Comfrey Extract — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile
INCI: SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE EXTRACT
Key Facts
- CAS Number
- 84696-05-9
- Category
- botanical
- Risk Level
- medium
- Common Allergen
- No
- Found In
- wound care, body cream
Is Comfrey Extract safe in cosmetics?
Comfrey Extract is rated medium risk in cosmetic products. It is not classified as a common allergen and is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. Commonly found in wound care, body cream.
What is Comfrey Extract?
Comfrey Extract is a botanical commonly used in cosmetic and personal care products. It has a moderate risk of causing skin irritation or sensitization in some people.
Allergy & Safety Information
Comfrey Extract 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 Botanical / Plant Extract Ingredients
Botanical extracts are derived from plants and used in cosmetics for their purported soothing, antioxidant, or active properties. However, the "natural" origin of botanicals does not make them inherently safe — plant extracts contain complex mixtures of compounds, some of which are potent allergens.
Relevance for Comfrey Extract: Essential oil-containing botanicals (lavender, tea tree, citrus), Asteraceae family plants (chamomile, calendula, arnica), and propolis-containing extracts are among the most common botanical allergens. The processing method affects allergenicity: cold-pressed extracts retain more proteins than highly refined versions.
How to Identify Comfrey Extract 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 Comfrey Extract, 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: Wound care, Body cream. These product categories are the most common sources of Comfrey Extract exposure based on formulation data.
Not sure if your products contain Comfrey Extract? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Comfrey Extract and other allergens automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Comfrey Extract safe for sensitive skin?
Comfrey Extract may cause reactions in some sensitive individuals. Patch testing is advisable.
What products contain Comfrey Extract?
Comfrey Extract is commonly found in wound care, body cream.
What does Comfrey Extract do in cosmetics?
Comfrey Extract functions as a botanical in formulations.
Related Guides
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