Common Name(s): Hexyl aminolevulinate hcl,hexyl aminolevulinate hcl,pro-photosensitiser,pdt anti-acne porphyrin precursor

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides prodrug delivery of aminolevulinic acid for c. acnes-selective photodynamic inactivation — the bacteria's porphyrin synthesis pathway accumulating ppix which singlet oxygen generation upon visible light activation provides selective anti-acne treatment.

Why It's Used: The c. acnes selectivity of ala-pdt is the most targeted anti-acne mechanism available — bacteria have higher porphyrin synthesis rates than keratinocytes, so ppix accumulates preferentially in c. acnes providing photodynamic killing without keratinocyte damage.

How It Works: Hexyl ala → lipophilic sc penetration → cleavage → free ala + hexanol. ala → bacterial/keratinocyte 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase pathway → porphobilinogen → uroporphyrinogen → coproporphyrinogen iii → ppix. ppix accumulates in mitochondria → 630 nm light → singlet oxygen (¹o₂) → lipid peroxidation → cell death. c. acnes accumulates 100× more ppix than keratinocytes.

Typically Found In: Pdt anti-acne,medical aesthetics

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: Check regulatory classification

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required

Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Hexyl aminolevulinate regulatory boundary: medical device/drug in most markets for pdt applications — cosmetic use of photo-activatable pro-drugs requires careful regulatory boundary assessment. some markets classify pdt actives as drugs requiring medical prescriptions.

Last Verified: 2026-03-22

Primary Sources: Cosing database,hexyl ala aminolevulinate photodynamic anti-acne review