• ICHTHYOL® PALE —nature’s little multitasker knows how to make a difference! This sodium shale oil sulfonate, in its aqueous state is a well-tolerated charm that fits in different skin and hair care solutions (Ichthyol.de, 2025).

• It contains polar sulfonate salts brining in some serious sulfur power to the skin and hair care game! It is born from the dry distillation of kerogen-rich rock (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

• Being a triple-threat neutralizer—fights inflammation, kicks microbes to the curb, and keeps sebum in check! It annihilates dandruff, psoriasis and other conditions (Piraccini et al., 2018)

• ICHTHYOL® PALE comes straight from the nature’s vault—Alpine region’s fossilized phytoplankton, distilled carefully for unravelling its magic (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

• The sulfonated salt in an aqueous solution is symbolized as R-SO3Na and contains almost 44-50% water and 50-56% of sodium salts of sulfonated shale oil (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

• With anti-microbial and anti-seborrheic properties, it trains your sebaceous glands and balances your sebum production, preventing growth of dandruff-causing Malassezia (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

• Anti-dandruff shampoos with 1% ICHTHYOL ^®  PALE act as a potent solution to drive away dandruff (Mia, 2016)

• Having a troubled skin? Here’s your hero— ICHTHYOL® PALE fights inflammation, redness, and those pesky acne breakouts with its anti-inflammatory, anti-seborrheic and anti-microbial properties (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

• It is widely used in different hair and skin care solutions like anti-dandruff shampoos, creams, body lotions, facewashes, cleansing milks and many more for its potency (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

• Being a REACH registered ingredient and accredited by The German Federal Food Law as a safe ingredient, ICHTHYOL ^®  PALE is widely used in different hair and skin care solutions (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

ICHTHYOL^® PALE Information:

Chemical name: Ichthyolic acid, sodium salt

INCI: Sodium Shale Oil Sulfonate

CAS No.1340-06-3

EINECS No. 215-671-7 

Description: 

ICHTHYOL® PALE is the sodium salt, which is derived from the pale sulfonated shale oil that is found in an aqueous state. It is used for broad skin and hair care applications.

ICHTHYOL® PALE, with INCI name Sodium Shale Oil Sulfonate, is a nature-derived sulfonate salt that is highly volatile and is a sulfur-rich shale oil fraction in aqueous state (Ichthyol.de, 2025). It exhibits good tolerance with multilateral applications while working efficiently against skin impurities. The ingredient is used widely in anti-dandruff shampoos, cream rinses, hair coloring agents, body lotions, sun protection, facial care and many more.

The sodium salt of sulfonated low-boiling shale oil consists of polar sulfonate salts, which are high in organically bound sulfur (Ichthyol.de, 2025). The pale sulfonated shale oil is a product of the dry distillation of kerogen-containing rock, which negates the availability of any structural formula of the element.

Table 1: Ingredients and Effects

(Source: Ichthyol.de, 2025)

The wide spectrum use of Sodium shale oil sulfonate depends specifically on its inherent anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and sebum-regulating properties (Piraccini et al., 2018). The ingredient works as a natural and safe alternative to coal tar while being particularly efficient in treating dandruff, psoriasis and other adverse conditions characterized by scaling, redness, and itchiness.

Table 2: Characteristics of Sodium Shale Oil Sulfonate

(Source: Ichthyol.de, 2025) 

• Natural origin (from a biomass-rich limestone)

• High purity

• High safety factor

• Good tolerability

• Broad spectrum of activity (scientifically proven)

          a. Reduces dandruff
          b. Helps against skin impurities

          c. Reduces irritation

          d. Reduces excess sebum production

• Manufactured according to good manufacturing practice (GMP)

• Versatile formulation options (e.g. Clear aqueous solutions) (Source: Ichthyol.de, 2025)

Origin and Development:

ICHTHYOL^® PALE is derived from the deposits of phytoplankton, present in a lagoonal setting, located in the Alps (Ichthyol.de, 2025). Large amounts of organically combined sulfur in the marine environment were incorporated into the biomass during the biodegradation process. The entire process takes place at the bottom of the lagoon through the deposition of minerals. The mineral deposition creates a sedimentary rock with a shale-like appearance.

Table 3: Development

(Source: Ichthyol.de, 2025)

Dry distillation of the solidified phytoplanktonic biomass releases the rock as a sulfur-rich shale oil. The shale oil is later subjected to vacuum distillation, producing a low-boiling shale oil fraction. Subsequently, sulfuric acid at low temperatures is used to refine the volatile oil, creating sulfonic acids (falling under the SO₃H-group) while neutralizing it by adding sodium hydroxide solution (Ichthyol.de, 2025). 

