3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid: Benefits and Side effects

Benefits of 3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid

3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid is a water-soluble antioxidant that has been used in personal care formulations for many years. It is a stabilised, water-soluble and oil-soluble derivative of pure Vitamin C (ascorbic acid,AA) with all the key benefits for which Vitamin C is known, such as brightening skin tone, reducing wrinkles, visibly firming, lightening hyperpigmentation to restore a more even skin tone and counteracting the many triggers of environmental damage.

3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid has been used for many years as a stable alternative to AA in cosmetics. In addition, products containing 3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid have been used for skin lightening, and topical 3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid has been reported to be effective in treating hyperpigmentation disorders such as melasma.

Side effects of 3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid

Few cases of contact dermatitis caused by ascorbic acid derivatives in cosmetic creams have been reported. There have been only three cases of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 3-o-ethyl-l-ascorbic acid, all of which were related to skin lightening cosmetics.

References:

[1] A. VICTORIA-MARTÍNEZ  P. M G. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to 3-o-Ethyl-L-Ascorbic Acid in Skin-lightening Cosmetics.[J]. Dermatitis, 1900, 1 1. DOI:10.1097/DER.0000000000000260.