Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), also known as glycerone, is a simple sugar molecule with the formula C₃H₆O₃. It is primarily used as the active ingredient in sunless tanning products .
Here's a deeper look at dihydroxyacetone:
Chemical properties:
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- Hygroscopic white crystalline powder
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- Sweet cooling taste with a characteristic odor
- Simplest of all ketoses (sugars with a ketone functional group)
- Dimerizes (two molecules bond together) in its natural form
- Dissolves in water to form a monomer (single molecule)
- Solutions stable at pH levels between 4 and 6
- Degrades in basic solutions, forming a brown product (similar to the Maillard reaction in cooking)
- Sources:
- Derived from plant sources like sugar beets and sugarcane
- Produced through fermentation of glycerin
- How it works in sunless tanning:
- Reacts with amino acids in the stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin) through a Maillard reaction
- This reaction produces melanoidins, large pigmented molecules that mimic melanin (the pigment that gives skin its tan color)
- The tan fades gradually as the top layer of skin cells are shed
- Safety:
- Generally considered safe for topical use on healthy skin
- May cause skin irritation in some people, especially at higher concentrations
- Not recommended for use on broken skin or mucous membranes
- Inhaleation of DHA dust or mist may irritate the respiratory tract
It's important to note that DHA does not provide protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. If you're looking for a tan, using sunless tanning products with DHA is a safer alternative to sunbathing, but you should still use sunscreen daily.
External Links
Dihydroxyacetone