Chemical and Molecular Composition: 

ICHTHYOL^® PALE is a sulfonated salt in an aqueous solution which is symbolized as R-SO3Na. A sulfonyl group (-SO3H) is introduced into an organic molecule R as a part of the sulfonation process, where R stands for thiophene derivatives (Ichthyol.de, 2025). The sulfonated salt is composed of two tension-active properties- lipophilic (R) and hydrophilic part (SO3Na), making it a possible choice for use in emulsions and creams. 

The result- ICHTHYOL ^® PALE contains almost 44-50% water and 50-56% of sodium salts of sulfonated shale oil (Ichthyol.de, 2025). After the reaction of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) with Sulfuric acid (H₂ SO₄), a very small amount of Sodium Sulfate (Na ₂ SO₄) is left in the product (Ichthyol.de, 2025). Later, the use of clear, colorless and flammable Isopropanol (2-Propanol) is made to salt out Na ₂ SO ₄ while removing it afterwards with distillation. 

The sulfur contents in the sulfates stay below 0.25%, whereas most of the sulfur remains in the heterocyclic thiophene derivatives and the organic sulfides. The total sulfur concentration ranges between 11.0 and 13.5% in the final solution of ICHTHYOL^® PALE.

Table 4: Composition of ICHTHYOL^® PALE

(Source: Ichthyol.de, 2025)

The selection of salt is determined by its miscibility with water while ensuring compatibility across a broad pH spectrum. Hydrophilic creams achieve stability through the incorporation of hydroxyethyl cellulose, whereas lipophilic creams rely on strong water-in-oil emulsifying agents, with oil constituting most of their composition.

Utilizing a pH-balanced salt in both hydrophilic and lipophilic creams effectively alleviate itchiness, redness, irritation, and discomfort. So, as a standard measure, ICHTHYOL^® PALE is used in most skin and hair care solutions with the view of enhancing the degree of stability. 

Benefits of ICHTHYOL^® PALE

The multi-faceted benefits of ICHTHYOL ^® PALE make it the most used ingredient in different skin and hair care products. It is water soluble and promotes a broad-spectrum application. The ingredient boasts anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-seborrheic properties that prove to be effective for both hair and skin care.

Some of the most widely known benefits of ICHTHYOL ^® PALE are:

• Anti-seborrhoic

• Anti-inflammatory

• Anti-microbial

• Well tolerated and safe

• Natural origin (Source: Ichthyol.de, 2025)

1. ICHTHYOL^® PALE and Dandruff: 

• Outline of Dandruff

Dandruff is a common skin condition that causes yellowish or whitish, dead, dry skin cells to shed from the scalp. It is mostly associated with symptoms like skin redness, itching and greasy scalp and hair (Piraccini et al., 2018). 

It is specifically caused by to overgrowth of the yeast-like fungus Malassezia on the scalp. The yeast-like fungus naturally resides on the scalp, but with excessive production of sebum and imbalances in the scalp pH, it continues to grow. An increase in Malassezia results in irritation, itchiness and flakiness of the scalp’s skin.

• Treatment with ICHTHYOL® PALE

ICHTHYOL^® PALE helps in combating dandruff and its causes efficiently. It is rich in anti-microbial and anti-seborrheic properties that regulate the sebaceous glands and balance sebum production to limit the growth of the dandruff-causing Malassezia. Also, its anti-inflammatory property helps limit the growth of irritation, flakiness and greasiness of the scalp skin, creating a soothing effect. 

Using combination anti-dandruff shampoos with 1% ICHTHYOL ^® PALE acts as a potent solution to drive away dandruff as effectively as the well-known anti-dandruff agents Zinc Pyrithione and Piroctone Olamine (Mia, 2016).

The use of the salt is superior to the synthetic anti-dandruff agents (Zinc Pyrithione and Piroctone Olamine) due to its multifunctionality, good tolerance and long-term safety. As a result, using this versatile ingredient is a smart consideration made by most cosmetologists in hair care products-specifically anti-dandruff shampoos. 

2. ICHTHYOL^® PALE and Skin:

• Outline of Skin Issues

Skin irritations, redness, itchiness, flakiness, acne and several other skin problems are most common around the world, causing blemishes. Skin blemishes are identified as certain marks, spots, discoloration, breakouts, or any sort of flaws that appear on the skin surface. Blemishes include acne and dark spots as well.

