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May 6, 2020 - Cosmetics

Finalized Opinion on Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a substance used in cosmetic products as a self-tanner or as an ingredient for hair coloring. Currently, there are no maximum concentration limits or restrictions set by the European Cosmetic Regulation Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

In an earlier opinion, the SCCS (the EU's Scientific Committee) evaluated DHA as an ingredient in self-tanning products and deemed it safe up to a concentration of 10%. In the present opinion, DHA was re-evaluated as a hair-coloring ingredient in leave-on products up to 6.25%.

The SCCS concluded that there are no objections to the use of DHA as a hair dye in non-oxidative products up to a concentration of 6.25%. Even the combined use of a leave-on hair dye with a DHA content of up to 6.25% and a self-tanning product with up to 10% DHA was considered safe.

You can read the opinion SCCS/1612/19 at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_234.pdf