Erythrulose
Encyclopedia
D-Erythrulose is a tetrose
carbohydrate
with the chemical formula C
4H
8O
4. It has one ketone
group and so is part of the ketose
family. It is used in some self-tanning cosmetics, in general, combined with dihydroxyacetone
(DHA).
Erythrulose is a natural-based keto
-sugar that reacts with the amino acids in the keratin
protein on the outer or dead surface layer of the skin (the stratum corneum
layer of the epidermis). This nontoxic reaction produces a temporary browning effect similar to the Maillard reaction
. This is not a stain or dye, but rather a chemical reaction that produces a color change on all treated skin. The reaction is similar to the browning effect seen when a cut apple slice is exposed to oxygen.
The brown color is comparable to the appearance of a UV-based suntan. Because the skin continually exfoliates itself, losing thousands of dead surface skin cells each day, the tan hue is temporary. The tan appearance lasts from two to 10 days, depending on application type and skin condition.
Erythrulose is a clear to pale-yellowish liquid, which naturally occurs in red raspberries. According to the manufacturing company, Centerchem, Inc. http://207.97.253.104/default.asp, erythrulose is manufactured from the aerobic fermentation of the bacterium Gluconobacter, followed by extensive multi-step purification
.
Erythrulose and dihydroxyacetone
(DHA) are very similar in composition, and both react much the same way on the skin surface. Erythrulose produces a lighter and slower-developing tan, taking 24 to 48 hours to complete development. When used alone, it fades faster than a DHA-based sunless tan. Some people feel the final tone of erythrulose is slightly redder, and less bronze, than the DHA-based tan. It may be less drying to the skin surface, helping provide a smoother fading tint. When combined with DHA, the resulting sunless tan is said to last longer, fade better, and provide a more cosmetically pleasing color tone. In sunless tanning
products, it is incorporated at 1% to 3% levels.
Not all users develop a tan coloration from erythrulose; some may find their fading is more uneven and blotchy when this ingredient is used. Because of the added cost associated with this ingredient, some manufacturers feel it is an inefficient additive to the sunless tanning product line.
Individuals sensitive to DHA may be able to use erythrulose as a skin-safe self-tanning replacement. Erythrulose is more expensive, and difficult to obtain. Because DHA and erythrulose are very similar in composition, it is not unusual for someone to be sensitive to both DHA and erythrulose.
Erythrulose reacts on the skin's surface and does not seem to penetrate beyond the dead surface skin layers. Side effects are limited to occasional contact dermatitis
in sensitive individuals. In many suspected cases of sensitivity, the reaction is related to other ingredients in the self-tanning product, such as preservatives, dyes, fragrances, or plant-based additives and extracts.
Though erythrulose appears safe for use by all indications, it is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) as a self-tanning agent.
Tetrose
A tetrose is a monosaccharide with 4 carbon atoms. They have either an aldehyde functional group in position 1 or a ketone functional group in position 2 ....
carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
with the chemical formula C
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
4H
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
8O
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
4. It has one ketone
Ketone
In organic chemistry, a ketone is an organic compound with the structure RCR', where R and R' can be a variety of atoms and groups of atoms. It features a carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms. Many ketones are known and many are of great importance in industry and in biology...
group and so is part of the ketose
Ketose
A ketose is a sugar containing one ketone group per molecule.With 3 carbon atoms, dihydroxyacetone is the simplest of all ketoses and is the only one having no optical activity. Ketoses can isomerize into an aldose when the carbonyl group is located at the end of the molecule...
family. It is used in some self-tanning cosmetics, in general, combined with dihydroxyacetone
Dihydroxyacetone
Dihydroxyacetone , or DHA, also known as glycerone, is a simple carbohydrate with formula .DHA is primarily used as an ingredient in sunless tanning products. It is often derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, and by the fermentation of glycerin.-Chemistry:DHA is a...
(DHA).
