Phytic acid on your skin: a safety profile

What is phytic acid?

The IUPAC name is inositol hexaphosphate.

Also known as: inositol hexaphosphate, IP6, myo-inositol hexakis phosphate, procarbazine.

IUPAC name

inositol hexaphosphate

CAS number

83-86-3

Molecular formula

C6H18O24P6

Molecular weight

660.04 g/mol

SMILES

CC(C)NC(=O)C1=CC=C(C=C1)CNNC

PubChem CID

4915

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Phytic acid. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter phytic acid

• cosmetics
• skincare products
• food products
• dietary supplements

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Phytic acid:

• GLDA (tetrasodium glutamate diacetate) — readily biodegradable chelator
  Trade-offs: Extremely mild (pH 5.5-6.5); biodegradable; derived from amino acids and fatty acids; premium ingredient cost; excellent consumer perception; lower foam volume than sulfate surfactants.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Citric acid — food-grade, naturally occurring
  Trade-offs: Alternative chelating agent; stability constants for target metal ions differ; biodegradability varies (EDTA poorly biodegradable, citrate fully biodegradable); downstream water treatment impact should be assessed.
  Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
• MGDA (methylglycinediacetic acid) — high biodegradability
  Trade-offs: Alternative chelating agent; stability constants for target metal ions differ; biodegradability varies (EDTA poorly biodegradable, citrate fully biodegradable); downstream water treatment impact should be assessed.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions