There are many nasty ingredients out there, but in this post I want to touch on two that I find particularly bad: Propylene Glycol and Polyethylene Glycol. Otherwise known as PEG and PG, these ingredients are found in your car, in your food, in your pharmaceuticals, and (you guessed it) in your personal care products. All this exposure is bad news if you value your health. Here’s why:
Polyethylene Glycol – The Person You Don’t Want at a Party
Have you ever invited someone to a get-together, only to have that person invite a dozen of their friends? Before you know it, your food is gone, your house is ruined, and your neighbors aren’t speaking to you. Polyethylene glycol is that person.
The thing that PEG is best at is enhancing penetration. It helps other ingredients get deep down into your skin. When PEG joins a party it brings all its friends with it, really ramping up the impact that other undesirable compounds have on your skin. Not only that, but PEG is often contaminated with some really nasty things. According to a report in the International Journal of Toxicology, PEG has been found to be contaminated with heavy metals (including lead) and ethylene oxide (an ingredient used to make mustard gas). I don’t know about you, but that sounds like the kind of party I’d rather avoid.
When PEG penetrates your body, it also disrupts your skin’s ability to retain moisture. As a result, you’ll end up with dryer, itchier, and more irritated skin, which will probably leave you reaching for the same product that contained PEG in the first place. It’s a vicious cycle, and one that’s hard to break without making a dramatic change in your skincare mindset.
Propylene Glycol – It’s Everywhere
Here’s a fun game: try to find something that doesn’t contain Propylene Glycol. Intravenous drugs? Check. Antifreeze? Check. Cake mix? Check. Conventional personal care products? Big check on that one. PG is everywhere, and that’s scary.
It’s natural that an ingredient used in both brake fluid, flavored iced tea, and deodorant would raise some suspicion. There’s been quite a bit of research into PG, and the results are not comforting. Even at relatively low concentrations, exposure to PG has been proven to cause irritation and allergic reaction. One report even shows that exposure to PG can cause skin, liver, and kidney damage.
Finally, just like PEG, PG increases penetration. That means the other ingredients in your lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and sunblocks can make it into your system that much more easily. Over time this exposure can really add up, especially when you consider just how often the average person encounters PG. The safest bet is to avoid it as much as possible, which is why I never use it in my formulations.
Your Skin Deserves Better
There’s no need to keep exposing yourself to PEG and PG, especially when there are plenty of alternatives out there. Choose Propylene Glycol and Polyethylene Glycol-free products and enjoy healthier (and happier) skin.
What are your experiences with Propylene Glycol and Polyethylene Glycol? Let us know about them in the comments below.
I am anaphylactic to PEG. I found out by being given MIRILAX in the hospital. Unfortunately both mRNA vaxes contain PEG. However the J&J does not. I had J&J in April and had no allergic side effects just the normal ones that show your body is ramping up the immune system. I would and may have to do it again and would have no hesitation. Covid doesn’t discriminate re those of us with allergies.
Has anyone got mouth ulcers and sore tongue from PG?
These chemicals are so dangerous. I worked in Aviation for years and we de-ice the planes with propylene glycol. I have even seen it in some yogurts and some ice creams. I know a lady in California who died from propylene glycol. I will not get the vaccine for obvious reasons. Do not use it. Read your labels. There is so much PG in lotions, conditioners, some foods. Not worth the risk!!!
My allergy list is from my dermatologist and lists Propylene Glycol. Previous comments lead me to believe I should not get either vaccine. But J & J lists ‘ethanol’ and my allergy list lists several items starting with ‘Ethyl’ and haven’t found any info if this is the same thing and would eliminate J & J.
I have a history of allergy to flu and pneumonia vaccines so I haven’t gotten them in years. My allergist had me wait until he obtained vaccine so I could get my covid vaccine in his office. I got my first dose of Moderna and anaphylaxis within 10 minutes. It is likely the polysorbate which people react to in the vaccines. Polysorbate is a “chemical cousin” to PEG (polyethylene glycol) and if you’re allergic to one, it is likely you will react to the other. It is in all currently available covid vaccines. My advice is to speak with your doctor about your concerns.
I am allergic to soy, which is often used to make propylene glycol, it’s not a life threatening one but still severe.
And I just read that Dr. Fauci is saying people with a strong reaction to propylene glycol should probably not get the vaccine. So now I’m torn.
I am allergic to propylene glycol. I will NOT be getting ANY of the co vaccines.
When did Dr. Fauci say this? As someone who is severely allergic to propylene glycol- I would love to hear more.
I just looked it up, he said polyethylene glycol not propylene glycol. I have a propylene glycol allergy too.
I did get the Pfizer vaccine and had a bad allergic reaction to the PEG IN IT. I did not get the second vaccine. Wish I’d. Ever gotten it. Have had nothing but trouble since the first shot in January 25. Now I have to keep PEG out of everything and I’d never had any allergies in my life.
Starting at approximately 12 hours after my second COVID-19 shot I started itching. I have run the gamut of
Anti itch sprays and ointments and I still itch. First vaccine shot that has caused me any trouble and I am 90 years old.
It is probably caused by the polyethylene glycol in the vaccine
Why didn’t you heed all the warnings about these shots being experimental, making humans the guinea pigs?
