Commonly referred to as DHA, dihydroxyacetone is a naturally
occurring carbohydrate that consists of a combination of only
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In plants like sugar beets and
sugarcane, the carbohydrate is vital to supplying energy to the
cells. Sometimes, DHA is called by its alternate name,
glycerone. When used in skin care products, dihydroxyacetone is
often derived by isolating a compound known as glycerol from a
plant that contains DHA. This can be done through a number of
techniques. Once glycerol has been obtained, it is then mixed
with oxygen by adding a chemical like hydrogen peroxide. This
causes a reaction that frees the DHA molecules from the other
materials contained in the glycerol. When isolated and kept at
room temperature, DHA is a white powder that consists of tiny
crystals. It dissolves easily in many different types of
liquids, which makes it ideal for use in skin care products. One
of the first experimental uses for DHA was in the developing of
x-rays used to diagnose medical cond