Dimethicone has become such a common ingredient that it’s easy for us to assume it must be safe. With all the bad press Dimethicone gets from its general use in hair products, you might wonder if it’s truly harmful to your hair. Are you worried if Dimethicone can cause hair loss?
While it is true, there are many cases where people are unhappy with Dimethicone hair care products, like its lawsuit, if you don’t have any hair loss history. If you don’t have sensitive skin, you should not worry much about using Dimethicone products. Also, as these products are FDA approved, they have gone to trials for their safety.
The most important thing to remember is that not everything that looks like a duck and quacks is a duck. So let’s take a closer look at this substance and see what we can find.
Is Dimethicone Bad for Hair?
Since it is a silicone-based polymer and a common ingredient in commercial beauty and personal care products.
Dimethicone can cause irritation, which could lead to hair loss. However, there is no scientific evidence that Dimethicone can cause hair loss. Therefore, the Food Drug Administration (FDA) considers it safe.
Dimethicone is a silicone-based polymer. Polymers are large molecules consisting of several identical or similar smaller molecules bonded together.
Silicones are synthetic materials derived from silica found in sand. Many have used them for medical, industrial, and beauty products.
Dimethicone is among the most popular silicones that skincare therapists use in beauty products because it hydrates skin and hair while creating a protective barrier. In addition, Dimethicone helps prevent water loss and keeps the skin soft without making it greasy or shiny.
The FDA has approved Dimethicone as a safe ingredient. The FDA also considers Dimethicone safe for infants, children, and adults when directed in cosmetic products such as baby lotions and diaper creams.
Dimethicone Hair Loss Lawsuit
Dimethicone hair loss lawsuits are being filed for men and women who suffered significant hair loss after using the plaintiff’s product, a popular leave-in conditioner.
The lawsuits allege that the company knew or should have known that this silicone-based polymer, commonly used in cosmetics, can cause allergic reactions. Further, it can cause damage to hair follicles.
In addition, the plaintiff alleges that the company was negligent in its design, formulation, testing, and marketing of the leave-in conditioner.
The complaints allege that the defendants did market the product as safe and effective for consumers. Yet they knew or should have known that the leave-in conditioner would cause substantial harm to its users.
The lawsuits also claim that the products did not adequately disclose the risk of damage to hair follicles caused by using Dimethicone. Dimethicone is a silicone-based polymer used in cosmetics as a skin moisturizer and emollient.
Estheticians also use it in personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. However, studies have shown that Dimethicone can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Is Dimethicone Bad for Curly Hair?
Curly hair is no exception. The goal of curly hair is to make it look smooth, silky, and touchable. However, a common ingredient in many products that claim to do just that adds a coating to the hair shaft, causing build-up and making your hair drier.
Of course, we’re talking about Dimethicone, an ingredient in most anti-frizz products. The FDA considers it safe, but it’s not good for curly hair. So it seems that Dimethicone does cause hair loss in those with curly hair.
Dimethicone creates a “barrier” between your skin and the product applied on top of it. This isn’t necessarily bad if you have a skin condition or are experiencing redness or irritation—it can even prevent acne!
But it can be problematic for curly hair because when it coats your strands, there’s nothing else that can penetrate through it.
The ingredients that would typically be able to nourish your hair will have trouble doing so if they have to make their way through the dimethicone barrier first. The result? Dryness and breakage.
This doesn’t mean you should stop using anti-frizz products altogether.
Does Dimethylamine Cause Hair Loss
Dimethylamine (DMA) is one of several compounds found in shampoos and other hair styling products. Interestingly, some people believe that DMA can cause hair loss, even though no evidence supports that claim.
As far as we know, dimethylamine does not cause hair loss. However, it’s worth noting that dimethylamine is a known allergen. Some people may be allergic to it. Those who experience an allergic reaction will likely experience scalp irritation, leading to hair loss.
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Is Dimethicone Bad for Skin?
Hence it is made from natural ingredients. It sounds like it would make Dimethicone safer than other types of silicones. It’s still a synthetic ingredient added to products — and there are plenty of reasons you might want to avoid it.
For example, some associate Dimethicone with skin irritation. It can impair the skin’s barrier function. Also, it seems to disrupt the microbiome. So if you’re sensitive to this ingredient, you may want to avoid it!
In general, the skin does not absorb silicones very well. Why? Because they are large molecules with a particular molecular structure that allows them to spread quickly.
Thus, they remain on top of the skin, where they can act as a barrier to prevent moisture loss. However, it prevents them from penetrating deeper layers of skin.
Regarding safety concerns, there is no proven evidence that Dimethicone is harmful when applied to the skin.
What Does Dimethicone do to Your Hair?
Dimethicone is a popular ingredient in hair care products, and for a good reason. This silicone derivative is an effective conditioning agent and protects the hair from damage caused by heat styling, the sun, and other environmental factors. Not only that, but some also link Dimethicone to increase shine.
So why are some people avoiding it? The answer lies in how Dimethicone works.
