Polyquaternium-1 is a cationic polymeric quaternary ammonium compound used primarily as a preservative in ophthalmic solutions, contact lens care products, and some topical formulations. It also functions as a conditioning and antistatic agent in cosmetics.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Eye irritation, stinging, or burning | Uncommon | Mainly reported with ophthalmic and lens care use, generally mild and transient |
Allergic contact dermatitis | Rare | Sensitization to quaternary ammonium compounds is possible but infrequent |
Conjunctival hyperemia or redness | Uncommon | Associated with preserved eye drop formulations |
Corneal epithelial toxicity | Rare | Reported at higher concentrations or with prolonged exposure; considered less toxic than benzalkonium chloride |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
Peer-reviewed papers on this ingredient, via PubMed.