Tannic Acid
OTHER NAME(S): Tannic acid, Ácido Tánico, Acide Tannique
Overview
Tannic acid is found in the nutgalls formed by insects on the twigs of certain oak trees. Purified tannic acid is sometimes used as medicine.
People use tannic acid for conditions such as cold sores, diaper rash, heat rash, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Tannic acid contains ingredients that have a protective effect on the skin.
In foods and beverages, tannic acid is used as a flavoring agent.
In manufacturing, tannic acid is used in ointments and suppositories; for tanning hides and manufacturing ink; and to kill dust mites on furniture.
Tannic acid contains ingredients that have a protective effect on the skin.
Uses
Possibly Ineffective for
- Burns. Applying tannic acid to the skin does not seem to work for minor burns or sunburns.
- Diaper rash. Applying tannic acid to the skin does not seem to work for diaper rash.
- Cold sores (herpes labialis). Applying tannic acid to the skin does not seem to work for cold sores.
- Heat rash. Applying tannic acid to the skin does not seem to work for heat rash.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Diarrhea. Early research shows that taking a product containing tannic acid and gelatin (gelatin tannate) might improve symptoms in children who have had diarrhea for no more than 3 days. But not all research agrees.
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Early research shows that applying tannic acid to the palms might not work as well as iontophoresis, an electricity treatment, for reducing excessive sweating on the palms of the hand.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Cancer.
- Swollen tonsils.
- Ingrown toenails.
- Poison ivy.
- Thinning gums.
- Sore throat.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of tannic acid for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Tannic acid is LIKELY SAFE when used in the amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe when used in larger, medicinal amounts. Very large amounts of tannic acid can cause stomach irritation, nausea, and vomiting.
When applied to the skin: Tannic acid is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when applied to skin that is tender or damaged. There isn't enough reliable information to know if tannic acid is safe to use on healthy, undamaged skin.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Tannic acid is LIKELY SAFE when used in the amounts found in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe when used in larger, medicinal amounts. Very large amounts of tannic acid can cause stomach irritation, nausea, and vomiting.
When applied to the skin: Tannic acid is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when applied to skin that is tender or damaged. There isn't enough reliable information to know if tannic acid is safe to use on healthy, undamaged skin.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's POSSIBLY UNSAFE to apply tannic acid to tender or damaged skin. There is concern that it might be absorbed and cause harmful side effects. There isn't enough reliable information to know if tannic acid is safe to take by mouth when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Skin conditions: Don't take a bath with added tannic acid if you have weeping eczema and extensive skin damage. The broken skin could allow too much tannic acid to get into your body.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Tannic acid overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of tannic acid depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for tannic acid. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Covington TR, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
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- Goh CL, Yoyong K. A comparison of topical tannic acid versus iontophoresis in the medical treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Singapore Med J. 1996;37(5):466-8.
- Kołodziej M, Bebenek D, Konarska Z, Szajewska H. Gelatine tannate in the management of acute gastroenteritis in children: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2018;8(5):e020205.
- Zhang J, Song Q, Han X, et al. Multi-targeted protection of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice by tannic acid. Int Immunopharmacol. 2017;47:95-105.
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- Mennini M, Tolone C, Frassanito A, Midulla F, Cucchiara S, Aloi M. Gelatin tannate for acute childhood gastroenteritis: a randomized, single-blind controlled trial. Paediatr Drugs. 2017 Apr;19(2):131-137.
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