What is Thiamidol and how does it work?

Thiamidol is a patented ingredient, developed by Eucerin, which is clinically and dermatologically proven to reduce pigment spots and prevent their reappearance.  

It’s the result of 10 years of research and over 50,000 tested ingredients, and you can find it as a key ingredient in many of our skincare products.

Melanin is the brown pigment that determines the colour of our skin. The production of melanin in our skin depends on many different factors, such as the strength of the sun's rays and duration of sun exposure.  

Sometimes, due to hormone changes during pregnancy, inflammation, in the form of acne or due to the ageing process of the skin, our skin cells only produce more melanin in small areas and thus irregular pigmentation occurs. This is understood as hyperpigmentation, melasma or age spots.  

Pigmentation occurs when the enzyme tyrosinase converts the amino acid tyrosine into melanin. With increased activation, this enzyme can produce more melanin and the skin can appear darker in some areas. These dark marks and pigment spots on the skin are quite common but can be distressing when noticeable. 

Thiamidol effectively reduces melanin production by blocking the enzyme tyrosinase, which converts the amino acid tyrosine into melanin. Less melanin is transported from the basal layer of the skin to the top of the skin and with that, pigment spots gradually fade and are prevented from reappearing.

The short answer? Very. Thiamidol is currently the most effective inhibitor of human tyrosinase, the enzyme that contributes to skin hyperpigmentation.  

In fact, first results are visible after just two weeks of regular use thanks to reduced melanocyte activity. Within 12 weeks of using Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum, hyperpigmentation reduction of up to 75% was shown.  

Thiamidol is a lesser-known active with a high-performance profile, revealed during extensive testing at Beiersdorf. Ultimately, the enzyme tyrosinase does not only exist in humans, but also in a lot of different animals and plants. When testing actives in the lab, it is still very common to use the enzyme found in mushrooms because of its accessibility. Until recently, all actives were tested on the mushroom enzyme, but the human enzyme is of course much more complex. 

Isolating the human enzyme for testing is more challenging because the structure of the human enzyme is also more fragile. However, Beiersdorf researchers succeeded and were the first to isolate the human enzyme and made it available for testing. This was the first step in identifying tyrosinase’s targeted structure. Out of 50,000 components tested, Thiamidol stood out for its ability to able to block the tyrosinase in small concentrations. Whereas other tyrosinase inhibitors are not effective on human enzyme because they were designed the mushroom enzyme.

Thiamidol is very gentle, meaning it’s great for sensitive skin. It works for skin of any ethnicity or age and is effective on all skin types and tones. 

Eucerin Anti-Pigment products contain Thiamidol and can be used alongside dermatological treatments such as chemical peels and laser therapies when skin is fully intact (and not wounded or open) to boost and extend results.

Sun exposure is the number one cause of hyperpigmentation and triggers the production of melanin, a natural pigment that gives colour to skin. Thus, exposure to sunlight, hormonal influences and ageing can cause an increase in melanin production and trigger hyperpigmentation. Repeated and regular sun exposure can cause pigment spots to become visible at a younger age. But constant and daily sun protection will prevent new spots forming. 

Not only this, but it also improves Thiamidol’s efficacy. For example, the Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum is up to 2.5 times more effective in reducing pigment spots when used with Eucerin Anti-Pigment Day SPF 30.

The efficacy is also increased because each of the aforementioned products contain Thiamidol. However, products containing Thiamidol should only be applied a maximum of four times per day.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation happens when skin is inflamed or injured, for example because of acne, and the impacted area is left darkened and hyperpigmented despite having otherwise healed. 

Eucerin’s DermoPure range contains products formulated to reduce post-acne marks, reduce blemishes and reduce shine. For the ideal routine, we recommend using the Triple Effect Cleansing Gel, the Triple Effect Serum (with patented Thiamidol) and the Protective Fluid SPF 30.

Often appearing on the face, hands and other parts of the body exposed to the sun, age spots are small areas of discolouration (hyperpigmentation) visible on the skin.  They are most common in people over the age of 40 (hence the name) but they can occur earlier. 

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity 3D Serum is a light and moisturising anti-aging serum that has been specially formulated for mature skin. It contains high and low molecular Hyaluronic Acid and Arctiin to plump up deep wrinkles and improve skin elasticity, as well as Thiamidol for actively reducing age spots

As age spots also occur on the hands due to their frequent sun exposure, Eucerin Age Spot Correcting Hand Cream is formulated to specifically address the skin in this area.