10-HYDROXYDECANOIC ACID

📋 Quick facts

Description: 10-HYDROXYDECANOIC ACID — SKIN CONDITIONING.

All Functions: SKIN CONDITIONING

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (HDA) is a fatty acid compound studied for potential brain protection
• Research shows HDA may help counteract damage from heavy metal exposure combined with high-fat diets
• In animal studies, HDA reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in brain tissue
• Current evidence comes from rat studies; human effects remain unknown

⚗️ Chemical Overview

10-hydroxycapric acid is a 10-carbon, -hydroxy fatty acid, shown to be the preferred hydroxylation product (together with the 9-OH isomer) of capric acid in biosystems, and used as a standard in lipid assays; reported to have cytotoxic effects. It is an omega-hydroxy-medium-chain fatty acid and a straight-chain saturated fatty acid. It is functionally related to a decanoic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a 10-hydroxycaprate. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the following ingredients are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing, which may be based on a QRA…10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid… has anti-inflammatory activity

Source(s): ChEBI, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

10-hydroxydecanoic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid that researchers have begun investigating for neuroprotective properties. Here’s what the limited research shows:

#1: Brain protection against combined stressors — One rat study (Biol Trace Elem Res, 2026) exposed animals to chronic lead exposure paired with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, then added HDA treatment for an additional 4 weeks. The animals given HDA showed improvements in spatial learning and memory compared to untreated animals, suggesting the compound may help protect cognitive function under these specific toxic conditions. #2: Reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation — The same study found that HDA treatment lowered markers of oxidative stress (cellular damage from reactive molecules) and neuroinflammation (immune activation in the brain) in animals exposed to lead and high-fat diet.

The researchers also noted HDA reduced amyloidogenesis, which refers to the buildup of amyloid proteins associated with neurodegeneration. #3: Synergistic effects — When HDA was combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles, the study reported an enhanced protective effect against the tested neurotoxic conditions, though zinc oxide nanoparticles alone appeared to cause harm. Important limitations: This research exists only in rat models. No human studies on HDA’s skincare or systemic benefits were present in the provided sources. The doses, exposure protocols, and outcomes tested are specific to lead and high-fat diet toxicity—effects in other contexts or in people remain unknown.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Saleh SR et al. (2026). Combating Lead/HFD Neurotoxicity in Rats: The Synergistic Effect of 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. Biol Trace Elem Res.

🧴 Products Containing 10-HYDROXYDECANOIC ACID

• henkel, diadermine eau micellaire express 3 en 1