ABSTRACT
As previously reviewed, sufficient preclinical and clinical data is available to demonstrate both cell biological and clinical antiaging benefits of idebenone. Consultations with several companies that market idebenone in topical skincare formulations also indicate that premarket safety HIRPT studies did not indicate any skin sensitivity concerns. However, post market surveillance (there are various formulations that have been on the market since 2004 including Prevage MD, Prevage, and PRIORI) suggests that there have been a few reported cases of skin sensitivity to the molecule, in most cases immediate and cumulative irritation reactions that can include skin redness, itching, and folliculitis, but in more severe cases, what appear to be classic allergic type reactions (38-40). Since the use of idebenone is new in skincare so it is in the general population, consumers reporting allergic type reactions on first use can only be explained via a cross sensitivity type model. Because the compound is a 1,4-benzoquinone, consumers who are exhibiting allergy to para-phenylenediamine, hydroquinone, evening primrose oil, and other similar compounds may exhibit the same sensitivity to idebenone. For this reason, products should carry a caution to “patch test” products with idebenone and to wait at least 24 hours prior to commencing regular use. If sensitivity occurs, consumers should not use products containing idebenone. It is worthy of notation here that there has never been a recorded allergic reaction to the internal consumption of idebenone in spite of its wide availability as a dietary supplement in many markets around the world.
