Why you should avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

National geographic green guide says Sodium lauryl sulfate is found in 90% of products that foam such as shaving foam, hair mousse and foam bath products. Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritations, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. May cause damage to skin, immune system and also converted into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain SLS for up to five days and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain. It is also common source of children eczema and skin irritation, and when found in tooth paste; it may be related to mouth ulcers.

Pure Delight in Australia says: Sodium LaurethSulphate is a byproduct of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and is even milder.This is a very controversial area.  Some people are trying to avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and similar surfactants (sudsing agents) because they've been told these are harmful chemicals that can cause a whole host of health problems.  There are a lot of urban legends floating around about what these chemicals can do to you (everything from causing cancer to kidney damage).  Most of these rumors are not based on any scientific fact.

First of all, you should know what Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a foaming agent found in shampoos, detergents, toothpastes, etc.  It is naturally derived from coconut oil (a natural ingredient).  You will find it and its derivatives ingredient labels under many different names.  All soaps and detergents can irritate the eyes.   Therefore, rubbing pure Lauryl Sulphate on your skin would not be a good idea. In its pure form, it is an irritant. However, sodium Lauryl Sulphate has been used for many years in many different products intended for use on the skin (and even in the mouth) and is generally considered safe. It's used in most of the "natural" products you'll find because it is a very good foaming agent, has no taste is considered safe by most people and is considered "natural" by many.  Many natural product manufacturers use this ingredient because it has been so widely used for such a long period of time and it does a good job. 
We feel there is nothing wrong with using Sodium Laureth Sulphate in the amount it's used in the products we sell.  For those with very sensitive skin, you may want to try to avoid Sodium Laureth Sulphate.  However, there is a lot of bad publicity on the substance (and a lot of just plain wrong information floating around). Chlorinated water is probably more likely to be the culprit when it comes to skin condition, especially when it's hot!
  Are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) serious problems in cosmetics? Paula Begoun says in the complete beauty bible : Rumors about SLS been carcinogenic has been circulating all around the internet, it's a myth and the newways people misquoted Dr Green research report; there are no scientific evidence pointing to this cosmetic ingredient  to cause cancer. Emails have been flying around & misinformation from youtuber claiming SLS and SLES causes cancer; although, there are no medical journals relating to SLS been carcinogenic.
However, SLS is a potent skin irritant, protein denaturing ingredient and can cause allergic or sensitizing reactions in most people. It has been known that bubble bath products containing sodium lauryl sulfate can cause urinary tract infection. It is best to avoid it altogether because it is also known to be very drying, irritating and damage protein in the skin which then may lead to other skin problems that could become cancerous as a result.
Source: Complete beauty bible by Paula Begoun; page 53 - 55.
             European Journal of Dermatology September-October 2001, 416-419.