CVS Therapeutic Shampoo Original Formula || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

CVS THERAPEUTIC SHAMPOO ORIGINAL FORMULA

last updated: 03/15/09 brand: CVS by CVS Corporation

SCORE

high hazard (out of 10)

66%

data gap

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90% of dandruff/scalp treatments have lower concerns
88% of shampoos have lower concerns

COMPANY POLICIES

Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Non-signer: This company has not signed the Compact.

Animal Testing Policy
This company's animal testing policy is unknown.

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 one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- 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.

Ingredients in this product are linked to:
	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, restrictions & warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Ingredients from packaging: Active Ingredients: USP Topical Coal Tar Solution 2.5% (0.5% Coal Tar) ; Inactive Ingredients: Water; Sodium Laureth Sulfate; Cocamide DEA; Laureth-4; Cocamidopropyl Betaine; Fragrance; Sodium Chloride; Citric Acid; Imidazolidinyl Urea; Tetrasodium EDTA; Methylparaben; Propylparaben; Caramel; FD&C Red #4

Directions from packaging: For external use only. Ask a doctor before use if you have a condition which covers a large part of the body. When using this product: do not get into eyes. If contact occurs, rinse eyes thoroughly with water. Use caution in exposing skin to sunlight after applying this product. It may increase your tendency to sunburn for up to 24 hours after application. Do not use for prolonged periods without consulting a doctor. Do not use with other forms of psoriasis therapy such as ultra violet radiation or prescription drugs unless directed to do so by a doctor. Stop use and ask a doctor if condition worsens or does not improve after regular use of this product as directed. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Warnings from packaging: For external use only. Ask a doctor before use if you have a condition which covers a large part of the body. When using this product: do not get into eyes. If contact occurs, rinse eyes thoroughly with water; use caution in exposing skin to sunlight after applying this product. It may increase your tendency to sunburn for up to 24 hours after application; do not use for prolonged periods without consulting a doctor; do not use with other forms of psoriasis therapy such as ultra violet radiation or prescription drugs unless directed to do so by a doctor. Stop use and ask a doctor if condition worsens or does not improve after regular use of this product as directed. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
METHYLPARABEN	10	63%	Violations, restrictions & warnings, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Biochemical or cellular level changes
COAL TAR	10	57%	Cancer, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (BENZO[A]PYRENE)
FRAGRANCE	8	100%	Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous
COCAMIDE DEA	6	61%	Cancer, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
PROPYLPARABEN	5	71%	Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA	5	70%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Contamination concerns (FORMALDEHYDE)
COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE	5	63%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Contamination concerns (NITROSAMINES)
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE	4	86%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)
FD&C RED 4	4	73%	Violations, restrictions & warnings
LAURETH-4	3	96%	Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE)
CITRIC ACID	2	72%	Violations, restrictions & warnings
TETRASODIUM EDTA	2	81%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Occupational hazards
CARAMEL	1	92%	none identified
SODIUM CHLORIDE	0	0%	innocuous
WATER	0	0%	innocuous

Cancer*

*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		SODIUM CHLORIDE, CARAMEL, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN
Cancer - limited evidence		COCAMIDE DEA
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen		FD&C RED 4
Known human carcinogen		COAL TAR

Developmental/reproductive toxicity*

*This table includes all possible developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show any effects at low doses		PROPYLPARABEN

Violations, restrictions & warnings*

*This table includes all possible violations, restrictions & warnings concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics		CITRIC ACID
Recommended restricted in cosmetics - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Product type restrictions or differences noted in safety assessment by industry panel		COAL TAR
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications		COCAMIDE DEA, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
Violation of government restrictions - Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Color additive approved by FDA for use in cosmetics: external use only	products for use around the mouth, lips, eyes, or on damaged skin	FD&C RED 4
Violation of government restrictions - Banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics		METHYLPARABEN, COAL TAR, COAL TAR

Neurotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		METHYLPARABEN
Moderate evidence of human neurotoxicity		FRAGRANCE

Endocrine disruption*

*This table includes all possible endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Human any disruptor - strong evidence		PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN

Allergies/immunotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible allergies/immunotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Known human immune system toxicant		FRAGRANCE, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, COCAMIDE DEA, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE
Human skin toxicant - strong evidence		PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, COAL TAR

Persistence and bioaccumulation*

*This table includes all possible persistence and bioaccumulation concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative		COAL TAR

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*

*This table includes all possible organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		COCAMIDE DEA, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA
One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		TETRASODIUM EDTA, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, CITRIC ACID
Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity		PROPYLPARABEN
Known human any toxicant		METHYLPARABEN, COAL TAR

Miscellaneous*

*This table includes all possible miscellaneous concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown		FRAGRANCE

Ecotoxicology*

*This table includes all possible ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Wildlife and environmental toxicity		PROPYLPARABEN
Suspected to be an environmental toxin		COAL TAR

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*

*This table includes all possible irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		SODIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID, COAL TAR
Human any irritant - strong evidence	products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne)	LAURETH-4
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses		TETRASODIUM EDTA, METHYLPARABEN, COCAMIDE DEA
Human any irritant - strong evidence	products for use around the eyes, on the skin, or may be aerosolized (airborne)	SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE

Data gaps*

*This table includes all possible data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Safety assessment was based on related chemical		LAURETH-4
Insufficient data to determine safety		COAL TAR
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, TETRASODIUM EDTA
Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review		COAL TAR
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		PROPYLPARABEN, LAURETH-4, METHYLPARABEN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		FRAGRANCE, CITRIC ACID, CARAMEL

Occupational hazards*

*This table includes all possible occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses		TETRASODIUM EDTA

Biochemical or cellular level changes*

*This table includes all possible biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		CITRIC ACID
Interferes with gene expresion		METHYLPARABEN