LACTIC ACID
Exfoliant; Fragrance Ingredient; Humectant; pH Adjuster; Skin-Conditioning Agent -Humectant; Skin-Conditioning Agent - Miscellaneous; BUFFERING; SKIN CONDITIONING
Also listed as
A-HYDROXYPROPANOIC ACID; 2-HYDROXYPROPANOIC ACID; 2-HYDROXYPROPIONIC ACID; PROPANOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY-; 2-HYDROXY- PROPANOIC ACID; 2-HYDROPROPANOIC ACID; LACTATE; 1-HYDROXYETHANECARBOXYLIC ACID; 2-HYDROXYPROPANOIC ACID; 2-HYDROXYPROPIONIC ACID; ALPHA-HYDROXYPROPIONIC ACID
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity |
|
See products containing LACTIC ACID | |
About LACTIC ACID: Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid.
This ingredient may be derived from animals. From PETA's Caring Consumer: Any one of several acids used as an exfoliant and in anti-wrinkle products. Lactic acid may be animal-derived (see Lactic Acid). Alternatives: glycolic acid, citric acid, and salicylic acid are plant- or fruit-derived.
LACTIC ACID has reported used in the following product types: facial moisturizer/treatment (221); moisturizer (160); facial cleanser (152); anti-aging (106); conditioner (85); exfoliant/scrub (71); acne treatment (61); toners/astringents (56); mask (52); body wash/cleanser (42)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Violation of industry recommendations - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Allowable pH limits | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | |
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses | products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 |
| show more | ||
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen | ||
| show more | ||
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 18,255 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Occupational hazards
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| No workplace limits set | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | LACTIC ACID | • Food additive: buffer and neutralizing agent • Substances generally recognized as safe in foods but limited in standardized foods where the standard provides for its use - CFR184.1061 • refers to part number under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 136 • Bakery Pdts • refers to part number under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 133 • Cheese • refers to part number under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 135 • Frozen Desserts • refers to part number under Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations 150 • Fruit Butters • Jellies and Preserves • In animal feed practices - CFR582.1061 |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | LACTIC ACID | •Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | LACTIC ACID | •Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications •Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit •Allowable pH limits •Safe when formulated to avoid increasing sun sensitivity or when directions for use include daily use of sun protection •Safe when formulated to avoid increasing sun sensitivity or when directions for use include daily use of sun protection • |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | LACTIC ACID | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | LACTIC ACID | •Dermatotoxin: Skin Burns; |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | PROPANOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXY- | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for as a low human health priority. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | LACTIC ACID | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | LACTIC ACID | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | LACTIC ACID | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | LACTIC ACID | • sense organ - Primary eye irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- American Naturalist 1951 | LACTIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- American Naturalist 1951 | LACTIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Mutation in Micro-organism (Escherichia coli ) |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology 1987 | LACTIC ACID | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology 1987 | LACTIC ACID | • skin - Primary skin irritant ( human ) |
| RTECS®- Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de Ses Filiales 1920 | LACTIC ACID | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LDLo) |
| RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 1967 | LACTIC ACID | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
| RTECS®- Farm Chemicals Handbook 1991 | LACTIC ACID | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 1923 | LACTIC ACID | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rabbit LDLo) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology | LACTIC ACID | • kidney or renal system - Changes in bladder weight (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Changes in brain weight (rat TDLo) • blood - Other changes (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1998 | LACTIC ACID | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1998 | LACTIC ACID | • skin - Primary skin irritant (rabbit ) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 1941 | LACTIC ACID | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (guinea pig LD50) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | LACTIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | LACTIC ACID | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis (hamster ovr) |
| RTECS®- Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology 1992 | LACTIC ACID | • reproductive - Other effects (mouse TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| Canada - Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetics Ingredients | Health Canada. 2007. List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients. Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. March 2007. |
| Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J 1986 | RTECS®- "Prehled Prumyslove Toxikologie; Organicke Latky," Marhold, J., Prague, Czechoslovakia, Avicenum, 1986 -,656,1986 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 1918- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology 1946 | RTECS®- American Journal of Ophthalmology. (Ophthalmic Pub. Co., 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1415, Chicago, IL 60611) Series 3: V.1- 29,1363,1946 |
| RTECS®- American Naturalist 1951 | RTECS®- American Naturalist. (Univ. of Chicago Press, Journals Div., POB 37005, Chicago, IL 60637) V.1- 1867- 85,119,1951 |
| RTECS®- American Naturalist 1951 | RTECS®- American Naturalist. (Univ. of Chicago Press, Journals Div., POB 37005, Chicago, IL 60637) V.1- 85,119,1951 |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology 1987 | RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology. (Blackwell Scientific Pub. Ltd., POB 88, Oxford, UK) V.63- -1951 17,294,1987 |
| RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology 1987 | RTECS®- British Journal of Dermatology. (Blackwell Scientific Pub. Ltd., POB 88, Oxford, UK) V.63- 1951- 17,294,1987 |
| RTECS®- Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de Ses Filiales 1920 | RTECS®- Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de Ses Filiales. (SPPIF, B.P.22, F-41353 Vineuil, France) V.1- 1849- 83,136,1920 |
| RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 1967 | RTECS®- FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series. (Rome, Italy) No.?-57, 1948-77. Discontinued. 40,144,1967 |
| RTECS®- Farm Chemicals Handbook 1991 | RTECS®- Farm Chemicals Handbook. (Meister Pub., 37841 Euclid Ave., Willoughy, OH 44094) -,C252,1991 |
| RTECS®- Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 1923 | RTECS®- Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. (Washington, DC) V.15-62, 1923-70. For publisher information, see CHMTBL. 15,628,1923 |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 1997- 17(Suppl |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1998 | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 1997- 17(Suppl 1),71,1998 |
| RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology 1998 | RTECS®- International Journal of Toxicology. (Taylor & Francis, 47 Runway Rd., Suite g, Levittown, PA 19057) V.16- 17(Suppl 1),71,1998 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 1941 | RTECS®- Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. (Cambridge, MA) V.18-31, 1936-49. For publisher information, see AEHLAU. 23,259,1941 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- 240,195,1990 |
| RTECS®- Mutation Research 1990 | RTECS®- Mutation Research. (Elsevier Science Pub. B.V., POB 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands) V.1- -1964 240,195,1990 |
| RTECS®- Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology 1992 | RTECS®- Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology. (PJD Pub. Ltd., P.O. Box 966, Westbury, NY 11590) V.1- 1970- 77,95,1992 |
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