Transcutol warning?

I know that transcutol is a popular ingredient here for rapamycin skin cream. But perhaps there needs to be more awareness about its potential for toxicity which might be dose-dependent.

For example, I just came across this

What? "patient had been smearing his skin with brake fluid containing diethylene glycol to treat a “dermatitis.”

Transcutol is 2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol, not diethylene glycol.
Diethylene glycol= HOCH2CH2)2O
Transcutol=CH₃CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH

2 Likes

You’ve mixed up chemicals (@desertshores is right). See below:

Note: Transcutol has a number of different chemical names/identifiers. Here is a list:
2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy) ethanol:
Ethoxydiglycol,
3,6-dioxa-1-octanol,
DEGEE,
diethylene glycol monoethyl ether,
Carbitol,
Carbitol Cellosolve,
Transcutol,
Dioxitol,
Polysolv DE,
Dowanal DE

Chemical Identifier: CAS Number 111-90-0

Where you can order / buy Transcutol from:
LotionCrafters: Transcutol / Ethoxydiglycol
Laballey.com: Transcutol / Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether

1 Like

My bad, I assumed that DEGEE meant Diethylene glycol. But it’s actually Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether!