Ingredient

dmdm hydantoin

High risk

FunctionPreservative

What it is

DMDM hydantoin is a preservative that works by slowly releasing small amounts of formaldehyde to keep products free of microbial growth.

What it does

It protects water-based formulas from bacteria, mould and yeast, helping products stay safe and stable over their shelf life.

Typical use

Found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions and other rinse-off and leave-on products, usually at low permitted levels.

Who it suits / good to know

People who prefer to avoid formaldehyde-releasing preservatives may wish to check labels, as it is a recognised sensitiser for some individuals.

Safety

Graded high risk as a formaldehyde-releasing preservative associated with contact allergy and irritation, particularly for those with sensitive or allergy-prone skin. If you are known to react to formaldehyde releasers, avoid it and patch-test any new product. This is general information, not medical advice.

Why we grade it High: High risk - formaldehyde-releasing preservative associated with contact allergy and irritation.
Cross-reference

Found in these DHALIORA products

Found in 0 DHALIORA products

Not currently in any DHALIORA product.

How grades are set — Risk reflects our own reading of publicly available safety data, an EWG-style reading shown at the worst-case grade we've assigned this ingredient across products. It isn't a third party's proprietary score, and it isn't medical advice. Always read the packaging and patch-test where indicated.
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