A newly published study in the journal Cosmetics suggests that ozonized glycerin, an approach that “leverages ozone stabilization in glycerin for improved stability and prolonged release to the skin,” could offer additional useful benefits over standard glycerin in topical applications.
The discovery is particularly relevant in skin repair and barrier-support models, according to researchers from NC State University.
Glycerin is already widely used across the US cosmetics and personal care market for its moisturizing properties and versatility in topical formulation. The new research explored whether adding ozone to glycerin might improve its biological activity without affecting its effective usability.
The study, funded by a grant from Mediplus Pharma to NCSU, evaluated ozonized glycerin (OG) in 3D epidermal wound-healing models over 13 days and in ex vivo human skin biopsies over four days, comparing its effects with those of glycerin (G) under both normal and inflammatory conditions.
Faster wound closure in 3D skin model
In the 3D wound-healing model, ozonized glycerin demonstrated improved closure rates when compared to with glycerin alone, with a reported 6.8% increase.
“OG demonstrated consistent benefits toward skin tissue repair and barrier structure maintenance in both 3D epidermal skin models and human ex vivo skin explants,” the researchers wrote.
According to the paper, the improved closure was linked toward shifts in proteins involved in matrix remodeling and growth signaling. The treatment reduced levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1α and increased secretion of TGF-Β1, a growth factor associated with tissue repair.
“Together, the simultaneous reduction in pro-inflammatory signaling and the enhancement of regenerative pathways support the accelerated wound closure demonstrated in OG treatments,” the researchers reported.
For product developers, the data points to possible applications in post-treatment care, targeted repair treatments and resilience-focused skin care, although the study authors cautioned that the research is still preclinical.
Increased barrier and structural proteins in human skin explants
Beyond wound closure, the researchers examined how ozonized glycerin affected protein expression in human skin, and found “pretreatments of OG increased the expression of...two critical proteins involved in maintaining epidermal integrity.”
These proteins, claudin-1 and desmocollin-1, play central roles in tight junctions and cell-to-cell adhesion, both of which are essential for maintaining barrier function. The team also observed increases in collagen type III and TIMP-1 under non-inflammatory conditions.
“The harmonized increase in collagen type III and TIMP-1 under basal conditions suggests that OG, compared to G alone, stimulates an environment that strengthens extra cellular matrix (ECM) deposition and reinforcement,” the researchers reported.
The authors noted that earlier literature has linked ozonized glycerin to activation of the antioxidant pathway, though those mechanisms were not directly measured in this study.
Comparable anti-inflammatory effects, with elastin preservation
In lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-challenged skin, which is an inflamed skin model, both glycerin and ozonized glycerin reduced MMP-9 expression, an enzyme associated with collagen and elastin breakdown.
“Treatment with either OG or G effectively reduced MMP-9 expression and prevented the LPS-induced degradation of key ECM proteins, elastin, and collagen-1, respectively,” the researchers reported.
Although overall anti-inflammatory effects were similar between the two, the authors observed greater preservation of elastin with the ozonized version.
“OG appeared to be more effective in preserving elastin, whereas its effects on collagen type I were less pronounced,” the researchers wrote.
What it means for future skincare
The researchers concluded that ozonation enhanced glycerin’s biological activity in baseline repair and in structural markers. “Overall, these results demonstrate that ozonation enhances the biological activity of glycerin as a cosmetic ingredient,” the researchers wrote.
They also acknowledged limitations, including the demand for in vivo studies and further work to better understand absorption and the mechanism of action.
Source: Cosmetics
2026, 13, 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics13010042
“Therapeutic Potential of Ozonized Glycerin in Skin Inflammation and Repair.”
Authors: Ivarsson, J., et al.