Dimethicone forms a layer on your hair (and skin) that acts as a barrier, preventing water loss and protecting the hair from damage or irritation. Although this can be beneficial for some people, for others, it can cause problems with build-up and irritation.
Dimethicone is popular for weighing down curls and creating a dull look due to the build-up it causes. Those with curly or wavy hair may avoid Dimethicone altogether or limit their use of products with this ingredient.
If you opt to use dimethicone-containing products, wash your hair regularly with a clarifying shampoo (as opposed to a moisturizing shampoo) to prevent product build-up on your strands.
What Ingredient in the Shampoo Makes Your Hair Fall Out?
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When you hear the words “falling out,” there’s a natural assumption that something is being lost, and losing your hair can be a traumatic experience.
It can leave you frustrated and helpless, especially if it’s happening for reasons you don’t understand. Hair loss can result from many factors: age, stress, genetics, and even shampoo. Yes—your shampoo could be making your hair fall out. But how? And what ingredient, in particular, is to blame?
The active ingredient in most shampoos is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a surfactant that breaks down surface tension. It allows the mixture to foam up, helping the shampoo carry dirt away from the surface of your hair as it washes.
Unfortunately, it also has a side effect: it strips the protective oils from your scalp. It prevents them from coating your follicles, leaving them vulnerable to damage.
That damage comes in inflammation; when follicles are irritated and inflamed, they produce fewer hairs than usual. The response is so severe that the follicle stops producing new hair in some people. However, in others, it causes temporary thinning that recovers after several weeks of using gentler products.
Other Uses of Dimethicone
Dimethicone is often used in skin-softening cosmetic products and medical care products. These are the most common uses for Dimethicone:
1. Makeup Primer
A makeup artist applies a primer before your foundation to give your face an even surface and help your makeup last longer.
Primer usually contains Dimethicone because it creates a protective barrier between your skin and the cosmetics, which helps prevent irritation. Dimethicone also helps makeup go on smoother and last longer by filling fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Moisturizer
As a moisturizer, Dimethicone works to smooth and soften skin. It creates a barrier on the skin’s surface to lock in moisture, which helps prevent dryness and flaking. These products contain skin-soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, green tea, and coconut oil.
In addition to its moisturizing properties, Dimethicone seems to help heal other skin conditions, including acne and eczema. You can find it in over-the-counter and prescription medications designed to treat these conditions.
Dimethicone may also be used as a carrier or base for some types of sunscreen. It allows sunscreen ingredients to remain on the skin’s surface. It prevents them from penetrating too deeply into the skin, which can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some individuals.
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How Bad is Dimethicone?
Dimethicone is considered safe in the small amounts used in cosmetics, and it’s even used as an additive in some foods. However, there are a few reasons why you may want to avoid it:
i. It Can Clog Pores
This silicone has large molecules that don’t absorb the skin quickly, creating a protective barrier on the epidermis. This allows it to lock down moisture but also blocks pores. It can be especially problematic for people with acne-prone or sensitive skin types.
ii. It’s Not Very Environmentally Friendly.
Because Dimethicone’s molecules are so big, they cannot biodegrade in nature. When applied to your face or body, they eventually go down the drain into water systems and could negatively affect aquatic ecosystems.
They could also build up in water treatment plants and harmful microorganisms in recycling water.
Some people worry that Dimethicone can build upon their hair and cause damage, but it turns out that this isn’t the case. For one thing, Dimethicone is a large molecule, which means that it can’t penetrate small enough to get into the hair shaft.
It only coats the outside of your hair and eventually washes away with shampoo. So don’t freak out if you find Dimethicone in your hair products—it won’t turn you into some human dimethicone colossus. Furthermore, even if it did build up on your hair, there’s no evidence that it would cause damage.
There’s some evidence that Dimethicone protects against damage caused by heat styling. (This is good news, especially for people prone to dryness or breakage.)
Should I Be Worried About Dimethicone That May Cause Hair Loss?
Dimethicone is a common ingredient in many hair care products, and it’s a kind of silicone. This chemical compound is artificial, used as an emollient or softener, and provides moisture.
The ingredient is also used as a lubricant and other chemicals in many cosmetics and anti-aging products. You can find Dimethicone in several brands and types of shampoo, conditioner, stylers, treatments, serums, oils, and hair masks.
In some cases, however, this common hair product ingredient may cause dryness or irritation to your scalp, leading to flaking or dandruff.
Because of this possibility, we recommend that you seek out dimethicone-free hair care products like those offered by Maple Holistics. This could be the best option if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation easily.
Conclusion
We, therefore, conclude that Dimethicone does not cause hair loss. However, there are certain situations that we have mentioned in the discussion above.
Further, we also suggested some dimethicone-free hair care products for you. Nonetheless, due to your skin sensitiveness, you may be willing to consult your dermatologist or esthetician to advise you on the matter.
Hence on our side and based on what we have gathered, it seems dimethicone does not cause hair loss. If you are willing to share your experience with us, you can do so by commenting below.
We would love to hear from you. Do you think that Dimethicone can cause hair loss? Have you tried it before, and what happened?