Triclosan — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile
INCI: TRICLOSAN
Also known as: Irgasan
Key Facts
- CAS Number
- 3380-34-5
- Category
- preservative
- Risk Level
- high
- Common Allergen
- No
- EU Status
- Restricted
- Max Concentration
- 0.3% (select products only)
- Found In
- hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant
Is Triclosan safe in cosmetics?
Triclosan is rated high risk in cosmetic products. It is not classified as a common allergen and is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. This ingredient is restricted under EU cosmetic regulations. Safer alternatives include Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate. Commonly found in hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant.
What is Triclosan?
Antibacterial agent. Banned in many consumer products due to endocrine disruption and antibiotic resistance concerns.
Allergy & Safety Information
Triclosan is classified as a high-risk ingredient. It is a known cause of allergic contact dermatitis. It is restricted or regulated in the EU. Individuals with sensitive skin or a history of contact allergies should avoid products containing this ingredient. A patch test is recommended before first use of any product containing Triclosan.
This ingredient is classified as high risk from an allergenicity perspective. It is a recognised cause of allergic contact dermatitis with a relatively high sensitisation rate in patch-tested populations. People with a history of skin reactions to cosmetics, or with conditions such as eczema or sensitive skin, should exercise particular caution.
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 Triclosan: 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 Triclosan 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 Triclosan, 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: Hand soap, Toothpaste, Deodorant. These product categories are the most common sources of Triclosan exposure based on formulation data.
Not sure if your products contain Triclosan? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Triclosan and other allergens automatically.
Safer Alternatives
These ingredients serve a similar function with lower allergy risk:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Triclosan safe for sensitive skin?
Triclosan is a known allergen and is generally not recommended for sensitive skin. Consider patch testing before use.
What products contain Triclosan?
Triclosan is commonly found in hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant.
What does Triclosan do in cosmetics?
Triclosan 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 Triclosan 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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