Antioxidant ·

Moderate evidence

Ergothioneine

What is it?

A naturally occurring, stable sulfur-containing amino-acid antioxidant, often derived from fungi, used topically for its cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

What does it do?

According to PubMed, a controlled study in rats found topically applied L-(+)-ergothioneine to the periwound region significantly accelerated wound healing versus untreated controls (predicted >90% healing by day 15 versus ~70% for controls), supporting its role as a transdermally active antioxidant for skin repair -- a real animal-model efficacy study, human clinical trial data specific to ergothioneine is still limited.

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Sources

Important disclaimer

This page provides general skincare information and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ingredient interactions and evidence summaries reflect published, cited sources — not a personal assessment of your skin. For medical skin conditions, rashes, pregnancy/lactation questions or persistent concerns, please consult a licensed dermatologist or HPCSA-registered practitioner.