Ammonium Hydroxide

The Basics On Ammonium Hydroxide

What is Ammonium Hydroxide?

Clear, colorless liquid used in cosmetics to adjust a product’s pH level.

What are other names for Ammonium Hydroxide?

AMMONIA SOLUTION, STRONG, AMMONIA WATER, AMMONIA, AQUEOUS SOLUTION, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE, AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE ((NH4)(OH)), AQUA AMMONIUM, HARTSHORN SPIRIT, SPIRIT OF HARTSHORN, and STRONG AMMONIA SOLUTION

What is Ammonium Hydroxide used for?

Clear, colorless liquid used in cosmetics to adjust a product’s pH. Ammonium hydroxide is synthetic and sometimes used instead of sodium hydroxide to maintain an acidic pH in AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or similar exfoliant products. The small amounts used in cosmetics are not considered sensitizing on skin.

How Ammonium Hydroxide is classified

Uncategorized

Recommendations for using Ammonium Hydroxide during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Ammonium Hydroxide During Pregnancy

What we know about using Ammonium Hydroxide while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

A relationship between the duration of exposure and the incidence of exencephaly (concentration-related increase) was observed in an in vitro study in which mouse embryos were cultured with Ammonia (38 to 300 µmol/l) for up to 93 h.89 In a developmental toxicity study involving pregnant rats exposed to Ammonia in the diet (4293 mg/kg/day; as the ammonium ion [read-across for Ammonia]) from gestation day 1 through day 21 of lactation, body weights of offspring were reduced by 25% (males) and 16% (females).9,90 Neither reproductive nor developmental toxicity was reported in a study in which female pigs were exposed (inhalation exposure) to ~7 ppm or ~35 ppm Ammonia from 6 weeks prior to breeding until day 30 of gestation.91 In an oral reproductive and developmental toxicity study on diammonium phosphate (identified as an appropriate read across material for developmental and reproductive toxicity and included herein to support the overall weight of evidence) involving rats in which embryos were treated in vitro and then implanted, an NOAEL of 1500 mg/kg/day (highest dose tested) was reported.6,44 The only histological findings relating to maternal toxicity in this study were the inflammatory/degenerative changes in all treatment groups (diammonium phosphate at 250, 750, and 1500 mg/kg/day), which were considered likely to have been the result of an irritant effect. No statistically significant differences in the number of live fetuses, fetal length, or fetus-to-corpus luteum ratio were observed after g

General safety info about Ammonium Hydroxide from CIR

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel reviewed the safety of Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide, which function as pH adjusters in cosmetic products. Ammonium Hydroxide is also reported to function as a denaturant. The Panel reviewed data relevant to the safety of these ingredients and concluded that Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide are safe as used in hair dyes and colors and safe in cosmetics applied directly to the skin in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment, when formulated to be non-irritating.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Ammonium Hydroxide

Deborah Lippmann Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment Pen; only 1 product listed