| Alcohol | Solvent/Preservative | ⚠️ Yes — Alcohol | Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) used as a solvent, preservative, or extraction agent. Present in many liquid formulations. May be relevant for patients avoiding alcohol for medical or religious reasons. |
| Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium | Thickener/Stabilizer | ⚠️ Yes — CMC | A cellulose derivative used as a thickener. Rare CMC reactions reported in medical literature. |
| Cetyl Alcohol? | Emulsifier/Thickener | ?Uncertain — Cetyl Alcohol | A fatty alcohol used in topical formulations. Can cause contact dermatitis. |
| Cocoa | — | ⚠️ Yes — Chocolate | — |
| PEG-40 Sorbitan Diisostearate | — | ⚠️ Yes — PEG | — |
| Polyethylene Glycol 300 | — | ⚠️ Yes — PEG | — |
| Propylene Glycol? | Solvent/Humectant | ?Uncertain — Propylene Glycol | An organic compound used as a solvent and humectant. Can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. |
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservative | ⚠️ Yes — Sodium Benzoate | A food preservative. Can cause urticaria and exacerbate asthma in sensitive individuals. |
| .alpha.-tocopherol | Antioxidant | No | The most biologically active form of vitamin E. Used to protect formulations from oxidative degradation. |
| 1,2,6-hexanetriol? | Humectant/Plasticizer | No | A synthetic triol used as a humectant and plasticizer in topical and transdermal formulations. |
| Allantoin | Skin Protectant | No | A compound that promotes wound healing and cell regeneration. Used as a skin protectant and soothing agent in topical formulations. |
| Aluminum Hydroxide | Antacid/Adjuvant | No | An aluminum salt used as an antacid ingredient and as an adjuvant in some vaccine formulations. |
| Butylene Glycol | Humectant/Solvent | No | A synthetic glycol used as a humectant and solvent in topical formulations. Helps products spread smoothly on skin. |
| Citric Acid Monohydrate | pH Adjuster/Buffer | No | Citric acid in its hydrated form. Used to adjust acidity and as a buffering agent. Derived from citrus fruits or fermentation. |
| Cocoyl Caprylocaprate | Emollient/Solvent | No | A coconut-derived ester used as an emollient and oily vehicle in topical formulations. |
| Dimethicone 20 | Skin Protectant | No | A silicone-based polymer used as a skin protectant, emollient, and anti-foaming agent in topical formulations. |
| Disodium Citrate Sesquihydrate? | Buffer | No | A sodium salt of citric acid used as a buffering agent to maintain pH stability in pharmaceutical solutions. |
| Edetate Disodium | Chelating Agent | No | Also known as EDTA. Binds metal ions to prevent degradation of active ingredients and preserve product stability. |
| Ferric Oxide Red | Colorant | No | Red iron oxide pigment used in tablet coatings and capsule shells. A mineral-based colorant, distinct from FD&C synthetic dyes. |
| Ferric Oxide Yellow | Colorant | No | Yellow iron oxide pigment used in tablet coatings and capsule shells. A mineral-based colorant. |
| Ferrosoferric Oxide | Colorant | No | Black iron oxide used as a pigment in tablet coatings and capsule shells. Derived from iron, not from food allergen sources. |
| Glycerin | Humectant/Solvent | No | A sugar alcohol that attracts moisture. Used as a humectant, solvent, and sweetener in many oral and topical medications. Generally well tolerated. |
| Glyceryl Isostearate | Emulsifier | No | A glycerin ester used as an emulsifier and skin-conditioning agent in topical formulations. |
| Glyceryl Stearate Se | Emulsifier | No | Self-emulsifying glyceryl stearate. A lipid-based emulsifier used to stabilize creams and lotions. |
| Hamamelis Virginiana Top Water | Skin Conditioner | No | Witch hazel distillate, a plant-derived astringent used in topical formulations to soothe and tone the skin. |
| Hexylene Glycol | Solvent/Humectant | No | A synthetic glycol used as a solvent, humectant, and viscosity reducer in topical formulations. |
| Hyaluronate Sodium | Moisturizer/Viscosity Agent | No | Sodium hyaluronic acid. A naturally occurring substance used as a moisturizer and viscosity agent in ophthalmic and topical formulations. |
| Isopropyl Isostearate? | Emollient | No | A synthetic ester used as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent in topical formulations. |
| Isostearic Acid | Emollient/Emulsifier | No | A branched-chain fatty acid used as an emollient and co-emulsifier in topical formulations. |
| Lanolin Oil? | Emollient | No | An oil derived from sheep wool (lanolin). Used as an emollient and skin conditioner. Animal-derived — relevant for vegan patients. Can cause contact dermatitis in lanolin-sensitive individuals. |
| Lauryl Lactate? | — | No | — |
| Levomenthol? | Counterirritant/Flavoring | No | The natural isomer of menthol. Produces a cooling sensation and is used as a counterirritant and flavoring agent. |
| Limonene, (+)- | Fragrance/Solvent | No | A citrus-derived terpene used as a fragrance component and solvent. Can cause contact sensitization in some individuals. |
| Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate? | Emulsifier | No | A corn-derived emulsifier used to stabilize creams and lotions. May be relevant for corn-sensitive individuals. |
| Microcrystalline Wax? | Stiffening Agent | No | A petroleum-derived wax used to adjust consistency in ointments and as a coating agent. |
| N,n-dimethylacetamide? | Solvent | No | An organic solvent used in transdermal and topical formulations to dissolve active ingredients. |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative | No | A synthetic preservative used to prevent microbial growth in topical and some oral formulations. Can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. |
| Polyethylene Glycol 1600 | — | No | — |
| Polysorbate 60 | Emulsifier | No | A non-ionic surfactant used to emulsify and stabilize oil-in-water formulations. Derived from sorbitol and stearic acid. |
| Polysorbate 80 | Surfactant | No | Used in nebulizer solutions as an emulsifier and surfactant. |
| Potassium Metaphosphate | Buffer/Stabilizer | No | A potassium phosphate salt used as a buffering agent and stabilizer in pharmaceutical formulations. |
| Silicon Dioxide | Glidant | No | A mineral (silica) used to improve powder flow during tablet manufacturing. Also called colloidal silicon dioxide. |
| Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate | — | No | — |
| Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic, Anhydrous | Buffer | No | A phosphate salt used as a buffering agent to maintain pH stability in pharmaceutical solutions. |
| Sodium Pyrrolidone Carboxylate | Humectant | No | Sodium PCA. A natural moisturizing factor component used as a humectant in topical formulations. |
| Sorbitan Monooleate | Emulsifier | No | A non-ionic surfactant (Span 80) used to create water-in-oil emulsions in topical and oral formulations. |
| Stannic Chloride? | — | No | — |
| Stearic Acid | Lubricant | No | A fatty acid used as a lubricant in tablet manufacturing. |
| Tert-butyl Alcohol | — | No | — |