I’d like to mention that the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) is funded by the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), whose board members include CEO and president of Unilever, CEO and president of L’oreal USA, president of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health division and the general manager of fragrance and beauty at CHANEL. Continuing on–their comprehensive review, last updated in 2019, examined a wide range of toxicological data and found no significant systemic toxicity associated with dermal application of products containing this ingredient.
However, some concerns have been raised regarding its production process and potential contaminants. Tetrasodium EDTA is synthesized through a series of chemical reactions that may involve formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, as an intermediate. This has led to apprehension among some consumers about trace amounts of formaldehyde in the final product.
Research indicates that EDTA compounds can increase skin penetration of other ingredients in cosmetic formulations. This penetration-enhancing property means that when EDTA compounds are present in a formula, they could potentially increase skin exposure to other ingredients – whether those ingredients are beneficial or potentially harmful. This highlights why it’s important to review the complete ingredient list of products containing EDTA compounds.
Side Effect of Tetrasodium EDTA and Its Toxicity?
In addition to the formaldehyde thing, however—which makes me uncomfortable—this ingredient may also contain dangerous levels of dioxane, a by-product of manufacturing that is also carcinogenic. There have been some case reports of sensitive individuals developing eczema after using cream with tetrasodium EDTA, and it’s known to be a potent eye irritant. It can also be slow to degrade, making it a poor choice for environmental health.
Consumer Considerations and Alternatives
While Tetrasodium EDTA is generally considered safe for use in cosmetics by regulatory bodies like the FDA and European Commission, some consumers may prefer to avoid it due to concerns about its synthetic origin or potential environmental impact.
For those interested in different formulations, some products use alternative ingredients with chelating properties, such as:
- Sodium Phytate: Derived from rice bran, this ingredient offers similar benefits to EDTA but is plant-based.
- Sodium Gluconate: A natural chelating agent produced through fermentation of glucose.
- Citric Acid: A naturally occurring acid found in citrus fruits that can also act as a chelator.
- Potassium Sorbate: While primarily used as a preservative, it also has mild chelating properties.
It’s worth noting that these natural alternatives may not be as effective as Tetrasodium EDTA in all formulations, especially when wanting to produce products in large quantities that may sit for an extended amount of time.
While natural chelators can be effective in certain formulations, they often require higher concentrations to achieve the same results as Tetrasodium EDTA. This can sometimes lead to changes in texture or stability of the final product.
Why Should You Avoid Tetrasodium EDTA?
For consumers concerned about synthetic ingredients in their skincare products, there are several factors to consider when making informed choices about Tetrasodium EDTA.
This synthetic chelating agent effectively stabilizes formulations and extends shelf life. For products that require an extremely long shelf life, or are packaged in plastic or other materials that may interact with the formula, manufacturers might opt for Tetrasodium EDTA to ensure product stability and safety over extended periods.
However, natural options like phytic acid (from rice bran) and sodium gluconate (from corn) are gaining popularity in natural and organic skincare. These alternatives can be effective in many products, particularly those with shorter shelf lives or packaged in non-reactive materials.
For those preferring to avoid Tetrasodium EDTA, here are some names to watch for on ingredient labels:
- Edetate sodium
- Tetrasodium edetate
- Tetrasodium salt
- TEA-EDTA
It’s important to note that while some individuals may be sensitive to products containing Tetrasodium EDTA, there are certain groups and as we mentioned earlier, “expert panels” who deem his safe for use in cosmetics. However, if you have specific concerns or have experienced sensitivity, you may want to opt for products using alternative preservative systems.
If you’re interested in using products that completely avoid EDTA and its derivatives, look for brands that prioritize natural and organic ingredients, and commit to avoiding toxic chemcials with synthetic derivatives. These products often use alternative preservation methods and may have shorter shelf lives, but can still be highly effective for skin care.
Ultimately, the choice between products with Tetrasodium EDTA and those without depends on your personal preferences, skin sensitivity, and values regarding ingredient sourcing and product longevity.
Do you avoid this ingredient in your products? Have you experienced sensitivity to it? And if you want to use natural products and completely avoid EDTA, check out our Anti Aging Collection for a lot of wonderful products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EDTA A Hormone Disruptor?
