DMDM Hydantoin
Also: 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin · dimethylol dimethyl hydantoin · formaldehyde releaser
Avoid — slowly releases formaldehyde, a known carcinogen; shouldn't be reapplied to the scalp daily.
Testosterone & hormonal load
DMDM hydantoin preserves cosmetics by slowly releasing formaldehyde, an IARC Group 1 carcinogen. The direct testosterone effects of DMDM hydantoin are weak; the primary concern is formaldehyde exposure from daily scalp application. Occupational formaldehyde exposure is linked to reproductive toxicity, reduced sperm quality, and increased risk of lymphoma. Daily shampooing with DMDM hydantoin-containing products creates repeated low-level formaldehyde exposure.
Found in.
Two jurisdictions, two different verdicts.
Permitted up to 0.6% in rinse-off products and 0.2% in leave-on products. Must be labeled with 'releases formaldehyde' if concentration exceeds 0.05% formaldehyde equivalent.
Permitted in cosmetics. No specific concentration limit, but products must comply with formaldehyde labeling requirements.
The receipts.
- [01]IARC Monographs Vol. 88 — Formaldehydepublications.iarc.who.int/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Formaldehyde-2-Butoxyethanol-And-1--Em-Tert-Em--Butoxypropan-2-ol-2006
- [02]de Groot et al. 2010 — Formaldehyde-releasers in cosmetics in the USA and in Europe (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20236159/
- [03]EU CosIng — DMDM Hydantoin entryec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/details/32394
Find DMDM Hydantoin before it finds you.
Point the camera at any barcode. Mangood reads the ingredient list and tells you, in one tap, whether DMDM Hydantoin is hiding in the bottle in your hand.