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Urocanic acid
Synonym(s)
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Urokanic acid, a white solid with the molecular formula C6H6N2O2, is an organic chemical substance that is a component of human sweat.
Urocanic acid is a breakdown product of histidine. The substance is photoprotective and plays an important role in protecting the skin from UVB radiation. Urocanic acid initially occurs in the skin as trans-urocanic acid and is partially converted into its cis isomer upon irradiation with UVB light (Landeck L et al. 2016)
Field of application/useThis section has been translated automatically.
Cosmetics: Urocanic acid is used in cosmetic formulations as a light protection agent. It acts as UVB filter (Mollet M et al. 2017).
Medicine: In smaller studies in patients with atopic dermatitis an improvement of skin inflammation and an improvement of the transepidermal water loss -TEWL could be achieved with a 5% urocanic acid cream (Peltonen JM et al. 2014)
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Landeck L et al (2016) The effect of epidermal levels of urocanic acid on 25-hydroxyvitamin D synthesis and inflammatory mediators upon narrowband UVB irradiation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 32:214-223.
- Mollet M et al (2017) New nature-inspired urocanic acid mimic preventing DNA damages and immunosuppressive signalling induced by ultraviolet B radiation. J Cosmet Sci 68: 99-106.
- Peltonen JM et al (2014) Three randomised phase I/IIa trials of 5% cis-urocanic acid emulsion cream in healthy adult subjects and in patients with atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 94:415-420.