Disodium EDTA acts as a binding agent, facilitates deeper absorption, and helps regulate consistency. Research conducted on animals indicates health impact, including disturbances in hormonal balance and, when exposed to elevated doses, even reproductive issues. Additionally, because of it’s function in enhancing deeper absorption, it may also elevate the intake of other potentially hazardous substances.
Is EDTA Carcinogenic?
The concern regarding Tetrasodium EDTA’s carcinogenic potential stems from its synthesis process, which involves ethylenediamine, formaldehyde (recognized as a carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute), and sodium cyanide (produced from the toxic hydrogen cyanide). Additionally, this ingredient may contain high levels of dioxane, a manufacturing carcinogenic byproduct, raising further concerns about the safety of Tetrasodium EDTA.
Is EDTA Safe During Pregnancy?
Because of EDTA’s carcinogenic potential, we prefer to steer clear of this ingredient and instead recommend finding products and formulas that are gentle and all natural to prevent any potential risk or side effects during pregnancy.
Does Tetrasodium EDTA Cause Cancer?
Although there have been no instances of lab specimens developing cancer from tetrasodium EDTA exposure, the carcinogenic potential is one we prefer to take seriously.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while research may indicate that Tetrasodium EDTA is “generally safe” for use in skin care and personal care products, the concerns about this formaldehyde-derived preservative is one we take seriously. t’s important to also be mindful of EDTA’s function as a penetration enhancer, which can potentially increase other harmful substances in questionable formulas being delivered deep into the skin. For those seeking alternative methods of achieving the similar results, consider natural options like coconut and castor oils, and essential oils, which provide viable substitutes. Ultimately, awareness and personal choice play crucial roles in deciding whether to use products containing Tetrasodium EDTA.
Source
“Tetrasodium EDTA,” National Library of Medicine HSDB Database, http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+5003.
I also avoid. EDTA. I noticed this on many soap labels years ago. I make my own soap so I couldnt figure this out. I especially noticed it on soaps that came from large companies and from overseas. Then I realized why. It’s also used as a preservative! It helps to the product to have a long shelf life. Manufacturers who sell large quantities of soaps that sit in warehouses for a long period of time or on shelves in stores for long periods add this to their soaps.
About eight years ago, it was reported by researchers that EDTA is put in soap as a disinfectant. It was found to have no disinfectant properties. Additionally, when other researchers tested this compound, they found that EDTA reduces muscle mass. Now there is nary a word about disinfectants or muscle reduction in EDTA, and some medical sites now say it’s basically benign. It appears the chemical industry has changed their tune to keep producing this dangerous compound by claiming it is a food and soap preservative. I will keep avoiding it.
I’m a guy, I’m health conscious and use skin products. I also do my own vehicle maintenance.
I use a product called “Motorcraft Premium Cooling System Flush”
Says “Contains Tetrasodium EDTA” If swallowed call a poison control center, blah blah, skin irritant, etc.
I guess it binds to junk in the cooling system and cleans it out.
Now, that is an amazing product to clean up your car cooling system, but wow, for your body 😆
Wow this is so scary. They need to do better with our products.
My stomach had been swelling last year so bad and I was incontinent. My dr. performed Uterine Fibroid Embolization on me in August 2018. He said I had a fibroid the size of a month pregnancy. I have been hospitalized 5 times with abdominal swelling and pain from August 2018 up until I got laid of in January 2018 and decided to twist my hair out and haven’t used gel for almost 6 months. About 2 weeks ago, I started using eco style gel again every day for job interviews to slick my hair back. I havent been doing my twist outside Now I’m laying here with a swollen stomach painful abdomen. My friend told me to leave ecostyler alone because I could be having an allergic reaction to it. I’m 34 now and I look 24 months pregnant with an elphant. There is no research on these chemicals because we as black people are using it and they dont care about us. Just like the Johnson baby powder causing ovarian cancer, it mostly affected black women. Listen to your body.
I was allergy tested due to a rash years ago. EDTA and Formaldehyde were two chemicals among several others that tested as a positive allergic reaction. I try to avoid both as much as possible. I read the labels on everything. it is even in Best Foods mayo! what amazes me is how the name morphs over time. the allergy dr who ran the tests said i’d be allergic to EDTA in all derivative forms. he has been right.
