A hypothesis for examining dihydroxyacetone, the active component in sunless tanning products, as a topical prophylactic against SARS-COV-2 transmission.

ABSTRACT: This hypothesis raises the interesting prospect that dihydroxyacetone (DHA), the key ingredient in self-tanning creams, when applied daily to the face and hands may have prophylactic action against SARS-COV-2 transmission and infection. The scientific and mechanistic basis for this hypothesis is elaborated based on our understanding of the chemical reactivity of DHA with proteins to afford advanced glycation products. This piece ends with a proposal for doing key experiments that can be run to test this hypothesis. As more than 30 million people have been infected with this disease world-wide, a safe method for stopping spread is worthy of consideration. Publication of this hypothesis would enable the scientific community at large to test this in a clinically meaningful setting to address

SUBMITTER: Perrin DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7492836 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature