Clinical applications of N-acetylcysteine in dermatology

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the acetylated metabolite of cysteine and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating acetaminophen toxicity. By boosting glutathione, NAC acts as an antioxidant and through replenishing glutathione, it can also prevent paracetamol toxicity. From the other hand, NAC has mucolytic and antiinflammatory effects and also is a glutamate precursor and therefore can be used in a variety of diseases. Regarding the various pharmacological effects of NAC and its low rate of adverse events, NAC has attracted increasing interest for a range of indications during the recent years. Here, the possible applications of this drug in dermatology are reviewed.