Like some other commenters, I was lead here after trying to figure out why my new deodorant, Arm & Hammer Essentials, was making my armpits itchy. I was hard headed at first because it was working so well. I thought it was just the essential oils and I would get used to it. Once I saw dark spots and a texture change in some spots on my armpits, I needed answers.
Any suggestions for a good all-natural deodorant? The last one I tried was about $15 and was terrible. I don’t want to spend a hundred dollars trying to find the right one. I sweat a lot at work, and I also don’t want to be embrassed in other situations.
I use Schmidt’s natural deodorant and it hasn’t caused me any problems so far. They use a lot of different essential oils. You can check their ingredients.
Look on Etsy.
THIS SHXT SHOULD BE BANNED
I went on vacation to hawaii for a week and 2 days after i came home i noticed something on my face equal to a cold sore then started to get vescicles/rash on my forehead then around my eyes popping up for a week that itched and burned. At first thought it was bug bites but no one else had it and the rash did not pop up anywhere else on my body so i thought bugs cant be that picky where would only attack my face. Then realized my sister bought this new lotion called smoothie body butter by soap and glory(uk based) that i tried only on my face since the hawaii weather dried out my face, the last day we were there. Beware of this product lots of chemicals in it!!! Its been 3 weeks and my face is still trying to heal
Yes! I constantly had hives and deep painful sores on my neck, back, and jawline. I had tried probably 20 different shampoos and conditioners. Had finally found one that didn’t and sat down and compared it to everything else I’ve tried. Sure enough, this new one was the only one without EDTA! So I tried another shampoo without EDTA, sure enough, also no problems. It’s also becoming more popular in food and beverages, propel changed their formula and it now has EDTA, throat swelled and had chest pains.
The EDTA allows deeper penetration of the other chemicals in the products. The chemicals in shampoo, soaps and deodorants are not meant for internal use. EDTA is most likely causing reactions from other allergens.
‘Chemicals in shampoos etc not meant for internal use’…Your skin is your largest organ & is porous…so it makes no sense to put ANY chemicals on your skin either. If you do not recognize the ingredient do you think your body will?
Please use caution when deciding what suggestions to follow. I appreciate that the author did not say EDTA was outright bad for you, but the way in which she mentioned the ingredients was certainly intended to elicit a specific reaction. Would you consume sodium chloride if I told you that it was made from reacting sodium metal, which explodes on exposure to water (which constitutes a large portion of a human’s body mass) with chlorine gas, which is fatal to humans if inhaled and causes severe burns upon skin contact? If you’ve ever salted your food, you have. Sea salt and mined salt also have the same components, with other metals and halides floating around, despite their “natural” derivation. EDTA is sometimes used as intravenous therapy in cases of heavy metal poisoning. It can be extremely helpful when used in safe applications, which the FDA provides guidelines for. Please, trust those who spend their lives trying to keep you safe.
Table salt has been linked to heart disease and sudden stroke… It is not the most healthy thing to consume in large quantities. It is a vital nutrient but is also carcinogenic if overused.
I have been using Eco Colors for my hair color since being diagnosed with many allergies including EDTA. It doesn’t seem to be working for me any more. Does anyone know of another hair color that is free of EDTA?
Try Hairprint! They’re lovely 🙂
Basing the safety of a compound on its initial ingredients without taking any count of any chemical reactions is highly misleading. On that basic table salt would be banned as pure highly reactive and dangerous sodium plus deadly ,poison gas,chlorine reacts to give 100 percent common table salt.
Am impressed from what i learnt.but i Love to know more dir am just a biginer.i Appriciate it if you Five me to what am searching for.
Thanks for this information .. My baby and I both uses a well-known brand of a baby wash .. I read some issues about it being hazardous to the skin and so out of curiosity I searched to find out if it’s true .. I have read to other websites the top 5 chemicals to avoid .. and checked that list if the baby wash contains it .. Tetrasodium EDTA is included .. and so I decided to stop using that product .. I don’t even want to risk my baby’s health for that ..
I have sensitive skin and am leery of using anything with ingredients I can’t pronounce. I’m glad I looked this up, I’ll be avoiding anything with this stuff in it from now on.
