Is Quaternium-15 safe during pregnancy?
A preservative that slowly releases small amounts of formaldehyde. Usually fine in rinse-off products; a common allergen.
What the sources say
Quaternium-15 is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative; release rises with heat, time and water content. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and allergen (NIEHS), and MotherToBaby notes studies of workers around formaldehyde suggested a higher chance of miscarriage, though cosmetic preservative levels are far lower. No pregnancy studies of preservative-level use exist. Limit: prefer rinse-off products or releaser-free leave-ons when easy; never heat-activated formaldehyde hair treatments.
Also listed as
cis-1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride, dowicil 200, quaternium 15
Sources
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed study): Investigation on formaldehyde release from preservatives in cosmetics (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2015)
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Formaldehyde-releasers in cosmetics: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Part 1 (Contact Dermatitis, 2010)
- MotherToBaby: Hair Treatments
- NIH NIEHS: Cosmetics and Your Health: NIEHS Research Findings (fact sheet, Jan 2024)
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.