Asiatic Acid

Asiatic acid is a triterpenoid from Centella asiatica used in low concentrations for soothing, barrier support, and wound-healing, and it is generally well-tolerated in clinical use. However, Centella-derived actives can still trigger irritant or allergic contact dermatitis in a small subset of highly reactive or eczematous patients, especially in leave-on formulas with multiple botanicals. Given this low-but-real risk in sensitive populations, it fits best as a gentle ingredient rather than exceptionally gentle or inert. Safety Notes: In commercial skincare, asiatic acid is most often delivered as a minor component of Centella asiatica extracts, where finished-product asiatic acid levels can fall into the low-ppm range (~0.0005–0.01%) in gentle leave-on creams/serums and some rinse-off cleansers. Dedicated “Centella actives” products using purified asiatic acid or standardized triterpene blends push higher, with OTC leave-on formulas commonly around ~0.05–0.2% and niche/high-strength consumer serums reaching about 0.5% before solubility, sensory, and stability constraints typically limit further increases. No specific EU/FDA cosmetic maximum is set for asiatic acid itself; practical formulation limits and irritation risk at higher loads generally define the observed market ceiling.