Allantoin
Allantoin is a leaf extract of the comfrey plant found in Europe and temperate areas of Asia. For several years, potent healing and soothing properties have been attributed to this anti-inflammatory skincare ingredient.
Allantoin is the main ingredient in comfrey- which has been used as a poultice for centuries to treat minor fractures by reducing swelling in the area of the break. The long-standing anecdotal evidence supporting the beneficial activity of allantoin led to some acceptance by the medical community in the early part of the 20th century.
Allantoin Skin Care Products:
Allantoin is found in skin care products to soothe and calm skin. It is an affordable natural ingredient that is safe and meets clean beauty standards.
Allantoin To Soothe and Calm Skin
Allantoin is an anti-inflammatory ingredient.
It can be used in the following inflammatory skin conditions:
- Acne- Helps get rid of the redness from pimples, papules and pustules and make the red marks from acne go away faster.
- Sensitive Skin- Allantoin is found in many anti-inflammatory skincare products intended to soothe and calm skin.
- Rosacea- Helps prevent and treat facial redness.
- Eczema- When combined with barrier repair moisturizers will help sooth eczema prone skin.
- Psoriasis- Helps calm and soothe itchy skin from psoriasis.
Allantoin for Acne
Allantoin has benefits for acne-prone skin due to its soothing and healing properties. Derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is known for its ability to promote skin regeneration and repair. When applied to acne-prone skin, allantoin helps to reduce inflammation and redness, calming irritated skin. It also aids in the gentle exfoliation of dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and preventing further breakouts.
Allantoin's moisturizing properties help maintain the skin's natural barrier, preventing excessive dryness that can occur with certain acne treatments.
Allantoin For Eczema
Allantoin is a beneficial ingredient to treat eczema due to its moisturizing, soothing and healing properties.
When applied to eczema-affected skin, allantoin helps to alleviate itching, redness, and inflammation, providing relief to irritated and sensitive skin.
Allantoin is considered a humectant. It is not a barrier repair ingredient. Eczema sufferers should combine allantoin with barrier repair ingredients for the best results treating eczema and dry skin.
Allantoin for Hyperpigmentation
Allantoin is a versatile skincare ingredient known for its skin-lightening benefits. It helps treat hyperpigmentation in several ways.
- Exfoliant
Allantoin works by promoting cell turnover and exfoliation, helping to fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots over time. By encouraging the shedding of dead skin cells, it reveals fresher, more even-toned skin underneath.
- Anti-inflammatory properties
Allantoin blocks inflammatory pathways reducing inflammation. Inflammation is well known to increase skin pigmentation.
When combined with other skin lightening ingredients and used consistently in a skincare routines to lighten dark spots, allantoin is a good choice to even skin tone.
Allantoin For Melasma
Allantoin has weak skin lightening effects due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent pigmentation. It can be used for melasmabut should be combined with stronger skin lightening ingredients such as tyrosinase inhibitors.
Allantoin gel vs Cream
Allantoin is an excellent ingredient for formulating gels due to its humectant and hygroscopic properties. As a humectant, allantoin attracts and retains moisture from the surrounding environment, keeping the skin hydrated and plump. Its hygroscopic nature allows it to hold onto water molecules, preventing moisture loss and maintaining optimal skin hydration levels. These properties make allantoin an ideal choice for gel formulations, as it creates a lightweight, water-based texture that provides a cooling and refreshing sensation upon application. The gel's ability to deliver deep hydration without a greasy or heavy feel makes it suitable for various Baumann Skin Types.
In creams, allantoin is typically combined with oils and fatty acids to create a more luxurious texture with better hydrating abilities.
The best cream with Allantoin is Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer.
Allantoin Side Effects and Safety
Allantoin is generally considered safe for topical use and is well-tolerated by most individuals.
It has low potential for causing adverse effects when used in skincare products.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), has evaluated allantoin and concluded that it is safe for use in cosmetic and personal care products when used within specific concentrations.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) assigns allantoin a low hazard score of 1, indicating that it is not considered to be a significant health or environmental concern.
Overall, allantoin is a safe and well-tolerated skincare ingredient. It meets most clean ingredient standards.
Find skin care products with Allantoin
Dr. Leslie Baumann MD, FAAD
Best Scientific References and Publications for Allantion:
Plant image: from Wikicommons- https://www.flickr.com/photos/dordrecht-holland/34266725435/
References:
- Baumann. L Ch. 38 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients in Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed. 3 (McGraw Hill, 20022)
- Chan, R. J., Mann, J., Tripcony, L., Keller, J., Cheuk, R., Blades, R., ... & Walsh, C. (2014). Natural oil-based emulsion containing allantoin versus aqueous cream for managing radiation-induced skin reactions in patients with cancer: a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 90(4), 756-764.
- Ferreira, M. S., Sousa Lobo, J. M., & Almeida, I. F. (2022). Sensitive skin: Active ingredients on the spotlight. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 44(1), 56-73.
- Savić, V. L., Nikolić, V. D., Arsić, I. A., Stanojević, L. P., Najman, S. J., Stojanović, S., & Mladenović‐Ranisavljević, I. I. (2015). Comparative study of the biological activity of allantoin and aqueous extract of the comfrey root. Phytotherapy Research, 29(8), 1117-1122.
- Florentino, I. F., Silva, D. P., Galdino, P. M., Lino, R. C., Martins, J. L., Silva, D. M., ... & Costa, E. A. (2016). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Memora nodosa and allantoin in mice. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 186, 298-304.
- Bin Chen, X., Matuszewski, W., & Kowalczyk, J. (1996). Determination of allantoin in biological, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical samples. Journal of AOAC international, 79(3), 628-635.