a-LA has been found to penetrate rapidly into murine and human skin to dermal and subcutaneous layers. Two hours after application of 5% a-LA in propylene glycol, maximum levels of a-LA were attained in the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue (154). The stratum corneum concentration of a-LA predicted the penetration and levels in the underlying skin. 5% of the a-LA was converted to DHLA in both the epidermis and dermis, leading the researchers to conclude that both keratinocytes and flbroblasts reduce a-LA (154).