What is Triethanolamine (TEA), and what does it do and why is it in so many soaps?
Triethanolamine is used as a pH balancer in cosmetic preparations in a variety of different products – ranging from skin lotion, eye gels, moisturizers, shampoos, shaving foams etc. It is used widely in transparent soap. It is sometimes listed on the ingredient label as TEA. When used in lotion it acts as a moisturizing agent. Because this ingredient is an alkanolamine and widely used in cosmetic preparations, there was concern that it may have potential to create nitrosamines and that nitrosamines could penetrate the skin. Three studies were conducted and the final results are as follows: Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of triethanolamine. There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of triethanolamine. Overall evaluation Triethanolamine is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3). A description of FDA Group 3 is given below: Group 3: The agent (mixture or exposure circumstance) is not cla
