Potassium Hydroxide

Potassium Hydroxide

7.0

Ingredient Info

Potassium hydroxide is a strong alkaline chemical used in skincare products primarily as a pH buffer and emulsifier to neutralize acids and help blend oil and water-based ingredients. In cosmetics, it's used in very small amounts to adjust and maintain product pH.



Benefits

  • pH adjustment and stabilization
  • Helps create stable emulsions in creams and lotions
  • Enables mixing of incompatible ingredients

Potential concerns

  • Can cause skin irritation or chemical burns if used at high concentrations
  • May disrupt skin's natural pH if product formulation is inadequate
  • Requires careful formulation to ensure safe levels for consumer use

Science: The provided research discusses potassium hydroxide only as a laboratory diagnostic tool (KOH wet-mount preparation for fungal testing), not as an active skincare ingredient. Limited peer-reviewed data exists specifically on potassium hydroxide safety in cosmetic formulations at consumer-use concentrations. Safety depends entirely on proper dilution and formulation by manufacturers.



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