DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE

📋 Quick facts

Description: DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE — gentle secondary cleansing agent, foam booster.

All Functions: gentle secondary cleansing agent, foam booster

Quick Facts:

• Category: surfactant

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Disodium cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant (cleaning agent) found in about half of personal hygiene wet wipes
• It’s classified as an amphoteric surfactant, meaning it has both positive and negative charges
• Animal studies show it can damage the cornea (clear front part of the eye) with repeated exposure
• It breaks down incompletely in wastewater treatment and may form hard-to-remove byproducts
• At high concentrations, it can be toxic to bacteria used in wastewater treatment

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Disodium cocoamphodiacetate (often abbreviated as DSCADA or DC) is a surfactant—a type of cleaning molecule—derived from coconut oil. It appears in personal care products because surfactants help lift dirt and oils from skin. #1: Prevalence in products. Disodium cocoamphodiacetate was identified in 53.7% of personal hygiene wet wipes tested across major retailers (Dermatitis, 2017), making it one of the more common ingredients in these products alongside aloe, citric acid, and fragrances. #2: Eye irritation potential. The most direct concern comes from eye exposure research. When a low-dose solution (0.1%) of disodium cocoamphodiacetate was applied daily to the eyes of laboratory mice for two weeks, researchers observed several harmful changes: increased corneal staining (a sign of surface damage), thinning of the corneal epithelium (the protective outer layer), and increased cell death in the cornea (Exp Eye Res, 2021).

At the cellular level, the surfactant reduced the activation of growth-promoting proteins and triggered apoptosis (programmed cell death) in corneal cells. The researchers concluded that repeated low-dose exposure caused “significant impairment on the structure and viability of the corneal epithelium.” This is particularly relevant because the study notes that people who frequently wear makeup and use makeup removers may experience daily ocular (eye) exposure to such surfactants. #3: Environmental behavior. From a wastewater perspective, disodium cocoamphodiacetate shows limited biodegradability. In laboratory tests, it achieved only 50% removal of dissolved organic carbon and 80% removal of chemical oxygen demand, and the metabolites (breakdown products) that remained were resistant to further bacterial breakdown (Water Environ Res, 2008).

Additionally, at concentrations above 216 mg/L, it may be toxic to the bacteria in wastewater treatment systems designed to clean water (Water Environ Res, 2008). The sources provided do not contain information about allergic contact dermatitis caused specifically by disodium cocoamphodiacetate itself, though the 2017 study notes that wet wipes in general are a significant source of allergens. The 2024 study on clay minerals and lead adsorption is not relevant to consumer skincare safety or efficacy.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Haulrig MB et al. (2021). Cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropylamine oxide, and disodium cocoamphodiacetate cause false-positive reactions with an isothiazolinone spot test. Contact Dermatitis.
• Aschenbeck KA et al. (2017). Allergenic Ingredients in Personal Hygiene Wet Wipes. Dermatitis.
• Sharvelle S et al. (2008). Biodegradation of disodium cocoamphodiacetate by a wastewater microbial consortium. Water Environ Res.
• Wu J et al. (2021). Low-dose repeated exposure to chemical surfactant impairs corneal epithelium: When personal cleaning products entering the eye. Exp Eye Res.
• Gertsen M et al. (2024). Removal of Lead Cations by Novel Organoclays Derived from Bentonite and Amphoteric and Nonionic Surfactants. Toxics.

🧴 Products Containing DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE

• Henkel, Schauma Sports Power-Shampoo
• Belli Anti-Blemish Facial Wash
• Fa men, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Duschgel Fan edition
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Frucht & Vitamin Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Himmlisch Lang, Langhaar Shampoo
• Corsair Toiletries 2in1 Shampoo & Conditioner Despicable Me
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur – Hair repair – Oil Nutritive Shampoo
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf Shampoo – 7 Herbs – 7 Kruiden
• tola shampoo
• Henkel,Syoss Power Shampoo for Men
• Glynt Derma Shampoo
• Breeze bagno doccia shampoo al tè verde
• schultz
• davines Champú Well-being
• Wella, Wella Professionals Elements
• Carrefour, Carrefour Kids Splashy bain-douche à l’extrait de framboise
• Henkel, Neutromed Neutromed lenitivo ph 5,5
• Omia Intimo pH 3,5
• Carrefour Carrefour Shampooing fortifiant aux œufs
• Nateïs, Marque repère Shampoing extra-doux Huile d’argan camélia
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Live Silver Shampoo 200ml
• Le Petit Marseillais Feuille d’Olivier & Tilleul Douche et bain extra doux
• Auchan Shampooing extra-doux Camomille & Mimosa
• Conad Essentiae Shampoo Delicato
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris Solution Micellaire
• today, today med Waschlotion (für empfindliche Haut)
• Alvita Gel baño fresa chocolate
• Carrefour Kids Gel de baño pompas carrefour
• Agrado Agrado champu profesional
• Linea Verde Champu balsamico uso frecuente
• Deliplus Toallitas desmaquillantes Micelar & Oil
• Eroski Gel intimo
• Cien cleaning mask
• Bourjois, Bourjois Paris Bulles de Fruits Gel Douche
• Leader Price Bébé Gel lavant corps & cheveux
• La vie est à Nous Soin + – peau à boutons
• Jack Black Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser
• Pacifica Cosmic Hemp Balancing Face Wash
• Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Cleanser with White Tea
• ACURE Brightening Cleansing Gel