I don’t understand the suggestion to use orange or cedarwood essential oils as natural preservatives. I have never heard that these specific oils have any preservative properties and if they do they would certainly not be broad spectrum. It is hard to take this article seriously when uninformed and potentially dangerous suggestions like that is bandied about.
I found this product as the second to last ingredient in my deodorant, Arm & Hammer Essentials. I chose this deodorant to avoid the aluminum in other commercially made options. Upon looking it up it’s interesting to see that this deodorant marketed as natural and healthier isn’t quiet what one would think. Thanks for the info. Not sure what to do instead as my husband is a little hesitant to use just coconut oil.
Try using a solid salt block deoderant. It does take a week for one’s body to adjust (so endure sticky armpits for a week), but after that, it works marvelously. In addition, it is vastly more economical than any stick or aerosol deoderant. I paid $8 for mine, and I’m still using it eight years later.
I’m reading this because I’m curious if this ingredient in the arm n hammer essentials is causing large tumor like pimples[boils?] in my armpit.
How are you sure these “natural preservatives” or derivatives from “natural sources” are safe? The war on chemicals is ridiculous. All you do is feed on peoples’ (and your own) fear of things they themselves are not well versed in.
Is there another safer ingredient/alternative to combat hard water mineral deposit’s affect on hair?
I hope that everyone that is supposedly looking up this stuff has a background in science to understand this stuff. I noticed that while I was reading the blog, some people only looked up the first name, tetra sodium. Tetra sodium means four sodium. EDTA on the other hand means ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid. IMO I would worry about that, not sodium.
I have tested allergic to EDTA. In fact, one cosmetic cream I used worked well for a long time. After the last purchase, I had a skin reaction. (This was years ago.) I returned to the store and asked the staff at that booth to check the inactive ingredients. They phoned the company and sure enough EDTA had been added recently. The law at the time was that the company has 3 months to change/upgrade the ingredients on the label.
I worked in a plant that makes AXE body wash and other products and was soaked in Tetrasodium EDTA when a hose blew off the tank and was saturated in it. Now my legs feel like they are going to split wide open all the time and im not retaining water and my breathing is more labored all the time. Are these side affects of over exposure to this chemical.
Hi Harold, There’s no way for us to now for sure if you’re experiencing overexposure side-effects. We would definitely suggest seeing a holistic practioner and working to help your body detoxify slowly and safely.
I have known for a long time that I am allergic to EDTA especially when in skin products. I read ingredients carefully . Be sure to check the inactive ingredients which sometimes are not listed on the product. Also the company has 3 months (at least as of last time I checked) to update the packaging. One time I bought a product that I never had problems with in the past, went back to the department store when after I had a bad reaction, and the woman at the booth called the company. It had recently added EDTA to the cream but had not changed the package labels yet. I carry a small magnifying glass when shopping for these products!!
Rohmell is right. However I do not support unnecessary chemicals in our products especially without extensive long term research, just because some people are allergic to this doesn’t mean it’s bad for everyone. I’m highly allergic to pollen, yet I know many people who aren’t. So just because I am allergic doesn’t mean no one else should be exposed and it’s dangerous. Also, like stated above, just because EDTA is made from toxic chemicals doesn’t mean it is toxic. O2 is oxygen, essential for life obviously, but add an extra O there (O3) and you have ozone, a great chemical to have in the upper atmosphere to block harmful uv light, extremely toxic even at low concentration at ground level. Most important thing is, be causious of and research extensively anything you use (eat drink wash with) and use in moderation.
Just because the compound is made from formaldehyde—a known carcinogen and sodium cyanide (which is made from the toxic gas hydrogen cyanide) does not mean that the resulting compound is dangerous.
Look at table salt, sodium chloride; made from a sodium, a corrosive, toxic, and highly reactive metal, and chlorine, a highly poisonous gas.
I am new to the cosmetic scene and ingredients that are harmful but I have learned through being in school for a BS in exercise science, that science is a very powerful tool to assess whether or not something is good/bad. Now, before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I am firstly an artist and very much open to the fact that science is not the end all to be all! However, when I learned about chemistry for the first time just 2 years ago, I started to see more clearly that everything is pretty much a chemical reaction that moves one way or the other depending on different factors.