Erythrulose is a natural-based keto
Keto
Keto can refer to:* The Keto people, an ethnic group of the Siberian North.* Ceto or Keto, a sea goddess in Greek mythology.* Ketone or keto group, the functional group in the chemical compounds ketones....
-sugar that reacts with the amino acids in the keratin
Keratin
Keratin refers to a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key of structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails...
protein on the outer or dead surface layer of the skin (the stratum corneum
Stratum corneum
The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis, consisting of dead cells that lack nuclei and organelles. The purpose of the stratum corneum is to form a barrier to protect underlying tissue from infection, dehydration, chemicals and mechanical stress...
layer of the epidermis). This nontoxic reaction produces a temporary browning effect similar to the Maillard reaction
Maillard reaction
The Maillard reaction is a form of nonenzymatic browning similar to caramelization. It results from a chemical reaction between an amino acid and a reducing sugar, usually requiring heat....
. This is not a stain or dye, but rather a chemical reaction that produces a color change on all treated skin. The reaction is similar to the browning effect seen when a cut apple slice is exposed to oxygen.
The brown color is comparable to the appearance of a UV-based suntan. Because the skin continually exfoliates itself, losing thousands of dead surface skin cells each day, the tan hue is temporary. The tan appearance lasts from two to 10 days, depending on application type and skin condition.
Erythrulose is a clear to pale-yellowish liquid, which naturally occurs in red raspberries. According to the manufacturing company, Centerchem, Inc. http://207.97.253.104/default.asp, erythrulose is manufactured from the aerobic fermentation of the bacterium Gluconobacter, followed by extensive multi-step purification
Purification
Purification is the process of rendering something pure, i.e. clean of foreign elements and/or pollution, and may refer to:* List of purification methods in chemistry* Water purification** Organisms used in water purification...
.
Erythrulose and dihydroxyacetone
Dihydroxyacetone
Dihydroxyacetone , or DHA, also known as glycerone, is a simple carbohydrate with formula .DHA is primarily used as an ingredient in sunless tanning products. It is often derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, and by the fermentation of glycerin.-Chemistry:DHA is a...
(DHA) are very similar in composition, and both react much the same way on the skin surface. Erythrulose produces a lighter and slower-developing tan, taking 24 to 48 hours to complete development. When used alone, it fades faster than a DHA-based sunless tan. Some people feel the final tone of erythrulose is slightly redder, and less bronze, than the DHA-based tan. It may be less drying to the skin surface, helping provide a smoother fading tint. When combined with DHA, the resulting sunless tan is said to last longer, fade better, and provide a more cosmetically pleasing color tone. In sunless tanning
Sunless tanning
Sunless tanning Sunless tanning Sunless tanning (also known as UV-free tanning, self tanning, spray tanning (when applied topical, or fake tanning) refers to the application of chemicals to the skin to produce an effect similar in appearance to a suntan...
products, it is incorporated at 1% to 3% levels.
Not all users develop a tan coloration from erythrulose; some may find their fading is more uneven and blotchy when this ingredient is used. Because of the added cost associated with this ingredient, some manufacturers feel it is an inefficient additive to the sunless tanning product line.
Individuals sensitive to DHA may be able to use erythrulose as a skin-safe self-tanning replacement. Erythrulose is more expensive, and difficult to obtain. Because DHA and erythrulose are very similar in composition, it is not unusual for someone to be sensitive to both DHA and erythrulose.
Erythrulose reacts on the skin's surface and does not seem to penetrate beyond the dead surface skin layers. Side effects are limited to occasional contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a term for a skin reaction resulting from exposure to allergens or irritants . Phototoxic dermatitis occurs when the allergen or irritant is activated by sunlight....
in sensitive individuals. In many suspected cases of sensitivity, the reaction is related to other ingredients in the self-tanning product, such as preservatives, dyes, fragrances, or plant-based additives and extracts.
Though erythrulose appears safe for use by all indications, it is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) as a self-tanning agent.