About a year ago I found out I have a toxicity to fuels and hydrocarbons of which propylene glycol is. In my early days working for an airline I de-iced aircraft and that is the main component of
de-ice fluid. It didn’t take much to be exposed to that doing that job. I try to use all chemical free skin care. My skin gets itchy if I use anything with chemicals in it.
So the question is, can we take the vaccine if allergic to propylene glycol. I had terrible reactions for several months and in and out of anaphylaxis. On top of the painful rash all over, difficulty breathing, my throat would close causing me to not be able to breathe. This happened many times before finally coming up with the deathly reaction to this. Can I take the vaccine as it’s so similar to polyethylene glycol? No one seems to know or really even care.
I choose to NOT get the vaccine because of my allergy and you are much worse than me. Another friend sounds like you and she is not getting it. She had a reaction to a Depo-Medrol injection as well. Hospitalizations several times.
So the question is, can we take the vaccine if allergic to propylene glycol. I had terrible reactions for several months and in and out of anaphylaxis. On top of the painful rash all over, difficulty breathing, my throat would close causing me to not be able to breathe. This happened many times before finally coming up with the deathly reaction to this. Can I take the vaccine as it’s so similar to polyethylene glycol? No one seems to know or really even care.
This is my same concern for the exact reasons you just stated. I too am highly allergic to propylene glycol and have horrible skin reactions to it. I don’t know what to do about these vaccinations and I can’t find anyone that knows the answers. This is very frustrating😢
J&J vaccine has no propylene or polyethylene glycols.
I was led to believe by my drs inhouse pharmacist that the moderena had polyethelene glycol in
I am allergic to propylene glycol. My face used to swell near the eyes and got very itchy and red. I had no difficulty breathing. Now I try to avoid that ingredient as much as possible. I read all the labels. I took the 1st Moderna vaccine on March 22nd. I had no reaction and will be taking the 2nd vaccine .
Always better to wait and see on these experimental things. Why allow yourself to be the king’s taste tester?
Start digging and looking under the rocks and you find the entrance to a rabbit warren where you stand up and not only wait or be “vaccine hesitant” (now there’s a twisted phrase)
You’ll not only say “no” but instead “Hell No!”
I am extremely allergic to propylene glycol, it takes five days for me to get a reaction. I wound up getting an extreme asthma attack. I have never had asthma in my life. Found out dentist was using a numbing agent with PE in it. Could of died I carry an epi pen. Never know where PE shows up.
I have IBS. I know store bought bread and bakery items are a huge trigger for an attack. I can eat home made or bread from a bakery so I know it’s not a gluten sensitivity. Doing research on the vaccine I read about the allergic reactions to this chemical. Guess what? It’s in a lot of foods, one being breads, cake and ice cream. I’m getting tested and not getting the vaccine
I’m concerned about taking the Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines because they both contain PEGs. I also tested positive on an allergy test to propylene glycol.
I think I also am a PEG allergist person. My allergist told me they could not test for PEG. would you please tell me the name of your doctor who tested you and how it was done. Thank you from a concerned and frustrated man!
Mark I found out about my allergy to propylene glycol many years ago by my dermatologist. He done several chemical patch tests on my back which had to stay on for two days. I had a severe reaction to propylene glycol and I was very very miserable 😢 Hope this helps and hope you’re not allergic to this.
Mark, same as Kellye Ashley. My dermatologist sent me to a specialist who put a series of about 72 patches on my back and I had to keep them about 2 days. It showed a reaction to propylene glycol. You can find some information on the Mayo clinic. Good luck!
This is my exact question for I’m highly allergic to propylene glycol and I can’t seem to get any answers. Help!!!! This could be very bad for people such as us….
My name is Donald and I have the worst allergic reaction to propylene glycol. It causes sores to brake out on my body which itch so bad. I have to avoid everything and rely on just organic food an products and by doing so have more control of my allergy.
Hi Donald, I’m in the same boat as you and it took 2 years for the allergy to PG to be diagnosed due to the fact that it’s in everything. I was given corticosteroid cream by the doctor to help with it… which also contains PG so it was useless and was actually making things worst. Fresh food and home cooking are the way to go. Also, PG is in red wine so I can no longer drink it but I can drink locally made mead which uses honey as natural preservative instead of PG. Anything locally made will likely not have any PG in it. Best of luck to you!
Also, be aware of seemingly natural ingredients such as Himalayan salt! After a bad allergic reaction, I discovered that PG is used in the salt to make its pink color more uniformed! The caramel color has also PG.
I get severe rashes with Polyethylene Glycols (PEG) with hydrogenated castor oil. That’s PEG-2,20,25,30,35,40,69,65, 200 and 2000. I didn’t know it was in the vaccine and I broke out in a horrible, angry rash that is still flaring several months later. I did mention my problem with castor oil when getting the vaccine, but was told there is no castor in it. That was what led me to doing some research. Indeed, the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) have PEG-2000, which has a derivative of castor oil. I am not sure if I am allergic to PEG or castor oil. But both are in everything. I am schedule to see an allergist to hopefully find out.
I had the same thing happened to me. I’ve never been so miserable in my life.