Topical skin actives
Also appears on labels as: allantoin, salicylic acid, beta hydroxy, lanolin, sulfur
Ingredients with an actual dermatological job: allantoin soothes, salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) lifts scale, lanolin conditions, sulfur is antimicrobial and antiparasitic.
Watched ingredients get highlighted on every product panel you open.
- Where it comes from
- Synthesis, or wool grease in the case of lanolin.
- Why it's in the product
- Medicated shampoos for seborrhea, dandruff, and flaky skin.
- Safety and toxicity
- Effective and generally well tolerated at shampoo concentrations. Salicylates are the caution for cats specifically: cats metabolize salicylates poorly, and while a rinsed-off shampoo is a very different exposure from an oral dose, it is a reason to use a cat-labeled product on a cat.
- Interactions and who should be careful
- Never use a dog shampoo containing salicylic acid or permethrin on a cat without checking. Permethrin in particular is a common and serious cat poisoning.
General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.
Found in 3 scored products
Lowest scores first. Its presence here is not what drove those scores.
