Ambophenol

TYPE OF INGREDIENT​
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hemorrhagic
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Serums and creams, particularly when targeted toward rosacea or erythema

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AMBOPHENOL?

Ambophenol is thought to minimize skin reactivity and reduce redness of skin, most pertinent in patients with rosacea, for which it has been studied.

WHAT IS AMBOPHENOL?

Ambophenol is an extract from leaves of the Tambourissa trichophylla plant—a plant used in Madagascar for pain relief—titrated in polyphenols with tannins and flavinoids. It is believed to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihemorrhagic effects on the skin. These occur by restoring immune balance by modulating cathelicidin expression, controlling prostaglandin enzymatic processes and regulating neovascularization pathways.

IS AMBOPHENOL SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?

Ambophenol is likely safe for all skin types and tones based on available data. However, it should mostly be used in patients with rosacea or skin erythema as it has been shown to clinically improve this feature with just one month of use.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

There is minimal data on contraindications for the topical application of ambophenol.

Sources:

Seite S, Benech F, Berdah S, et al. Management of rosacea-prone skin: evaluation of a skincare product containing Ambophenol, Neurosensine, and La Roche-Posay Thermal spring water as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013;12(8):920-924.

Nishad Sathe, MD

Author

Nishad Sathe is a PGY-3 Internal Medicine/Dermatology resident at the University of Minnesota