Glossary
A Allergic Contact Dermatitis: A delayed type IV
Accelerant: Alternative name for chemical en-
hancer.
Acrids: Pungent, bitter tasting substances.
Active: An ingredient in a formula which is sought
for its special but non-medicinal performance. Any
ingredient upon which the marketing claims for a
specific performance benefit for a consumer prod-
uct is either made or implied.
Active Cosmetics: Skin care products designed
to have an effect on health as well as appearance.
Acylceramide: An unusual linoleate-containing
ceramide found in the stratum corneum.
Acylceramide is important for the organization of
lipids in the intercellular spaces of the stratum cor-
neum and for permeability barrier function.
Acylglucosylceramide: An unusual linoleate-con-
taining glycosphingolipid found in the noncornified
layers of keratinizing epithelia. It is thought to be
involved in the formation of lamellar granules and is
the precursor of the acylceramide.
Alkoxy Silane: Compound containing an Si-O-C
group.
Alkyl Methyl Siloxane: Silicone copolymer, where
some of the methyl groups are substituted by hydro-
carbon chains of variable alkyl chain length.
allergic reaction of the skin with presentation of
erythema, edema and itching.
Alpha-hydroxyacid (AHA): An ingredient used in
cosmetic and therapeutic skin care.
Alveolar: The best example of alveolar structure
offered by mother nature is the human lung, the lung
and its alveolus having been described by Professor
Mandelbrot as a fractal structure.
Amphipathic: Constructed of both hydrophilic and
hydrophobic moieties. A molecule that contains dis-
crete polar and nonpolar regions that favor self-as-
sociation into micelles and condensed phases depend-
ing on concentration and conformation.
Amphiphile: A molecule with a polar head group
and a nonpolar chain. Such molecules spontaneously
self-assemble in polar solvents such as water.
Amphoteric: A substance that is capable of react-
ing chemically as either an acid or a base.
Amylopectin: The branched glucose polymer with
a higher molecular weight found within the starch
granule. Approximately 97% of the glucose linkages
in amylopectin are a-D-(1 4) linkages, and the
remaining linkages are a-D-(1 6) glucopyranosyl
linkages.
Amylose: The lower molecular weight, linear poly-
mer containing a-D-(1 4) glucopyranosyl linkages
found within the starch granule.