LYSINE

📋 Quick facts

Description: LYSINE — amino acid, part of the skin natural moisturizing factor (NMF).

All Functions: amino acid, part of the skin natural moisturizing factor (NMF)

Quick Facts:

• Category: humectant

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Lysine is an amino acid that can be chemically modified in skin cells in ways that affect collagen production and inflammation
• Research shows lysine modifications are involved in skin aging, scarring, psoriasis, and diabetic wound healing
• The modifications studied are complex molecular processes—not simply ‘adding lysine’ to your skincare routine
• Current evidence is from lab and animal studies; human skincare application remains unclear

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Lysine is a diamino acid that is caproic (hexanoic) acid bearing two amino substituents at positions 2 and 6. It has a role as a Daphnia magna metabolite. It is a polar amino acid, an alpha-amino acid and a diamino acid. It contains a 4-aminobutyl group. It is functionally related to a hexanoic acid. It is a conjugate base of a lysinium(1+). It is a conjugate acid of a lysinate. DL-lysine has been reported in Enterococcus faecalis, Daphnia magna, and Caenorhabditis elegans with data available. See also: Fenugreek seed (part of); L-Lysine (annotation moved to); D,L-Lysine (annotation moved to).

Source(s): ChEBI, PubChem, LOTUS – the natural products occurrence database, 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

Lysine is an amino acid (a building block of proteins) that plays an unexpected role in skin health—not by being a simple nutrient you apply topically, but through chemical modifications that happen inside skin cells. Here’s what the research actually shows:

#1: Collagen production and skin aging — When skin ages, fibroblasts (the cells that make collagen) produce less collagen. One study (Int J Biol Macromol, 2024) found that fibroblasts can undergo a process called lysine lactylation at a specific site (K752 on a protein called LTBP1). This modification increased production of collagen I and collagen III. The mechanism involved lactate (produced by a biomaterial called PLLA) entering cells through a transporter, then triggering this lysine modification via an enzyme called KAT8.

Importantly, this was demonstrated in lab dishes and aged mice—not in human skin. #2: Hypertrophic scarring — In scar tissue, a different lysine modification occurs: histone H3 lysine 23 lactylation (H3K23la). Research in Nature Communications (2026) showed that macrophages (immune cells) release lactate, which fibroblasts take up and use to trigger this lysine modification. This amplifies scar-forming genes. Blocking this process in mice reduced scarring and improved wound healing. #3: Psoriasis inflammation — Lysine acetylation (a different chemical modification) at histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16ac) was elevated in psoriasis lesions, correlating with disease severity (Cell Death Differ, 2026). An enzyme called KAT8 catalyzes this modification, which increases production of inflammatory chemokines.

Blocking KAT8 in mice reduced psoriasis symptoms. #4: Diabetic wound healing — In diabetic skin, a process called lysine crotonylation at histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27cr) was abnormally elevated (Pharmacol Res, 2025). This modification interfered with both autophagy (cellular cleanup) and ferroptosis (a form of cell death), both critical for wound healing. Blocking this lysine modification improved healing in diabetic rats. Critical limitation: All these studies involve lysine modifications happening *inside cells* through complex enzymatic processes—not topical application of lysine itself. Source 4 (2004) discussed poly-L-lysine only as a lab tool for cell labeling, not skincare. None of these sources demonstrate that applying lysine-containing products to skin would replicate these cellular effects in humans.

📄 Related Research

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

• Zou Y et al. (2024). Lactate triggers KAT8-mediated LTBP1 lactylation at lysine 752 to promote skin rejuvenation by inducing collagen synthesis in fibroblasts. Int J Biol Macromol.
• Yuan Y et al. (2026). Lactate derived from macrophages drives skin dermal fibroblasts phenotypic remodeling via MCT1-primed histone H3 lysine 23 lactylation in hypertrophic scar. Nat Commun.
• Xiang Y et al. (2026). Targeting KAT8 alleviates self-RNA-driven skin inflammation by modulating histone H4 lysine 16 acetylation in psoriasis. Cell Death Differ.
• Zhang H (2004). Iron oxide nanoparticles-poly-L-lysine complex. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Li F et al. (2025). Histone lysine crotonylation accelerates ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis of keratinocytes via modulating autophagy in diabetic wound healing. Pharmacol Res.

🧴 Products Containing LYSINE

• AgeDefy, P&G, Pantène, Pantène Pro-V, Pantène Pro-V Expert, Pantène Pro-V Expert Collection, Procter & Gamble AgeDefy Shampooing
• Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10%
• douglas seathalasso
• Seba Med Seifenfreies Waschstück
• AgeDefy, P&G, Pantène, Pantène Pro-V, Pantène Pro-V Expert Collection, Pantène Pro-V expert, Procter & Gamble AgeDefy soin après-shampoing
• BCL Kansosan Skincare Moisture Base AQ
• CREAM SILK
• Love Beauty & Planet is sold by Hul Argan Oil & Lavender Smooth and Serene Conditioner
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Highlights M1
• Vogue Vogue polvo compacto de arroz con avena y filtros solares
• Dove dove
• sebamed Flüssig-Wasch-Emulsion
• So Bio Beauté & Hygiène / Soins Du Visage / Soins Hydratants Visage
• Bilboa, Società Italo Britannica Manetti-Roberts Viso 50 alta
• Léa Nature Sérum hydratant apaisant
• Léa Nature Léa nature eau thermale Jonzac
• Lea Nature Concentré coco nourrissant
• Deborah, Formula Pura Terre de soleil minérale
• Dermaself Night Cream Retinolo
• La Saponaria Crema solare spf 50
• today, today med Waschlotion (für empfindliche Haut)
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris Color Riche 875 Kimono Empire
• natura bisse sunscreen
• cocunat natural shield spf 30
• Unilever, Timotei Timotei Richesse Suprême Après Shampoing Femme Enrichie à l’Huile de Buriti Cheveux Très Secs
• Alès groupe, Laboratoires Liérac, Liérac, Liérac Paris, Magnificence Magnificence nuit gel-en-baume lissant détoxifiant rides – fermeté – éclat
• Clinique Redness solutions
• Tresemme shampoo collagen
• Unilever, Tresemmé Prostyletech Keratin Smooth Color Anti-Fade Conditioner
• TRESemmé Keratin Repair Bond Plex Conditioner
• Tresemme Conditioner
• Unilever, Tresemmé Flawless Curls Mousse
• Eucerin Eucerin, Roughness Relief Lotion, Fragrance Free
• Eucerin
• Nautical Nonsense Palette
• Unilever, Dove dove daily moisture shampoo
• Unilever, Dove Dove Shampoo
• Unilever,Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo
• Dove Daily Moisture Dove Conditioner
• Aveeno Creamy oil moisturizer