Ferulic Acid

Claim: Antioxidant.

Main benefits: Decreases formation of fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots, and other signs of premature aging.

 

Usage: In general, anyone interested in an anti-aging skin regimen. Everyone can benefit from using an antioxidant to protect themselves from free-radical damage, but they can cause possible irritation, so not all antioxidants are the right concoction for each skin type.

 

Compliments: Other antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E and resveratrol.

 

Don't use with: Exfoliating acids like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids because they can alter the pH, which then changes the effectiveness of the antioxidant.

 

What Is Ferulic Acid?

Ferulic acid, aka hydroxycinnamic acid, is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free-radical damage from pollution, ultraviolet light, or infrared radiation, all of which accelerate skin aging.  It's found in the cell wall of plants like oats, brown rice, peanuts, oranges, and apples. Naturally, ferulic acid is botanically derived, but it can be created in a lab for quality control, consistency, and consumer safety.

 

"When something tries to damage your skin, it creates a certain molecule that in its active state will continue to damage and traumatize the skin around it. This will come in and shut it off. It neutralizes the molecules that are formed that if left alone will continue to damage tissue." - Rachel Nazarian MD 

 

Benefits of Ferulic Acid for Skin

Ferulic acid works to stop all the damage that comes from extrinsic aging. It also does the following:

 

• Reduces the formation of fine lines and wrinkles: Ferulic acid protects the skin from pollution and radiation, which can lead to wrinkles.

 

• Reduces the potential for sagging skin: Free radicals can also cause a loss of firmness in the skin, and ferulic acid acts as a shield to protect the skin from that damage.

 

• Reduces inflammation: Oxidative damage can cause inflammation in the skin, which blocks pores and can lead to breakouts. Antioxidants like ferulic acid have anti-inflammatory properties.

 

• Reduces the formation of brown spots: Pollution and radiation cause an increase in pigmentary alteration—like sunspots—and ferulic acid works to shield the skin from that effect.

 

• Decreases uneven skin tone by redness: Pollution and radiation cause an increase in blood vessel formation in the skin (which leads to redness) and ferulic acid works to shield the skin.

 

• Minimize the dark spots from pimples: If you're using an antioxidant consistently, the anti-inflammatory properties can minimize the damage or aftereffects from a pimple, such as lingering dark spots.

 

• Reduce pigmentation related to melasma: Melasma is a complex chronic pigmentary condition where your melanocytes are reactive to sunlight and infrared radiation (heat). The only thing we have currently to protect against infrared radiation are antioxidants (such as ferulic acid).

 

• Boost the effects of vitamin C and vitamin E: When used in conjunction with other antioxidants, ferulic acid can potentiate them  and make them more stable. 

 

1. Zduńska K, Dana A, Kolodziejczak A, Rotsztejn H. Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and Its Possible Application. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2018;31(6):332-336. doi:10.1159/000491755

2. Zduńska K, Dana A, Kolodziejczak A, Rotsztejn H. Antioxidant Properties of Ferulic Acid and Its Possible Application. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2018;31(6):332-336. doi:10.1159/000491755

3. Das S, Wong ABH. Stabilization of ferulic acid in topical gel formulation via nanoencapsulation and pH optimization. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12288. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68732-6

4. Mazurek K, Pierzchała E. Comparison of efficacy of products containing azelaic acid in melasma treatment. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016;15(3):269-82. doi:10.1111/jocd.12217

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