Sorbitan
What is it?
Sorbitans (including sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, and other forms) are emulsifiers added to foods, personal care products, and pharmaceutical creams and ointments. Emulsifiers are added to products to help mix oil and water-based ingredients and keep them from separating.
How can I avoid it?
Skin contact with sorbitan is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing sorbitan should result in improvement and/or resolution of your rash. By law, all products made in the U.S. for topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it. Check the labeling of your skin care products for this ingredient. If there is not enough information, ask your pharmacist or contact the company directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure..
Uses:
- Air freshener spray
- Baby products
- Brighteners in leather industry
- Car wax
- Eye drops/Lubricants
- Food emulsifier (ice cream, baking yeast, desserts)
- Furniture polish
- Hemorrhoid creams
- Metal machining fluids
- Pesticides
- Pharmaceutical – parental administration and vaccines
- Skin care products/Cosmetics
- Antiperspirants/Deodorants
- Exfoliating products
- Make-ups/Eye make-up removers
- Moisturizers
- Shampoos/Conditioners
- Soaps/Cleansers
- Sunscreen
- Topical antibiotics and antifungals
- Topical steroids
- Super glue
- Synthetic detergents
- Synthetic fibers
Other names for Sorbitan:
- Alkamuls S80
- 1,4-Anhydro-D-glucitol, 6-(9-Octadecenoate)
- Anhydrosorbitol monooleate
- D-Glucitol, 1,4-Anhydro-,6-(9-Octadecenoate)
- Sorbitan, mono-9-octadecenoate
- Sorbitan monooleate (RIFM)
- Sorbitan oleate (INN)
- Sorbitan monolaurate
- Sorbitan monopalmitate
- Sorbitan monostearate
- Span 80
- Sorbitan sesquioleate
- Sorbitan tristearate
Potential cross-reacting/co-reacting substances:
- Sorbitol
- Fragrance mix (emulsified with sorbitan sesquioleate)
- Polysorbates
Rev07072025
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