Alpha Hydroxy Acids

A group of natural acids called Alpha Hydroxy Acids are found in foods including citric acid (made from oranges & lemons), glycolic acid (made from sugar cane), lactic acid (made from sour milk), malic acid (made from apples & pears), tartaric acid (made from grapes), mandelic acid (mane from a certain type of almond) and others that work mainly as a chemical exfoliate. Alpha Hydroxy Acid are a common ingredient in many anti-aging skin care products including moisturizers, cleansers, toners, and masks to help decrease roughness and the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, reduce age spots to make your skin look and feel soft, smooth and youthful. As we age it takes longer for older skin cell to slough off and new ones to reach the surface. When you exfoliate with Alpha Hydroxy Acids the skin reveals a layer of younger, smoother, rejuvenated skin cells beneath. Alpha hydroxy acid is used on the skin for moisturizing and to exfoliate (remove) the top layer of dead skin cells, improving the appearance of photo-aged skin, acne scars. It may even stimulate the production of collagen and elastin increasing the thickness of deeper layers of skin, promoting firmness and smoothing skin. May make skin sensitive to the  sun so be sure to use a sunscrean during the day to protect your fresh new skin. Extremely dry skin can be treated with a topical application of Alpha Hydroxy Acid.  Chemical peels containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids are used in dermatologist’s office, health spas, beauty salons, and at home kits, but these at home kits usually contain a lower concentration around 4%. The two most common Alpha Hydroxy Acids are Glycolic acid & Lactic acid because they have a special ability to penetrate the skin.

Glycolic acid and Lactic acid have great exfoliating and hydrating properties. They penetrate the epidermis (the upper layer of skin) breaking apart the dead skin cells allowing this layer to shed off while binding water to the skin for hydration, revealing a layer of newer, smoother, even skin tone underneath.