Bronopol — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile
INCI: BRONOPOL
Key Facts
- CAS Number
- 52-51-7
- Category
- preservative
- Risk Level
- medium
- Common Allergen
- No
- Found In
- shampoo, wet wipes
Is Bronopol safe in cosmetics?
Bronopol is rated medium risk in cosmetic products. It is not classified as a common allergen and is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. Safer alternatives include Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate. Commonly found in shampoo, wet wipes.
What is Bronopol?
Formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Also releases nitrosamines under certain conditions.
Allergy & Safety Information
Bronopol is generally safe for most people but may cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. If you experience redness, itching, or swelling after using a product with this ingredient, discontinue use and consult a dermatologist.
This ingredient carries moderate allergenicity risk. It can cause reactions in sensitised individuals but has a lower sensitisation rate than high-risk ingredients. Patch testing before full use is advisable for anyone with a history of cosmetic reactions.
About Preservative Ingredients
Preservatives prevent microbial growth in water-containing cosmetic formulas. Without them, products would spoil within days. However, preservatives are among the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis — they must be present in high enough concentrations to be effective, yet that same efficacy can irritate sensitised skin.
Relevance for Bronopol: If you react to one preservative, you may be cross-reactive to others in the same chemical family (e.g., isothiazolinones, formaldehyde releasers, or parabens). Checking the full preservative profile of every product you use is the most reliable way to identify your personal trigger.
How to Identify Bronopol in Products
Cosmetic ingredients are listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name in descending order of concentration. To check whether a product contains Bronopol, scan the ingredient list for its INCI name exactly as it appears above. Ingredients present at 1% or less may appear in any order after the 1% threshold.
Product types to prioritise checking: Shampoo, Wet wipes. These product categories are the most common sources of Bronopol exposure based on formulation data.
Not sure if your products contain Bronopol? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Bronopol and other allergens automatically.
Safer Alternatives
These ingredients serve a similar function with lower allergy risk:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bronopol safe for sensitive skin?
Bronopol may cause reactions in some sensitive individuals. Patch testing is advisable.
What products contain Bronopol?
Bronopol is commonly found in shampoo, wet wipes.
What does Bronopol do in cosmetics?
Bronopol functions as a preservative in formulations.
Related Guides
Preservative Allergy Guide
Which preservatives cause the most reactions and what to use instead.
How to Read Ingredient Labels
Decode INCI names and find hidden allergens in your products.
Find Your Skin Allergy Trigger
Step-by-step elimination method to identify your trigger.
Contact Dermatitis Guide
Symptoms, causes, patch testing, and treatment options.
Is Bronopol causing YOUR skin reactions?
SkinDetekt tracks your products and reactions to find your personal triggers. Download the app to find out.
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