From Anirva, the maker of Dermal Radiance. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that the body makes. It is used in supplements and in skin creams. Here we look at what alpha lipoic acid does in the body and what studies show for skin. We also cover the amount in Dermal Radiance, food sources and safety.
In this article
- The body makes alpha lipoic acid. It helps enzymes in the cell turn food into energy. [1]
- It acts as an antioxidant in lab tests. It can neutralize reactive molecules and help regenerate vitamin C and glutathione. [1]
- A cream study showed smoother skin. In a controlled study, a 5% alpha lipoic acid cream lowered skin roughness on the face over 12 weeks. [3]
- An animal study points to skin blood flow. In aging rats, alpha lipoic acid improved blood flow in the skin. [4]
- Dermal Radiance contains 40 mg of alpha lipoic acid. The amount is listed on the label. [5]
Facts at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ingredient and form | Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), a sulfur-containing compound made by the body [1] |
| Amount in Dermal Radiance | 40 mg [5] |
| Amounts used in the skin studies | A 5% cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks (not a capsule amount); typical oral supplements range from 50 mg to 600 mg [1][3] |
| Kinds of evidence | Lab/test-tube antioxidant studies; 1 controlled human cream trial; 1 animal study; 1 human oral combination trial with a result not significantly different from placebo [1][3][4][6] |
| Human studies cited here | 2 studies — a 33-woman cream trial and an 83-adult oral combination trial |
| Regulatory guidance | Generally well tolerated by mouth; trials have used up to 1,800 mg a day for six months; no established upper limit [1] |
What Is Alpha Lipoic Acid?
Alpha lipoic acid, also called lipoic acid, is a compound that contains sulfur. Plants and animals make it, and so does the human body. [1]
Inside the cell, it is a helper for several enzymes that turn food into energy. Lipoic acid has two mirror-image forms, R and S. The body makes the R form, and most supplements contain a mix of both. [1]
How Might Alpha Lipoic Acid Work in Skin?
Antioxidant activity in the lab
In test tubes, lipoic acid neutralizes reactive molecules. Its reduced form can also regenerate other antioxidants, including vitamin C, glutathione and coenzyme Q10. [1]
A cream on the face
In a randomized, double-blind study, 33 women with an average age of 54 used two creams for 12 weeks. One half of the face got a cream with 5% alpha lipoic acid, and the other half got the same cream without it. Skin roughness fell by 50.8% on the lipoic acid side and by 40.7% on the other side. [3]
Blood flow in aging skin
In an animal study, researchers gave alpha lipoic acid to aging rats. Blood flow in the skin improved, and so did the function of the small blood vessels. [4]
What Does the Research Show?
The research on alpha lipoic acid and skin is still growing. The table shows the kind of evidence behind each point.
| Type of evidence | Source | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Cream (people) | Beitner 2003 [3] | Skin roughness fell more with a 5% cream than with the control cream over 12 weeks |
| Animal (rats) | de Bengy 2022 [4] | Skin blood flow improved in aging rats given alpha lipoic acid |
How Much Alpha Lipoic Acid Is in Dermal Radiance?
| Source | Alpha Lipoic Acid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dermal Radiance (2 capsules) | 40 mg a day | From the label [5] |
| Typical supplements | 50 mg to 600 mg | [1] |
Dermal Radiance provides 40 mg of alpha lipoic acid, which is below the usual supplement range. The body absorbs about 30% to 40% of a dose taken by mouth. Food lowers the amount in the blood by about 20%. [1]
Food Sources of Alpha Lipoic Acid
Foods contain small amounts of lipoic acid. Kidney, heart and liver have the most among animal foods. Spinach and broccoli have the most among vegetables. [1]
What the Research Does Not Show Yet
- We found no human trial of alpha lipoic acid by mouth, taken alone, that measured skin in healthy adults.
- One 12-week trial in 83 adults tested a capsule with glutathione, vitamin C, 50 mg of alpha lipoic acid and zinc. The skin measures did not differ significantly from placebo. [6]
- It is not yet known whether the antioxidant reactions seen in test tubes also take place in the body. [1]
- We found no study of alpha lipoic acid combined with the other Dermal Radiance ingredients.
Safety and Interactions
Trials have used up to 1,800 mg of alpha lipoic acid a day for six months, with few serious side effects. The side effects reported most often are skin reactions, such as rash and itching, and nausea. [1][2]
Alpha lipoic acid can lower blood sugar. In rare cases, it has been linked with a condition that causes low blood sugar in people with a certain genetic makeup. [2] If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, or you are having cancer treatment, talk to your doctor before you take it. [1][2]
Alpha lipoic acid is made by the body and is found in small amounts in food. [1] A few points can help you use it well:
- The cream study and a capsule are different ways to use alpha lipoic acid.
- Take Dermal Radiance with a meal, as the label directs. [5]
- If you take medicines for blood sugar, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start a new supplement.
Alpha Lipoic Acid Is One Part of Dermal Radiance
Dermal Radiance is a daily two-capsule supplement with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts. They were chosen to support healthy collagen, skin firmness and elasticity, and radiance. Alpha lipoic acid is one of them.
Dermal Radiance has not been clinically tested as a finished product. For this reason, we cannot say how its ingredients work together. The studies in this article tested alpha lipoic acid alone, as a cream, or in a different combination.
If you take Dermal Radiance, you are not relying on alpha lipoic acid alone. It is one of 20 ingredients in each serving. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label. [5]
About Dermal Radiance
A daily two-capsule formula with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts, including 40 mg of alpha lipoic acid, per serving. Dermal Radiance hasn't been clinically tested as a finished formula. The label lists every ingredient and its amount.
See the Dermal Radiance product page →If You Are Deciding
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that the body makes. [1] A controlled cream study showed smoother facial skin after 12 weeks. [3] Dermal Radiance uses it as one of 20 ingredients. If you would like to try Dermal Radiance, the directions are two capsules a day with a meal. [5]
The Short Version
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that the body makes. In a controlled study, a 5% cream lowered skin roughness over 12 weeks. Dermal Radiance provides 40 mg of alpha lipoic acid.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. Micronutrient Information Center: Lipoic Acid. Updated October 2018; reviewed January 2019.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Last updated July 31, 2026.
- Beitner H. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid related to photoageing of facial skin. Br J Dermatol. 2003;149(4):841-849. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05597.x. PMID: 14616378.
- de Bengy AF, Decorps J, Martin LS, Pagnon A, Chevalier FP, Sigaudo-Roussel D, Fromy B. Alpha-lipoic acid supplementation restores early age-related sensory and endothelial dysfunction in the skin. Biomedicines. 2022;10(11):2887. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10112887. PMID: 36359407.
- Anirva. Dermal Radiance Supplement Facts label and product page.
- Sitohang IBS, Anwar AI, Jusuf NK, Arimuko A, Norawati L, Veronica S. Evaluating oral glutathione plus ascorbic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, and zinc aspartate as a skin-lightening agent: an Indonesian multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(7):E53-E58.
