Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Comedogenic Rating & Safety Profile
Also known as: SLS
A harsh anionic surfactant that produces dramatic foam. Strips the skin barrier and worsens conditions like eczema and rosacea.
Quick facts about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
High Risk
0 = won't clog pores · 5 = highly pore-clogging
High Risk
0 = inert · 5 = often irritating
Surfactants
Generally considered safe
Typically yes
SLS
Quick verdict
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a surfactant with a high risk comedogenic profile (5/5) and high risk irritancy (5/5). A harsh anionic surfactant that produces dramatic foam. Strips the skin barrier and worsens conditions like eczema and rosacea.
What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an anionic surfactant — a powerful cleansing and foaming agent commonly used in shampoos, body washes, toothpastes and household cleaners. It is highly effective at stripping oil and producing dramatic foam, but it does so by disrupting the skin's natural lipid barrier. In dermatological research SLS is so reliably irritating that it is used as a positive control in patch testing — meaning researchers apply it deliberately to test how irritated skin responds to other ingredients.
Comedogenic Rating: What 5/5 Means for Your Skin
SLS is rated 0/5 for true comedogenicity but its effect on the skin barrier indirectly worsens acne — by stripping the barrier, it triggers compensatory oil production and inflammation that can drive breakouts. The 5/5 ratings sometimes seen for SLS reflect this practical 'clogging through irritation' effect rather than direct pore blockage.
Benefits for skin
- Cheap and produces high foam (cosmetically only)
Potential side effects & who should avoid it
Irritancy rating is the maximum (5/5). Common effects include dryness, redness, stinging, peeling and worsened eczema, rosacea and acne. SLS in toothpaste is a documented trigger for canker sores (recurrent aphthous ulcers). Compromised barriers, sensitive skin, eczema, rosacea and children should avoid SLS-containing products.
Best for
- Body wash for normal skin only — best avoided
Avoid if
- Facial cleansers
- Sensitive skin
- Eczema
- Rosacea
- Compromised barrier
- Children
- Acne-prone skin
How to use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate safely
Avoid in any leave-on or facial product. For body washes and shampoos, look for gentler alternatives like sodium cocoyl isethionate, cocamidopropyl betaine or decyl glucoside, especially if you have sensitive or barrier-damaged skin.
Commonly found in
SLS is in many drugstore shampoos, body washes, foaming face washes, toothpastes and household cleaners. Cleaner cosmetic brands have largely moved away from it.
Found Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in your skincare?
Paste the full ingredient list into our INCI Analyser to see how this ingredient interacts with everything else in the formula.
Frequently asked questions
Other surfactants to know
Want the full picture on pore-clogging ingredients? Read our complete guide to comedogenic ingredients for the dermatology research behind the 0–5 scale and the full list of high-risk ingredients to avoid.
Written by ScanSkinAI Team · Last updated May 2026
This information is for educational purposes only. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist if you have specific skin concerns.