The Beneficial Effects of Glycolic Acid

Many people use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) because they love the beneficial effects of glycolic acid and other AHAs. Of all the alpha hydroxy acids out there, glycolic and lactic acid are the ones most often used for acne treatment. From those two, glycolic acid seems to work the best.

But what are the differences?

Glycolic acid is stronger than lactic acid because it has a smaller molecular size which helps it get absorbed into the skin better than lactic acid. That being said, lactic acid is more gentle on the skin for this same reason. For people with dry skin, lactic acid has more of a moisturizing effect, which is something to consider.

AHA's generally come in concentrations of 5-10% when purchased over the counter, and they can be used everyday. You can also get them in a higher concentration (up to 70%) as "peels" done at home, a doctor's office, or beauty salons. Of course, glycolic acid peels shouldn't be done on an everyday basis (I've seen recommendations from weekly to monthly).

Concentration isn't the only factor when determining the strength of a glycolic acid product. The pH is also a contributing factor for how much of the acid is absorbed. The pH for acid peels can get pretty low (about 0.6), but for regular exfoliation at a 10% concentration you want the pH as close as possible to your skin's pH (about 3.5).

Glycolic acid can be used as a spot treatment or used daily on the face/body as an exfoliant. Note that AHA's don't have the same anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits like salicylic acid does. This can make your skin react a little more harshly, so if you have sensitive skin I recommend starting with either a weaker dosage, pH, or concentration. You can also try switching to lactic acid as well.

You'll often find that the higher quality AHA products in the marketplace typically combine the acid with some other ingredients to help prevent irritation, which is a huge plus for acne treatment. The exfoliation provided by glycolic acid will help prevent acne, even skin tone, reduce wrinkles, and heal scars.

Side Effects of Glycolic Acid

As with other alpha hydroxy acids and salicylic acid, your skin will become more sensitive to the sun. It's recommended that you wear sun block to help protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays. I'm not the biggest fan of using sunscreen, because I like to keep things as natural as possible, but it is important here.

Also, the effects of using a topical acid is mostly temporary. New skin will form and if the root causes of your acne aren't dealt with, new pimples will form.

Return from Effects of Glycolic Acid to Over the Counter Acne Treatment

Return from Effects of Glycolic Acid to Real Acne Treatment Home