4-Aminobenzoic Acid
What is it?
PABA (4-Aminobenzoic acid) is an organic compound used primarily as a UV light absorbing ingredient in personal care products such as sunscreens, creams, lotions, sprays, and sticks.
How can I avoid it?
You may be allergic or photoallergic to PABA. If photoallergic, your skin may not react to PABA alone, but only with sun exposure. In either case, contact with this agent and with related chemicals or PABA derivatives should be avoided. This includes padimate A (amyl dimethyl PABA), padimate O (octyl dimethyl PABA) and glycerol PABA. To avoid these chemicals, you must read labels of all sun- protective agents and other products listed below. Products containing oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, cinnamates, dibenzoylmethane, or salicylates may be substituted. Many such “PABA free” products are available for purchase in stores or online.
In addition, you should make your health care providers aware that individuals allergic to PABA may also develop sensitivity to some medications including thiazide diuretics, sulfonylurea antidiabetic agents, p-Aminosalicylic acid, procainamide (procaine), and benzocaine. PABA allergic individuals may also react to the p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) present in permanent hair dyes.
Uses:
- Azo dyes
- Brewer’s yeast
- Medications
- Local anesthetics (esters)
- Benzocaine
- Procaine
- Tetracaine
- Oral vitamin supplements
- Vitamin B complex
- Antirickettsial
- Folic acid
- Sunscreen agent in
- Cosmetics
- Hair care products
- Lipsticks and lip balms
- Moisturizers
- Nail polish
- Shampoos
- Sunscreens
- Used in laboratories as sulfonamide antagonist
Other names for PABA (4-Aminobenzoic acid):
- 4-Aminobenzoic acid
- Amben
- Aminobenzoic acid
- Anti-chromotrichia factor
- PAB
- P-Aminobenzoic acid
- Papacidium
- Para-aminobenzoic acid
- Paraminol
- Vitamin Bx
- Vitamin H
- Chromotrichia factor
- Sunbrella
- Bacterial Vitamin H
- Gamma-aminobenzoic acid
- 1-amino-4-carboxybenzene
- Anticanitic vitamin
- p-carboxyaniline
- p-carboxyphenylamine
- Pabanol
- Paranate
- Trichromogenic factor
Potential cross-reacting/co-reacting substances:
- Azo dyes
- Benzocaine (p-Amino compounds)
- Parabens
- Paraphenylenediamine
- Procaine
- Tetracaine
- Sulfonamides
MC4999-12(Sept2024)
How safe is it?
Related Ingredients
2-Nitro-P-Phenylenediamine
Butamben
Escalol 507 (2-Ethylhexyl-4-Dimethylaminobenzoate; Octyl, Dimethyl Paba, Eusolex 6007, Padimate O)
N-Isopropyl-N-Phenyl-4-Phenylenediamine (Ippd)
Padimate O
Para-Aminobenzoic Acid
Paraphenylenediamine (Strict Removal: Methoxymethyl-P-Phenylenediamine, Aminophenol, Azo/Disperse Dyes, Parabens/Caines Esters Removed From Shopping List)
Ppd (Paraphenylenediamine) [Strict: Methoxymethyl-P-Phenylenediamine, Aminophenol, Azo/Disperse Dyes, Parabens/Caines-Esters Removed From Shopping List]
