Potassium PCA at a Glance
- A mineral electrolyte
- Plays an influential role in skin’s natural moisturizing factor
- Ensures balanced hydration levels
- Aids in reinforcing skin’s barrier
- Helps optimizes skin’s desquamation (shedding) process
Potassium PCA Description
Potassium PCA is the potassium salt of PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid), a substance that’s a natural part of skin’s intercellular matrix. Potassium PCA therefore plays an influential role in what’s known as skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF).
Potassium is one of the minerals that helps facilitate water pathways within skin, ensuring balanced hydration levels. In fact, when skin loses potassium, as it does when we sweat, it can look and feel drier.
As an electrolyte, potassium plays a role in reinforcing skin’s barrier and in its desquamation (shedding) process.
Potassium PCA has been deemed safe by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Their report surveyed products containing between 0.005-0.75% potassium PCA.
Potassium PCA References
International Journal of Toxicology, 2019, pages 5S-11S
Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, October 2015, pages 491-497
Journal of Dermatological Science, November 2013, pages 177-182; and May 2012, pages 154-159
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, June 2011, pages 45-55
Yonsei Medical Journal, June 2006, pages 293-306