Alpha Hydroxy Acid and Glycolic Acid

Are AHAs Right For Your Skin?

There are so many different products available in skin care that it’s difficult to know where to start. So this short overview of Alpha Hydroxy Acid and Glycolic Acid should help you to decide which type of product is best for your skin. Let’s start by looking at Alpha Hydroxy Acids, otherwise known as AHAs.

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What is alpha hydroxy acid?

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are a group of water soluble chemicals that are well-known for their exfoliating properties and are popular ingredients in many skin care products. Exfoliation helps to renew your skin and give it a smoother and more radiant glow. AHAs can be naturally occurring or synthetic and the common ones include Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid and Citric Acid. They are only weak acids however, (don’t confuse them with house cleaning acids or industrial acids) and are considered safe when used in skin care products – as long as their dosage is within FDA recommended limits.

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Safety of alpha hydroxy acid products

In 2005, after a number of safety reviews, the FDA recommended that Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid were both safe for use in cosmetic products – if their concentrations are 10% or below. This limitation is because Alpha Hydroxy Acid products may increase the sensitivity of your skin to the sun and cause sunburn. They also recommended that you wear sunscreen and protective clothing in the sun while using Alpha Hydroxy Acid Products and for a week after ceasing its use.

The FDA has also recommended that Alpha Hydroxy Acid Products with a concentration of 30% or less are safe to use in salons, if their usage is brief and followed by a thorough cleansing of the skin – when applied by trained professionals and sun screen precautions are taken.

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What is glycolic acid?

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid derived from sugar cane, which can be made synthetically and is very popular in skin care products. The ability to penetrate the skin is an important characteristic of exfoliators, which is why Glycolic Acid is so popular in skin care products, because it has the smallest molecular size of all the AHAs, and easily penetrates your skin (it has high bio-availability).

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What does glycolic acid do?

At concentrations of 10% or below, Glycolic Acid promotes exfoliation of the top layer of your skin, leading to a smoother texture and a more even skin tone. At these low concentrations, Glycolic Acid Products can be safely used every day, but must be consistently used to maintain a fresh, smooth texture to your skin (always check the usability instructions that come with your skincare product).

At higher concentrations however, up to 50% (professional grade AHAs), the exfoliating benefits will be more obvious, but they still only last a matter of months. Glycolic Acid Peels at these concentrations can give similar results  to a microdermabrasion treatment– reducing fine lines and wrinkles and giving your skin a smoother and more even toned appearance.

Concentrations between 50% and 70% are used for chemical peels by medical professionals to treat severe acne or hyper-pigmentation problems. Because of their high concentrations however, these Glycolic Acid Peels are only applied for a very short period of time – usually less than 10 minutes. They are usually performed every 2 to 4 weeks until the required results are seen and the results can last for up to 5 years.

So the take home message is that Glycolic Acid is a fabulous skin exfoliator, safely removing the outer layer of your skin to reveal new, fresh and beautiful skin.  Glycolic Acid Products are great for people with fine lines and wrinkles, sun spots or age spots, skin discolorations and anyone who suffers from acne or large pores.

It’s due to its exfoliation properties that Glycolic Acid is included in many serums and peels that help to brighten your skin. People with hyper-pigmentation, uneven skin tones, age spots, sun spots and other mild pigmentation issues look for natural skin brightening products that will help to ease their problems. Glycolic Acid itself does not lighten your skin, but it does help with the turnover of dead skin cells, allowing other ingredients in your serum to assist with lightening and brightening your skin and giving your complexion a more even skin tone.

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Glycolic acid peels for acne

The benefits of home chemical peels won’t be as long lasting or as obvious as those performed using higher concentrations of Glycolic Acid by medical professionals.  Low concentration Glycolic Acid chemical peels however, used over a period of time at home will help to exfoliate your skin and give you a much brighter and more glowing complexion.

Of course, in-home chemical peels are much cheaper than those performed by medical professionals and might be all that you need to rejuvenate your skin. You need to decide which is best for your skin and if you are concerned, have a chat with your physician. Over the counter Glycolic Acid Products tend to be of the lower concentrations and because of this, they can usually be used daily (always check their usage however).

