Id
Idebenone
IdebenoneAntioxidant
A lab-made cousin of CoQ10 that topped one group’s antioxidant tests. Its skin study had no comparison, and allergy is reported.
What it does
It’s a lab-made relative of CoQ10. Doctors list it among rare cosmetic allergens, so patch test before using it regularly.
The evidence, graded
moderateMcDaniel et al. (2005), a study without a vehicle control: 41 women aged 30 to 65 with moderate photodamage were randomized to 0.5% or 1.0% idebenone lotion twice daily for six weeks. With 1.0%, skin roughness and dryness fell 26%, hydration rose 37% and fine lines and wrinkles fell 29%; with 0.5%, the figures were 23%, 37% and 27%.McDaniel 2005 · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ↗
moderatePascoe, Moreau and Sasseville (2010) discuss rare or new cosmetic allergens. Each was found by patch testing patients with the separate ingredients of a product they reacted to. Idebenone is one of them.Pascoe 2010 · Dermatitis ↗
emergingMcDaniel et al. (2005) combined in vitro tests with a human sunburn cell assay to compare six antioxidants. Overall oxidative protection capacity scores were 95 for idebenone, 80 for dl-alpha tocopherol, 68 for kinetin, 55 for ubiquinone, 52 for L-ascorbic acid and 41 for dl-alpha lipoic acid.McDaniel 2005 · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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