ALPHA-GLUCAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE

Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is a short-chain polysaccharide produced through enzymatic synthesis from sucrose, resulting in a mixture of glucose oligomers linked by alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds. Unlike broad-spectrum antimicrobials, it works by selectively nourishing commensal skin microorganisms such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, effectively outcompeting pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus for colonization sites on the skin surface. Formulators favor it for its excellent water solubility, skin-identical carbohydrate structure that is well-tolerated across skin types, and its ability to complement other microbiome-supportive ingredients such as Inulin to reinforce the skin's natural barrier ecosystem.