4-VINYLCYCLOHEXENE DIEPOXIDE

📋 Quick facts

Description: 4-VINYLCYCLOHEXENE DIEPOXIDE — 4-VINYLCYCLOHEXENE DIEPOXIDE. Formula: C8H12O2. MW: 140.18. IUPAC: 3-(oxiran-2-yl)-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane.

Quick Facts:

• Category: other
• Also Known As: 4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, Vinylcyclohexene dioxide

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) is an industrial chemical that directly damages small egg follicles in the ovaries
• VCD has been used in research to study premature ovarian failure and menopause-like conditions in animal models
• The chemical appears to interfere with multiple stages of follicle development and hormone production
• VCD’s effects on human skin or as a skincare ingredient are not addressed in available research

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Vinyl cyclohexene dioxide (4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene diepoxide) can cause cancer according to The National Toxicology Program. It can cause female reproductive toxicity according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts. It can cause male reproductive toxicity according to California Labor Code. 1-vinyl-3-cyclohexene dioxide is a clear colorless liquid. Sets to glass at -67 °F. Faint olefinic odor. (NTP, 1992) 4-vinylcyclohexene dioxide is the diepoxide of 4-vinylcyclohexene. It has a role as a carcinogenic agent.

Source(s): ChEBI, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), CAMEO Chemicals, 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

4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) is an industrial chemical studied primarily for its effects on reproductive health, not as a skincare ingredient. Here’s what the research actually shows: #1: VCD directly targets preantral follicles—the small, developing egg sacs in the ovaries—according to a 2017 study in *Evid Based Complement Alternat Med*. #2: When administered to mice at high doses (160 mg/kg), VCD induced menopause-like symptoms including decreased body weight and skin temperature, mimicking the hormonal changes that occur during natural menopause in the *Evid Based Complement Alternat Med* study. #3: In rat studies detailed in *Int J Environ Res Public Health* (2017), VCD at 40 mg/kg suppressed genes involved in follicle formation (Foxl2, Kitl, and Amh mRNA levels), and increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels—a sign of ovarian dysfunction.

#4: VCD also appeared to disrupt early steps in hormone production (steroidogenesis) in the *Int J Environ Res Public Health* research. The second source noted that when VCD was combined with parabens (common preservatives), the inhibition of follicle development was accelerated. **Important limitation:** These studies examined VCD’s systemic effects on reproductive organs in animals via injection or oral administration—not topical application to skin. No research in these abstracts addresses whether VCD has any role in skincare, safety for skin application, or cosmetic benefits.

📄 Related Research

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

• Huff J (2001). Carcinogenicity bioassays of bisphenol A, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, and 4-vinycyclohexene. Toxicol Sci.
• Shin D et al. (2017). Schisandrae Fructus Reduces Symptoms of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide-Induced Ovarian Failure in Mice. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
• Lee JH et al. (2017). Parabens Accelerate Ovarian Dysfunction in a 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide-Induced Ovarian Failure Model. Int J Environ Res Public Health.

🧴 Products Containing 4-VINYLCYCLOHEXENE DIEPOXIDE