Glycolic acid is called a fruit acid and is mostly recognized as AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid). This chemical can be obtained from sugar cane or from fruit products like oranges or other acidic fruits, bringing about the “fruit acid” title. Glycolic acids have been used in past times for rust removal and as degreasing agents industrially. With these seemingly caustic properties, would glycolic acids be proper for the use of acne treatment and can you use it for skin care applications?
In theory, if we were going to test the usefulness of glycolic acid, one would start with some research on glycolic acid as a skin care product. Upon searching for glycolic acid pairing it with the term “skin care”, there are lots of products on the market that contain glycolic acid as one of the active ingredients. The glycolic acid is typically used as a chemical peel to rid the skin of old dead cells. If we think in terms of acne, if a glycolic peel is used, we would be exfoliating away disease ridden skin and exposing fresh skin which is less likely to be involved in the acne process, depending on the depth and severity of the acne.
The goal of the acne peel would be to get down to the clear skin and in effect, wash away, all the acne on your face. The ordinary cycle of skin renewal would have to take place over time, but over the long term, eventually you could wipe away the acne scars, blemishes, and pustules from your face by a regular regimen of a facial treatment system using a chemical peel as a part of the regimen. As a result, the face would have a fresh look with fewer blemishes, a tightened appearance, and the texture of the face would also be smoother. This sounds like a winning combination for those looking to reduce the appearance of acne and be free of breakouts.
Safe at home applications of glycolic acid can be done by anyone using strengths up to 10%. It is suggested that a skin doctor such as a professional dermatologist or esthetician apply anything over 10% concentration to ensure proper neutralization of the compound on the skin.
It is now common knowledge that glycolic acid acne treatments are a viable approach to acne blemish and skin treatment. You can use it for skin care applications with a little bit of research and/or professional assistance. Who knew that a fruit based chemical could do all this?
