Glycolic acid is an organic acid, known as an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which can be found in fruit and milk. Alpha hydroxy acids have been used for a long time as moisturisers, skin softeners and exfoliants. Examples of AHA’s are glycolic acid and tartaric acid. Salicylic acid is an example of a beta hydroxy acid and is similar in structure. Anti aging products frequently include glycolic acid. There are many glycolic acid skin care preparations to choose from.
How Do Glycolic Acid Skin Care Preparations Work?
Glycolic acid is an extremely small molecule extracted from sugar cane. It is a single chain molecule and among the smallest of the AHA’s. Since it is so minute it can easily enter the skin where it interferes with the attachments that secure the dead cells to the skin. They can then be easily sloughed off leaving a soft and more young-looking skin. In addition glycolic acid is an extremely efficient moisturizer. In one trial there was a 200% increase in skin moisture when glycolic acid was used regularly over a few weeks. Glycolic acid skin care products include creams, gels lotions and peels.
Side Effects of Glycolic Acid Peels
Peels containing glycolic acid are the mildest available so side effects are usually mild. They may include stinging, redness and some irritation. Side effects are usually transient and will clear up in a less than a week.
A Word of Caution
Retinol or related vitamin A related products can make the effects of any glycolic acid skin care products more intense. This is specially significant for glycolic acid peels so take care if you are also using any of these kinds of products.
Types of Glycolic Acid Skin Care Products
Glycolic acid creams, gels and lotions
All these glycolic acid skin care products are intended for daily use as exfoliating agents, moisturisers and cleansers. Creams and lotions are manufactured for dry, oily or combination skins. Serums are mostly lighter in texture and are consequently more appropriate for oily skins.
Glycolic Acid Chemical Peels
At higher concentrations glycolic acid is used as a chemical peel to provide a deeper therapy than gels and creams. A chemical peel works by literally searing the skin so that the skin ‘peels’ off to expose smooth skin below. These types of peels are obtainable at your local pharmacy but if you haven’t used one before it is sensible to check with a dermatologist before use to ensure it is suitable for your skin. Glycolic acid peels are used to eliminate dry areas, pigmentation and fine lines. In addition they are effective in controlling acne outbreaks or to treat skin damaged by the sun.
Anti Aging Preparations
There are numerous anti aging skin care products for sale with many different ingredients. Glycolic acid is frequently included in these products, generally combined with supplementary ingredients such as Coenzyme Q10 or retinol. A few individuals could have skin that is too sensitive to use a product containing glycolic acid and retinol in combination so be wary when using this sort of product and try on a small spot, maybe on the inner arm, before applying to your face. Furthermore be sure to use a sunscreen when using any product that contains retinol in the daytime as this does make the skin more susceptible to the sun.
Skin Lightening Products
Skin lightening products are made for use on areas of the skin that are discolored from damage from the sun or aging. They must not be used over the whole of the face. They can be bought as creams or gels and generally contain additional ingredients such as azelaic acid, hydroquinone and kojic acid.
Eye Preparations
Glycolic acid skin care products appropriate to take care of the fine lines in the region of the eyes contain much lower levels of glycolic acid than the gels and creams made for the whole face. The skin about the eyes is thinner and more sensitive than in other parts of the face. Glycolic acid eye creams are generally formulated with additional ingredients such as retinol.
Cleaners
Cleansers formulated with glycolic acid usually have levels which vary from 4% to approximately 10%. They may be used for daily exfoliationg and cleansing. Choose a lotion or gel with a lower level if this is the first occasion you have used a glycolic acid cleaner and step up the level as your skin becomes adapted to it.
Masks
These types of glycolic acid skin care products have a higher concentration of active component and are customarily used for more intensive, deeper cleaning therapies.
Toners
Toners are mostly used to bring back the skin’s pH prior to other treatments and can augment their usefulness.
Face Washes
A glycolic acid face wash can be used every day to give a wonderful radiance to the skin. Even though several of the glycolic acid products that can be purchased over the counter have a rather high concentration of glycolic acid, face washes have a lot lower concentration and consequently are entirely safe for everybody to use. The one exception is if you have any serious skin problems, you should talk to a doctor before you use this kind of face wash although it is doubtful that concentrations this low will cause any harm.
Final Thoughts
Glycolic acid skin care products are used for a wide range of skin procedures and are helpful and usually gentle. Combined with other ingredients they have a wide range of uses and are very popular and widely used in skin care preparations.
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