iScienceOct 13, 2026

Applying urolithin A to the skin may boost cell cleanup and energy production to help skin age better

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Oct 14, 2026

Abstract

Urolithin A (UA) reduced periorbital wrinkle depth after 8 weeks in a randomized clinical study.

UA may enhance mitochondrial respiration in human skin models.
Increased levels of markers for mitophagy and reduced inflammatory mediators were observed with UA treatment.
UA is associated with increased proteins that support skin structure and differentiation.
Skin transcriptomics indicated enhanced extracellular matrix development and reduced signaling related to inflammation and aging.
Safety of UA was confirmed through a human repeat-insult patch test.

Simplified

Urolithin A (UA, Mitopure), a postbiotic that promotes mitophagy and mitochondrial function following oral administration, was evaluated for its effects on skin health in human skin models and when applied topically to healthy subjects in randomized clinical studies. UA tested in 2D and 3D reconstructed human skin and ex vivo human skin explants showed enhanced mitochondrial respiration, activated mitophagy markers, reduced inflammatory mediators and senescence-associated markers, and increased proteins involved in extracellular matrix structure and epidermal differentiation. Safety was confirmed in a human repeat-insult patch test. In randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies, UA reduced periorbital wrinkle depth after 8 weeks and attenuated UVB-induced erythema. Skin transcriptomics supported increased extracellular matrix and epidermal development programs together with decreased inflammatory and senescence-associated signaling. These findings indicate that topical UA engages cellular pathways associated with skin resilience to promote skin health and longevity.

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Applying urolithin A to the skin may boost cell cleanup and energy production to help skin age better

Abstract

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