Without getting too far off the subject, one point I thought I would make, is this: The poison of a snake at high levels can kill a person when simultaneously, the poison of the same snake at very low levels can heal another. I just spent the last hour researching EDTA (and several of its other forms) and it is used to “treat heavy metal poisoning and reduce blood cholesterol”. International Journal of Toxicology, 21(Suppl. 2):95–142, 2002
*It’s an old review, (and this matters!), however I found it very interesting that people who condemn EDTA don’t talk about this. Heavy metal treatment and reducing blood cholesterol are only 2 things out of about 10 things, that EDTA can be used for in treating other problems like them.
Again, please don’t get me wrong, a few of the peer reviewed articles I read did say that long term effects still have not been discovered, and I’ll be the first person to join you in not wanting to put unnecessary chemicals and preservatives in my body!
I did feel it was necessary to add that the use of EDTA is actually helping others with different and possibly more severe problems. The amount, the frequency and the type are all variables that make the difference between that poison that will cause death and the poison that will create healing.
Essential oils are the same way. They seem valid and natural and that they won’t hurt you, but as I continue my studies with them, the amount, the frequency and the type will make the difference between a good and a bad reaction! 🙂
Hi all, just thought I’d share my EDTA experiences.
I had eczema as a child and very briefly as a teenager but then it went away until late year (when I turned 32). Suddenly after a months holiday in China and starting a new job here in the UK I developed very inflamed itchy skin all over (particularly bad on my torso, neck, and arms). Two doctors told me it was eczema and prescribed steroid creams and various moisturisers but these didn’t make much difference in the long run, and I knew it wasn’t eczema as I was itchy all over and the rash seemed different from anything I’d had before. I suffered terribly for the past year with very itchy dry skin, having to wear gloves at night to stop myself itching and facing bed sheets covered with dead skin each morning 🙁 I couldn’t wear nice clothes anymore as I was so embarrassed about my skin, and I started to get quite down about it.
After several months I finally complained to the doctors enough so they referred me to see a dermatologist who referred me for patch testing (getting to see the dermatologist for this took another 5 months or so as there is a waiting list). Finally I was tested for 120 substances, and the only one that I was very allergic to was… EDTA! This showed up after 72 hours of the test.
So now I have stopped using any products with this chemical in and my skin does seem to be improving. I found EDTA is in many many products, even ones that claim to be for sensitive skin or are organic. It’s in soaps (so I now use Ecover soap and deterrgent), moisturisers (so I now use Aveeno cream on my face and Dermal 500 and Epaderm cream on my body), cosmetics (so I now only use Bare Essentials mineral make up), shampoos/conditioners/shower gels (so I now use Bert’s Bees products) and it is even in some foods such as Angel Delight, Helman’s Mayonnaise and some sauces/canned foods (I always check ingredients carefully now). I take my own soap everywhere I go now and use it instead of soaps provided.
I also take probiotics, multivitamins, D-Hist (a natural histamine blocker), try to drink lots of water and keep my nails short to stop itching so much. I gave also now started light therapy. Recently my skin has improved remarkably, my torso and neck are silky smooth again and I’m left with only two patches on my wrists/hands. I can’t be 100% sure what is helping the most (not the light therapy as I only just started thatl), but I’m pretty sure it’s avoiding EDTA though!
I was really surprised to find there is a lack of information online about EDTA allergies. I have written this post to try and help others who find they are like me. I still would like answers to some questions if anyone else can help too:
a) Which sunscreens do not have EDTA in them? I so far haven’t found any but I’ll keep looking.
b) EDTA seems to have so many different names, is there a definitive list anywhere?
c) Are there hair dyes without EDTA? I used to dye my hair and that might have caused my skin to break out badly too.
Finally, I would advise that if your skin is terrible absolutely insist on seeing a dermatologist and being referred for patch testing, and in the meantime, switch to using products like the ones I suggested above to see if it helps you too. I suspect my doctors only referred me when I mentioned feeling depressed about it and not being able to sleep so it was interfering with my ability to work. Please email me if anyone has answers to the questions or wants to ask anything: [email protected]
Good luck everyone, I know how hard it can be coping with this!
Alba brand sunscreen is EDTA free. Also Whole Foods does not carry anything with EDTA so its a safe place to look for soap, hair care and sunscreen. I was patch tested 25 years ago and I still avoid EDTA as I break out in a rash everytime I eat ir touch it. Target carries alot a brands that are free if it as well. Honest Company, Seventh Generation and Method Brand. Watch out fir foods with citrus ingredients they always serm to have it.
