Sodium Usnate

INCI: SODIUM USNATE

CAS Number
39012-86-7 / 34769-44-3 (D/L isomers)
Function
Antimicrobial, antiseborrhoeic (sodium salt of usnic acid, a lichen-derived dibenzofuran)
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted for cosmetic use; no specific FDA restrictions

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Usnic acid has well-documented hepatotoxicity via oral exposure; while dermal route is safer, keep concentrations low. Contact sensitization potential from lichen derivatives

โš ๏ธ
Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

potential-allergen

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sodium Usnate safe in cosmetics?

Usnic acid has well-documented hepatotoxicity via oral exposure; while dermal route is safer, keep concentrations low. Contact sensitization potential from lichen derivatives The EU classifies Sodium Usnate as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Sodium Usnate allowed in the EU?

Sodium Usnate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Sodium Usnate do in cosmetics?

Sodium Usnate functions as: Antimicrobial, antiseborrhoeic (sodium salt of usnic acid, a lichen-derived dibenzofuran). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 39012-86-7 / 34769-44-3 (D/L isomers).

What is the Margin of Safety for Sodium Usnate?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

๐Ÿ“ฑ

Is Sodium Usnate in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro โ€” our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free โ†’

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Sodium Usnate in your formulation.