Skip to content
Research Only Immune & Anti-Inflammatory

Dermcidin

also known as: DCD, DCD-1L, Sweat antimicrobial peptide

The antibiotic in your sweat — a constitutively secreted skin defense peptide that kills bacteria on contact.

A 47-amino-acid anionic antimicrobial peptide constitutively secreted by eccrine sweat glands onto the skin surface, providing broad-spectrum defense independent of the inflammatory immune response.

Mechanism of action

Unlike most cationic AMPs, dermcidin is anionic. Forms zinc-dependent oligomeric ion channels in bacterial membranes. Constitutive (not infection-induced), salt-stable, and pH-tolerant — distinguishing it from LL-37 and defensins.

Primary uses

  • Endogenous constitutive skin antimicrobial defense
  • Research: individual susceptibility to skin infections
  • Template for salt-tolerant AMP design

Typical dosing

N/A N/A N/A (endogenous)

Constitutively secreted at ~1-10 mcg/mL in sweat.

Regulatory status

Not approved. Research interest in dermcidin-based topical antimicrobials and individual susceptibility to skin infections.

References

  1. [pubmed] Schittek B, et al. "Dermcidin: a novel human antibiotic peptide secreted by sweat glands." Nat Immunol. 2001;2(12):1133-1137.
  2. [pubmed] Song C, et al. "Crystal structure and functional mechanism of a human antimicrobial membrane channel." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110(12):4586-4591.

Related peptides

LL-37

The only human cathelicidin — an antimicrobial peptide with direct activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and biofilms, with additional roles in wound healing and immune signaling.

Cathelicidin

The parent of LL-37 — the sole human cathelicidin, whose expression is directly regulated by vitamin D and whose cleavage product LL-37 is a key effector of innate antimicrobial defense.

HNP-1

The prototype human α-defensin — isolated from neutrophil granules by Ganz, Selsted and Lehrer in 1985; the dominant antimicrobial peptide in human neutrophils and a workhorse molecule of innate immunity. Research peptide only: no defensin has ever been developed as an approved drug.

hBD-1

The constitutive epithelial β-defensin — first isolated from haemodialysate urine by Bensch, Schröder and colleagues (FEBS Letters 1995). Constitutively expressed (unlike hBD-2 and hBD-3, which are inducible), salt-sensitive in standard assays, and a major component of urogenital and airway surface antimicrobial defense.

Guides & tools

Disclaimer

This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.