A small correction to the previous comment:
Ascorbic acid and citric acid are not the same thing.
Ascorbic acid Benzoic acid do not generate so easily benzene in a cream at neutral pH. You do not have the catalysts (transition metals like Cu (II) or Fe (III) that you might find in a drink. EDTA is used precisely for that – it is a chelating agent, a sequester for metallic ions (when they happen to be in a cream, which is rare). Then antioxidants are used against the superoxide anion radical (O2-).
From a rational perspective it is IMPOSSIBLE to get in a cosmetic benzene.
One cannot transpose the conclusions from food industry (where the pH is different and mainly the quality/purity of ingredients etc) to cosmetics.
Another problem to consider in this improbable generation of benzene is Vitamin C. You hardly get a vitamin C serum that still contains after 3 month a trace of ascorbic acid. Most often creams use ascorbyl palmitate (oil soluble) and under no circumstance this will produce benzene from benzoic acid.
I am very surprised that you have a problem with Peru balsam. In Europe it is forbidden in cosmetics (see the Cosmetic directive).
In a face cream you rarely have metallic ions. BB-creams and make-up are full of them.
Your skin problems are real and your fears are legitimate, but it’s better to look in the whole cosmetic range you use. From cleansing milk to the last touch of make-up there is a whole layer of ingredients that could react.
A simple advice is to avoid make-up or choose it with great care. Pigments are metals and they are catalysts to many reactions. Cheap pigments are also impure (heavy metals).
Best regards
In response to Stephanie above (and others). I also have had chronic urticaria (hives) for last seven months. Eliminated EVERYTHING with no luck and then went to MD. Had patch and scratch tests for chemicals and found that I am allergic to Balsam of Peru (benzoic acid). No kidding – it is in everything under many different names. Used as a food preservative, as a preservative in face and hair products, toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, sunscreens, pesticides, soaps, cleaning products, fragrance in perfumes, etc. It is a common ingredient in highly processed foods such as carbonated sodas, vinegar, fruit juices, salad dressings, etc.
Scary part that it is in EVERYTHING and when it is combined with ascorbic acid (citric acid – vitamin C) it forms the chemical benzene – a suspected carcinogenic.
A number of national and international surveys have identified Balsam of Peru as being in the “TOP FIVE” allergens most commonly causing patch test reactions in people referred to dermatology clinics.
It is hard to pin down as it can take up to 72 hours for the hives to appear and the skin reaction lasts from 2 – 8 weeks EVEN if you don’t come into contact with the substance again. If you have had exposures over time it may take 3 – 6 months for it to completely get out of your system.
Thank you very much for such a precise review. Finally I have understood the potential risks of Terasodium EDTA ( It was quite confusing to me evaluate its safety. — many reviews actually wrote that it is safe in cosmetics — but none of them mentioned that it is a component made by formaldehyde–). Thank you deeply. I would like to ask you other questions. Is it possible to contact you? Where can I contact you? Thanks, Simo
Hi Simo! You can email us at [email protected]
Thanks, I was looking at some ingredients on Bubble Bath (Mr. Bubble) and it contained this so I stumbled upon this website! Of course turns out it can be this harmful I can’t believe kids were taking Bubble Bath with this in it back when.
Thanks for this! I bought a RealAloe soap bar from my local Sprouts. I didn’t even see the EDTA in the ingredients. 100% real organic aloe, yet it has EDTA… I’ve read amazon reviews that say they broke out from it, so I moved on to something else. 🙁
Just wanted to say hi to the community. Please check out this website regarding natural soap, free from all chemicals: http://www.vermontsoap.com. Their site has a wealth of information that I believe will bring a smile to your face. Will share other health things as time progress.