Acne is caused due to the clogging of skin pores with sebum secretions and dead, dry skin cells. Imbalance in sebum secretions results in excess production of the oily substance on the skin surface, leading to papules and pustules. The outbreak often causes small, red, tender bumps and painful pus-filled inflammations that cause a burning sensation and discomfort. 

• ICHTHYOL® PALE: Treatment for acne and other skin issues

1. Anti-Inflammatory: ICHTHYOL®  PALE helps reduce inflammation in the skin. It works by affecting a process that involves 14C-arachidonic acid and has an activity that limits Leukotriene B4, a substance that triggers immune cell attacks and causes inflammation (Ichthyol.de, 2025). By controlling Leukotriene B4, ICHTHYOL® PALE helps calm the skin and lowers the risk of acne and other inflammatory skin conditions. (Ichthyol.de, 2025)
2. Anti-seborrheic: The ingredients help reduce excess oil from the skin surface, as several past research papers have found that it helps reduce skin surface lipids. A combination of ICHTHYOL® PALE and chloramphenicol has been identified to be much more effective in treating severe acne and reducing oil on the skin surface than relying on chloramphenicol alone. (Ichthyol.de, 2025)Topical application of ICHTHYOL® PALE helps reduce the rate of squalene, a natural oil that is produced by the skin. Excess production of sebum and squalene results in flakiness, redness and itchiness on the skin surface, creating discomfort, specifically seborrheic dermatitis. This means that the ingredient works as a potent agent for controlling oily skin and severe acne. (Ichthyol.de, 2025)
3. Anti-Microbial: ICHTHYOL ^®  PALE, with its anti-microbial properties, fights against bacteria and fungus on the skin surface with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The most relevant bacterium that causes the acne outbreak on the skin surface is Propionibacterium acnes. The bacterium is expelled by the application of formulations containing only 0.039% of ICHTHYOL ^®  PALE. (Ichthyol.de, 2025)

Application of ICHTHYOL^® PALE for Hair and Skin Conditions:

Ichthyol® Pale is widely used in a wide range of hair and skin care applications, including shampoos, body lotions, facewashes and topical creams. Use of 5% Ichthyol® Pale in shampoos creates a potent solution against dandruff and scalp flakiness (Ichthyol.de, 2025).

In addition, topical creams, facewashes and body lotions containing 1-2% of Ichthyol® Pale create a powerful resolution intervention for treating different skin ailments (Ichthyol.de, 2025). For example, in 80% of the cases, it was observed that creams containing just 1% Ichthyol® Pale reduce the skin issues (Ichthyol.de, 2025). So, it is a powerful ingredient that is being imbued by modern-day cosmetologists to alleviate different skin conditions.

Side effects of ICHTHYOL^® PALE:

The application of ICHTHYOL ^® PALE is generally considered safe and effective, with the inclusion of appropriate quantities in different care solutions. It does not hint of any toxicity as per the results of the German Federal Food Law, which requires an ingredient to be greater than or equal to a score of 100 (required safety: ≥ 100) (Ichthyol.de, 2025). 

5% ICHTHYOL^® PALE, included in a rinse-off shampoo, denotes a safety score of 230769, whereas in a body lotion containing 1% and 5% ICHTHYOL^® PALE the safety scores are 2885 and 577, respectively (Ichthyol.de, 2025). Furthermore, it is a REACH registered (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) ingredient that is classified as safe under the EWG scale for being non-carcinogenic and non-mutagenic. The accreditations make ICHTHYOL^® PALE a perfectly safe ingredient for use in hair and skin care solutions.

Further Readings: 

TheSkinArtistry., 2025. Unveiling the Healing Powers of Ichthyol Pale. https://theskinartistry.com/unveiling-the-healing-powers-of-ichthyol-pale/  

• EWG., 2025. Sodium Shale Oil Sulfonate. Ewg.org. Click Here
• Ichthyol.de., 2025. Ichthyol ® is not tar. Click Here
• Ichthyol.de., 2025. Ichthyol ®Pale-The main features at a glance. Click Here
• Ichthyol.de., 2025. Ichthyol® Pale-Active substance for skin and hair Safety and efficacy from nature. Click Here
• Mia, Z., 2016. The effect of sodium shale oil sulphonate 1% shampoo on dandruff. University of Johannesburg (South Africa). Click Here
• Piraccini, B.M., Brandi, N., Alessandrini, A., Bruni, F. and Starace, M., 2018. Efficacious and safe management of thick scales, redness and flaky scalp condition using a specific shampoo containing urea, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, icthyol pale and laureth 9. Cogent Medicine, 5(1), p.1475095. Click Here