Thioglycolic acid

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

CAS No.: 8-11-1; Mercaptoacetic acid; Sulphanylacetic acid; TGA; Thioglycolic acid; thioglycolic acid (INCI)

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Thioglycolic acid is a colourless, liquid compound (molecular formula C2 H4 O2 S), which chemically belongs to the group of thiols, which contain a sulphur atom instead of an oxygen atom. The acid is miscible with water, ethanol, chloroform, toluene and diethylether. The salts/esters of thioglycolic acid are called thioglycolates.

General informationThis section has been translated automatically.

Derivatives of thioglycolic acid are used in hairdressing to apply a permanent wave. The perming liquid used is usually 1%-10% ammonium thioglycolate, an ammonium salt of thioglycolic acid (called developer in the hairdressing field). This causes a molecular shift within the keratin (the disulfide bridges between 2 cysteine units of the keratin are dissolved).

Ammonium thioglycolate: From an allergological point of view, ammonium thioglycolate has a considerable sensitizing potency. In a screening of eczema patients in the hairdressing profession, contact sensitisation to this thioglycol compound was detected in 12.3% of the subjects.

Glyceryl thioglycolate (INCI) is also used as permanent wave fluid.

Potassium thioglycolate: The potassium salt of thioglycolic acid is used as depilatory agent under the INCI designation "Potassium thioglycolate".

Calcium thioglycolate: The calcium salt of thioglycolic acid is used as depilatory under the INCI designation"Calcium thioglycolate".

When heated, mercaptoacetic acid decomposes to form toxic, unpleasant smelling vapours (hydrogen sulphide and sulphur oxide).

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Borelli S (1957) Toxic and allergic reactions to organic sulfur compounds in permanent wave preparations. III. Investigations of the comparative tolerance of ammonium and sodium thioglycolate solutions. Dermatologist 8:247-251.
  2. Engasser P (2000) Type I and type IV immune responses to glyceryl thioglycolate. Contact dermatitis 42:298.
  3. Helaskoski E et al (201) Prick testing with chemicals in the diagnosis of occupational contact urticaria and respiratory diseases. Contact dermatitis 72:20-32.
  4. Silva EA et al (2012) Study of the frequency of allergens in cosmetics components in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. On Bras Dermatol 87:263-268.
  5. Valks R et al (2005) Contact dermatitis in hairdressers, 10 years later: patch-test results in 300 hairdressers (1994 to 2003) and comparison with previous study. Dermatitis16: 28-31.

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020