I visited a restaurant and went to ladies room then washed my hands using a liquid soap dispenser. Before I got back to my table, I started having a severe anaphylactic reaction. Heart began racing, eyes itched, lips tingled and swelled, tongue swelled and throat began closing up and I couldn’t breathe. Hands began to itch and chigger-like bites appeared on the backs of them. Began to get hot from neck to top of my head. Shoulder blades began to itch and then across my lower back! Was able to get and take 2 Benedryl tablets and the symptoms slowly eased but not until I also began experiencing severe chills! I am not allergic to any products and I was terrified. I later was able to get soap ingredient list from restaurant owner and researched all products and based on all your comments on this site, I believe it was the tetrasodium EDTA that caused the problem. Next time I might not be so lucky from what I have read about subsequent exposure to this stuff. I will carry antibacterial hand cleanser and forgo those bathroom dispensers from here on out! You might be wise to do the same.
Tetrasodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It increases uptake of heavy metals by plants. This means that it is not good in the environment, and especially not in a grey water system. My garden is fed by greywater from my house. I have no desire to eat vegetables laced with heavy metals, so I started making my own soap. LUSH put Tetrasodium EDTA in many of their products
Yes…we have notice the rashes from the soaps that WE NOW KNOW contain this product(tetrasodium). The liquid hand soap and tooth paste ,Colgate (optic white)…I don’t like the optic part. THEY are extra suddsy and yes I can tell they are harmful. I am like a canary in a coalmine anyway.
I used handi wipes containing EDTA, wiped my forehead with the cloth and forehead turned red and irritated. Read the label and started to research this ingredient. I will avoid this ingredient in the future.
I finally identified EDTA as being the cause of my severe skin reaction and that of my daughter…this chemical is in almost everything! It was the one chemical that I saw again and again as I looked across my hair gel to shampoo to conditioner to hand soap. The worst offending products are liquid hand soap. I’ve gotten so sensitized now that putting regular hand soap on my hands hurts like acid and takes heavy-duty steroid cream for a week to clear up the open wounds left behind…I now read all labels and have switched to all EDTA-free products. They are hard to find, but 1 out of 10 products on the shelf is EDTA-free…sometimes it is the cheapest product out there. For me a big disappointment was that “sensitive skin” products and baby products have this sensitizer chemical in them! Now my “untreatable” contact dermatitis is finally under control….years later!
I just found out I am allergic to EDTA and fragrance, so finding products without either one has been a challenge. I did find a Eucerin lotion without either in it. I am still looking for a moisturizer with sunscreen as well as a hair color product if anyone has any suggestions.
The Green people organic Lifestyle Sun Lotion is EDTA free 25SPF
Rule of thumb. Do not put anything on your skin that you would not put in your mouth.
Ever since I found out that 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream and internal organs, I decided to offer my NO CHEMICAL products made with all natural ingredients for expecting moms and newborns, including all deodorant and toothpaste.
My 26-year old daughter is now pregnant with my first grandchild so I have named the products after her: “Bella’s Bath & Body’ The newborn’s will be called Baby Bella products and will include Bella’s BabyCakes, made from Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Bees Wax
and Wheat Germ Oil.
The soap and cosmetic industries have been getting rich selling us cancer causing, chemical-laden products. It’s time we got as smart about what we put ON our bodies as we are about what we put IN our bodies.
Check out squareup.com for Bella’s Body & Bath in June.
“kim says:
Ever since I found out that 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream and internal organs”
60%? Can you cite the periodical or documentation that asserts this? I recall reading in scientific literature the figure is more in the neighborhood of between 1 and 2%. Which is still too high and unacceptable but far from the 60% you claim. If you have documentation clarifying that 60% of what we apply to our skin enters the bloodstream I certainly would like to read it.
Hey there!
Check out this article about how much our skin actually absorbs! https://www.annmariegianni.com/much-skin-actually-absorb/
Am trying to figure out if my very strong allergic reaction is from EDTA. It was in a detergent/disinfectant used in my home which caused my lips to burn like crazy and got swellings between nose and lip and little blisters on lip. Nose and eyes also burning and some face swelling. Still wont go away completely. I had burnt lips thing twice before and am trying to cross refernce. Once to blood test tubes that I sent for in mail and the strongest to a 24 hour urine collection container. Did someone here say acetic acid was same thing?? I know the collection container did contain an acid.
Ever since I became pregnant I’d been doing research on products such as food bath and body for The duration of pregnancy and for after my baby was born. Its a shame the things that are allowed in baby products. In doing research I did find a company whose products are completely free of harmful chemicals to both you and baby. Honest products check them out for yourself honest.com
is there a commercially available moisturizer base that does not contain Tetrasodium EDTA, Even bases that adver, as organic seem to have this ingredient.