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Benefits of glycolic acid products

Removes dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin

Helps to clear away blocked pores and blackheads

Assists with treating acne by clearing out deeply blocked pores

Helps to minimize acne scars and other scars

Reduces fine lines and wrinkles

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Glycolic acid safety precautions

Remember – the higher the concentration of Glycolic Acid, the greater the skin irritation, redness and flaking. So make sure to wear sunscreen, as Glycolic Acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, causing sunburn. You can also suffer from dry, red or irritated skin if your skin is not used to Glycolic acid. If you are at all worried about using Glycolic Acid Products, talk to your physician or medical practitioner first.

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What’s the difference between alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acid?

Whilst there are a number of Alpha Hydroxy Acids, there is only one Beta Hydroxy Acid – which is called Salicylic Acid. The main difference between these two types of acids is that Alpha Hydroxy Acids are water soluble and the Beta Hydroxy acid is lipid (oil) soluble. Both are great exfoliators, being able to penetrate your skin and remove dead skin cells and blockages. Beta Hydroxy Acid however, can penetrate into the pores that contain sebum (because it’s oily), so it’s more effective than Alpha Hydroxy Acids on oily skin or those with deeply embedded blackheads and blocked pores.

Beta Hydroxy Aacids can also irritate your skin and make it very sensitive to the sun, so as for Glycolic Acids, using sunscreen is again, very important. The irritating effects of Beta Hydroxy Acids however, are not usually as strong as those from Alpha Hydroxy Acids, because Salicylic acid is derived from aspirin which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Concentrations of 1% or 2% Beta Hydroxy Acids are usually found in skin care products.

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How can I include glycolic acid products in my daily skin care routine?

There tends to be two different categories of Glycolic Acid Products on the market – those that can be left on your skin and followed by a moisturizer or makeup and those that should be washed off your face and neck. The first type of Glycolic Acid Products, which can be left on your skin, include the serums reviewed here, but also some creams and lotions. These have a low concentration of AHAs, usually at or below 10%.

The second type of Glycolic Acid Products, which need to be washed off your skin, are usually marketed as Glycolic Acid Peels or Fruit Acid Peels and usually have a concentration between 10% to 50%. These are much stronger and so do need to be removed from your skin.

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Which Glycolic acid serums are suitable for daily use?

These are the low concentrate serums that you simply include in your daily beauty routine. As they have a low concentration of AHAs and if your skin is not sensitive to these ingredients, then you can leave these products on your skin and you do not need to wash them off. Of course, if your skin seems sensitive to Glycolic Acid or any of the other AHAs, then always wash the product off your face and don’t use it again. Also, talk to your physician about the problems of using AHAs on your skin.

If you want to include an exfoliating Glycolic Acid Serum in your daily routine, then it’s best to have just one of your skin care products that contains Glycolic Acid, rather than multiple products. Use this product as your exfoliant, making sure that your other products do not contain Glycolic Acid. This is because using too many products containing AHAs or even Beta Hydroxy Acid can lead to skin irritations, so just be judicious in their use.

Moisturizers and serums may be the best formulations for including AHAs in your skin care routine, with Glycolic Acid Serums better than moisturizers, because they penetrate your skin more deeply.

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Glycolic acid peels

Peels tend to have higher concentrations than the Glycolic Acid Serums that can be used daily – usually between 10% to 50%. So with Glycolic Acid Peels or Fruit Acid Peels, the concentration of AHAs can be quite high and should not be used daily, and should not be left on your skin – they need to be washed off with cool water. Always read the recommended instructions that come with each product and don’t overuse them. Your skin can become quite red and irritated with these products, similar to sunburn, so you must be very careful with their use.

In fact, the higher concentration Glycolic Acid Peels should be administered by trained aestheticians, rather than being used at home. This is because you can seriously damage your skin if the concentration is too high and you leave these peels on for too long. If in doubt, always have a talk with a medical professional – it’s better to be safe, than sorry and don’t forget to use a sunscreen when using any products containing AHAs.

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