Gluconolactone
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Anti-inflammatory, pH modulator, reducing agent
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Serums, solutions, toners
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GLUCONOLACTONE?
Gluconolactone has a variety of benefits on human skin. In one double-blinded clinical trial of 150 patients, gluconolactone 14% solution was found to be effective in improving acne lesions with fewer side effects compared with benzoyl peroxide. Additionally it has been shown to significantly increase facial skin hydration when applied as a 10% or 30% solution. Often used in combination with glycolic acid and salicylic acid, it is an acidifying agent, which has been implicated in its role to increase stratum corneum integrity and cohesion by decreasing destruction of cadherins, improve the dermis by reducing matrix metalloproteinase expression in hypoxic conditions, and promote anti-fibrotic activity. Furthermore, it provides up to 50% protection against UV radiation-induced damage through elastin promoter activation, which may implicate it in preventing and repairing photodamage.
WHAT IS GLUCONOLACTONE?
Gluconolactone is a polyhydroxy acid used in multiple skin conditions (e.g., ichthyosis, psoriasis, warts, eczema, psoriasis, acne) due to their function in addressing abnormal keratinization. It has been shown to affect keratinization and reduce inflammation. It can be used as a reducing agent in nanoparticles.
IS GLUCONOLACTONE SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Gluconolactone is likely safe for all skin types and tones based on available data. Although reports of contact dermatitis or irritation from gluconolactone are limited, it should be used with caution in those with sensitivity to cosmetic products containing it.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
There is minimal data on contraindications for the topical application of gluconolactone.
Sources:
Bernstein EF, Brown DB, Schwartz MD, Kaidbey K, Ksenzenko SM. The polyhydroxy acid gluconolactone protects against ultraviolet radiation in an in vitro model of cutaneous photoaging. Dermatol Surg. 2004;30(2 Pt 1):189-196.
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Hachem JP, Roelandt T, Schürer N, et al. Acute acidification of stratum corneum membrane domains using polyhydroxyl acids improves lipid processing and inhibits degradation of corneodesmosomes. J Invest Dermatol. 2010;130(2):500-510.
Huang YB, Chang JS, Liu JC, Tsai MJ, Tsai YH, Wu PC. The influence of anti-irritants on captopril hydrophilic gel. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2004;30(2):163-169.
Hunt MJ, Barnetson RS. A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. Australas J Dermatol. 1992;33(3):131-134.
Jarząbek-Perz S, Mucha P, Rotsztejn H. Corneometric evaluation of skin moisture after application of 10% and 30% gluconolactone. Skin Res Technol. 2021;27(5):925-930.
Jayamani J, Ravikanth Reddy R, Madhan B, Shanmugam G. Disintegration of collagen fibrils by Glucono-δ-lactone: An implied lead for disintegration of fibrosis. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018;107(Pt A):175-185.
Kantikosum K, Chongpison Y, Chottawornsak N, Asawanonda P. The efficacy of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene vs adapalene monotherapy in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris: a double-blinded within-person comparative study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:151-161. Published 2019 Feb 19.
Lee KH, Kim DY, Kim W. Cultivation of human skin cells under physiological oxygen concentration modulates expression of skin significant genes and response to hydroxy acids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021;551:161-167.
