Expert: Henry Boyter - 9/29/2005

Question
I am a huge fan of Pantene, but today I heard something rather alarming.

Three of the chemicals contained in not only Pantene products, but Suave products as well, have been shown to be absorbed through the scalp and cause possible neurological damage.

The 3 chemicals are:

Methyl Tyrosinate HCl
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone

Answer
From a google search

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=6719

Not that the one study that was done exposed rat brain cells DIRECTLY to high levels of the chemicals.  There is no evidence that it can get to your brain or that it effects human brain cells.  There have also been no further test results released or confirmations that I have seen for the earlier study.

Patene was also the subject of an earlier urban legend.
http://www.snopes.com/toxins/pantene.htm

Other shampoo ingredients have been smeared.
http://www.snopes.com/toxins/shampoo.htm

If you are concerned, quit using it.  Note this.  By some definition (and there are hundreds) all ingredients in all shampoos are toxic (including the water).  In fact, it can be said that all chemicals are toxic in some way.  If you want to 100% be safe from chemical shampoos, quit using them.  But then, the dangers of poor hygiene become a problem.

You have to decide what risks and rewards you are willing to take.  The action of all shampoos involve chemical reactions and chemical changes.  That is what shampoos do and the more you want a shampoo to do, the more chemicals required.

If you want to cut risks, drive your car less, exercise more, eat less and better, no smoking, etc.  Changes in these things will result in real lengthening of life.  I think Pantene should be the least of your worries.  If someone tells you otherwise, ask them what they use, and we'll take those ingredients and find what are the problems with those ingredients.

There is nothing to say that further studies may show that the ingredients in Pantene are a problem.  There just is no evidence that shows that it is a problem under normal human usage.

Henry Boyter Jr., PhD

The opinions of  Dr. Boyter are provided for
informational purposes only and should not be
used as advice.  No warranty or expression of
professionalism is implied.