Is polyacrylamide safe as a cosmetic ingredient?

Thus, the Panel concluded that Polyacrylamide is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment, if the level of acrylamide monomer in formulation is not greater than 5 ppm. The 2005 report is used as point of reference for the present re-review consideration.

How many products contain polyacrylamide?

These historical data are given in Table 2, along with frequency of Polyacrylamide use in each product category and the total number of products in that category from data collected in 2002 (FDA 2002). For example, 8 of the 71 indoor tanning preparations reported to FDA in 2002 contained Polyacrylamide.

Is polyacrylamide a carcinogen?

Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel. Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics. It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen.

Does polyacrylamide penetrate the skin?

The Panel noted that Polyacrylamide, as currently supplied to cosmetic product manufacturers, has a molecular weight range from 8 to 20 million. Such large molecules do not penetrate the skin. This is confirmed in absorption studies in which cos-metic formulations containing Polyacrylamide were not readily absorbed.

How much acrylamide monomer is present in polyacrylamide?

The CIR Expert Panel recognized that trace amounts of acrylamide monomer are present in Polyacrylamide material used in cosmetics and personal care products and these amounts vary (average of 0.02-0.03%) based on the form in which Polyacrylamide is supplied.

Why is polyacrylamide used in hair care products?

When used in hair care products, Polyacrylamide helps hair hold its style by inhibiting the hair’s ability to absorb moisture. In makeup, Polyacrylamide holds together the ingredients of a compressed tablet or cake. It can also be found in sunscreen products to aid in retaining sunscreen on the skin after immersion in water.