Psoralea corylifolia (babchi) is a plant extract whose key compound bakuchiol is used as a retinol-like active for anti-aging, supporting collagen and improving skin texture. The whole-plant extract also contains psoralens, which are photosensitizing furocoumarins.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Skin irritation or redness | Uncommon | Mild stinging or erythema, generally less than with retinoids |
Photosensitivity / phototoxic reaction | Uncommon | Due to psoralen content; can cause sunburn-like reactions and hyperpigmentation with UV exposure |
Contact dermatitis / allergic reaction | Rare | Sensitization in predisposed individuals |
Phytophotodermatitis with blistering | Rare | From psoralen-mediated UVA reaction on sun-exposed skin |
Hyperpigmentation | Rare | Paradoxical darkening linked to psoralen phototoxicity |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.