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Thioglycolic Acid
Thioglycolic acid is a reducing agent that breaks disulfide bonds in keratin, softening and dissolving hair for depilation.
Thioglycolic acid is a reducing agent that breaks disulfide bonds in keratin, softening and dissolving hair for depilation. Used for Hair removal / depilation.
At a glance
| Generic name | Thioglycolic Acid |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre |
| Drug class | Chemical depilatory / keratolytic agent |
| Target | Disulfide bonds in keratin protein |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Dermatology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Thioglycolic acid works by cleaving the disulfide bonds (S-S linkages) that cross-link and stabilize the keratin protein structure in hair. This chemical reduction weakens the hair shaft, causing it to soften and dissolve, allowing it to be wiped away. The mechanism is pH-dependent and requires an alkaline environment (typically provided by calcium thioglycollate formulations) to be effective.
Approved indications
- Hair removal / depilation
Common side effects
- Skin irritation
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Chemical burn
- Folliculitis
Key clinical trials
- SEGATROM: Sensory and Gastrointestinal Impact of Taste Receptor Variants on Human Metabolism and Nutrition (NA)
- Treatment of Periorbicular Hyperchromia Comparing 10% Thioglycolic Acid Peeling Versus Pulsed Intense Light (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Thioglycolic Acid CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Thioglycolic Acid updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre portfolio CI