The racemate of L-malic acid; reduces IFN-γ and TNF-α-induced CCL2 and ICAM expression in HaCaT human keratinocytes at 1 mM; inhibits epidermis and dermis thickening, as well as mast cell and eosinophil dermal infiltration in a mouse model of DNBC-induced atopic dermatitis at 10 mM