Isopropyl myristate
Encyclopedia
Isopropyl myristate is the ester
of isopropanol and myristic acid
.
-free treatment against head lice
which works by dissolving the wax
that covers the exoskeleton
of head lice, killing them by dehydration
.
It is also the non-aqueous component of the two-phase mouthwash, Dentyl pH
, where it removes bacteria from the oral cavity.
Isopropyl myristate has been shown to show a comedogenic and irritability to users with acne-prone skin.
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
of isopropanol and myristic acid
Myristic acid
Myristic acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH312COOH. A myristate is a salt or ester of myristic acid....
.
Uses
Isopropyl myristate is used in cosmetic and topical medicinal preparations where good absorption through the skin is desired. It is also used as a pesticidePesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
-free treatment against head lice
Pediculosis
Pediculosis is an infestation of lice — blood-feeding ectoparasitic insects of the order Phthiraptera. The condition can occur in almost any species of warm-blooded animal , including humans...
which works by dissolving the wax
Wax
thumb|right|[[Cetyl palmitate]], a typical wax ester.Wax refers to a class of chemical compounds that are plastic near ambient temperatures. Characteristically, they melt above 45 °C to give a low viscosity liquid. Waxes are insoluble in water but soluble in organic, nonpolar solvents...
that covers the exoskeleton
Exoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
of head lice, killing them by dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
.
It is also the non-aqueous component of the two-phase mouthwash, Dentyl pH
Dentyl pH
Dentyl pH is a brand of mouthwash. Traditional mouthwash formulations use alcohol or other antimicrobial ingredients to kill bacteria in order to control halitosis...
, where it removes bacteria from the oral cavity.
Isopropyl myristate has been shown to show a comedogenic and irritability to users with acne-prone skin.