YOU BET I REACTED, ANAPHYLACTICALLY! I had been using a well-known natural hair care product, and never had a problem, until I bought a different scent from the same company. The only difference was “supposed to be” that it was wheat free. I know the owner to be very picky about what he puts in his products, so I thought it was safe. It was a hair cleanser. I no sooner put it on my hair than I started itching. I ended up nearly having to use my EPI-PEN, as I also was having trouble breathing. Thank God, as soon as I rinsed it out very thoroughly, the problem went away. I’ll have to watch every label from now on. I’m also contacting the company, hoping to get them to remove it from the product, as it is not in most of them…I don’t know why they put it in this one.
My daughter was visiting and somehow the soap I’ve been using, called “Basis” came up. She googled one of the ingredients, “Tetrasodium” and uncovered it as formaldehyde though mine had a second part, “Etidronate” and hers had something different (forgot).
My horror, especially since it was advised by my dermatologist MANY years ago and I use it almost exclusively for hands and bath. Why not call an apple an apple and not use terminology with which the public doesn’t identify. Normally, I check things out, but when the dermotol. recommended it and it helped the dermatitis I had then (don’t have now), it became my soap. What’s out there one can trust??????
15 years ago I discovered by accident how everyday body care products contained ingredients that are carcinogenic; my underarm deodorant started causing skin breakouts and rashes. The real problem was it wasn’t just a single product either, I was allergic to all of them. I loved the salt rock, but it wasn’t cost effective (breaks when dropped). So I started making my own products made with natural ingredients and haven’t looked back since.
I provided a web link above for others to see a handful of products (639) that already contain this ingredient. You may be surprised that beyond personal care, tetrasodium-edta can be found in auto & pet products as well.
Acetic acid is naturally derived from Vinegar; produced by vinegar fermentation and subsequent oxidation of ethanol.
“The global demand of acetic acid is around 6.5 million tonnes per year (Mt/a), of which approximately 1.5 Mt/a is met by recycling; the remainder is manufactured from petrochemical feedstock.”
Resource: “Hosea Cheung; Robin S. Tanke; G. Paul Torrence (2005), “Acetic Acid”, Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Weinheim: Wiley-VCH”
Things to keep in mind MSDS:
-Special Remarks on Reactivity:
Avoid contact with aluminum, copper, copper alloys, zinc, and nickel, and strong oxidizers.
-Synonyms:
Versene, Kalex, Hampene, Dissolvine; EDTA tetrasodium salt dihydrate; Tetrasodium EDTA dihydrate; Tetrasodium salt EDTA dihydrate; Tetrasodium salt of EDTA, dihydrate; Tetrasodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dihydrate; Sodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dihydrate; Sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, dihydrate; Sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dihydrate; Sodium EDTA, dihydrate; Edetate sodium dihydrate; Edetic acid tetrasodium salt, dihydrate; Endrate tetrasodium; Ethylenebis(iminodiacetic acid) tetrasodium salt, dihydrate; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, tetrasodium salt, dihydrate ; Edathaniltetrasodium , dihydrate ; N, N’-Ethylenediaminediacetic acid tetrasodium salt.
-Chemical Name:
Acetic acid, (etrhylenedinitrilo)tetra-, tetrasodium salt, dihydrate
-Chronic Effects on Humans:
May cause damage to the following organs: upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes.
-Special Remarks on other Toxic Effects on Humans:
The toxicological properties of this substance have not been fully investigated.
Packages apples from McDonalds actually contains this!! After my daughter broke out in hives after eating them I started researching it. She has never had a reaction to apples so I thought it must be the preservative!! We will never eat those again!! And will make sure to tell others not to eat them either!!
Chris, you mentioned a list/web link to see a handful of products (639) that already contain the ingredient Tetrasodium EDTA, the preservative made from formaldehyde. Can you actually email me this list at louiselevergneux (at) gmail.com, I am very interested in verifying any products in our house.
Thank you,
Louise
I would love to have the list from you if possible. I have gone to the doctor for over 1 year with lymph nodes swelling, not feeling good, hurting and the doctor cannot tell me what is happening to me. I want to see if this is also my problem. Thanks.