Glycolic Acid – How Does It Benefit Your Skin?

Glycolic acid is the most active and beneficial form of alpha hydroxy acid. A natural derivative of sugar cane, glycolic acid has amazing exfoliating properties and is used extensively in skin care products. Popular sources of glycolic acid include the citric acid of lemon, orange and grapefruit extracts.

Skin Care Benefits of Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid acts as a natural exfoliator to the skin and scrapes dead skin cells. Moreover, it eliminates the bacteria within the skin pores and controls acne inflammations and blemishes. It also opens up the skin pores in order to improve the penetrating power of skin care products. In addition to all this, glycolic acid also helps to bring natural moisture to the surface of the skin.

Working of Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid penetrates efficiently through the walls of the skin cells because of its small molecular size. When it enters the cell, it stimulates the formation of new collagen and triggers off the synthesis process of dermal glycosaminoglycans. This in turn plumps up the cells and causes reduction in wrinkles and fine lines.

It also affects the keratin cells that lie at the bottom of the stratum corneum and cause them to lift and get separated. This is how it exfoliates the dead skin layers and separates it from the underlying skin and reveals fresh new cells from underneath. As a result, the skin becomes smooth and supple.

Skin Care Products with Glycolic Acid

Unlike other alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic acid works well in a complete skin care regimen. It is used extensively in a variety of skin care products like cleansers, moisturizers and other skin treatments. Glycolic acid rejuvenates the skin and keeps it refreshed and moisturized.

Product Suggestions

La Roche-Posay Biomedic LHA Serum
It is an amazing serum used to exfoliate the skin and to reduce fine lines, spots, and small scars. It can be used either as a pre & post peel treatment or as a toner or exfoliator. The serum also helps to control acne. It contains several exfoliating agents like glycolic acid that helps to prepare the skin for the LHA-PEEL and enhance peel results. It eliminates dead cells from the skin's surface and corrects rough skin and brightens the skin's complexion.

iS Clinical Active Serum
This is a highly concentrated serum that improves the skin texture and pigmentation very efficiently. Being anti-acneic, it controls acne inflammations and blemishes and is a great choice for patients dealing with both aging skin and oily acneic skin.

iS Clinical Poly-Vitamin Serum
This serum regenerates the skin, hydrates it and provides essential vitamins, bionutrients and antioxidants to improve many unwanted skin problems. It also increases the micro-circulation of the skin to fight free radicals and provide nutrients to compromised skin. It contains Sugar Cane (Glycolic acid), Bilberry, hyaluronate and green tea to hydrate and regenerate the skin.

La Roche-Posay Biomedic Purifying Cleanser
It is a mild Glycolic Cleanser that unclogs skin pores to remove make up and other environmental pollutants deep within the skin and helps improve tone and texture. It contains Glycolic acid for exfoliation, Tocopheryl acetate as a vitamin E antioxidant and PEG-30 glycerol cocoate as a conditioning agent.

Results of Glycolic Acid Products

The results delivered by glycolic acid skin care products depend on two factors:

Percentage of Glycolic Acid in the product and
Your skin type

Tips to Use Glycolic Treatments

Always do a patch test before starting any glycolic treatments
Don't forget to use sunscreen with SPF 15 or more. This is because AHA based skin care products make the skin highly sensitive towards sunlight.
Pregnant women or women with highly sensitive skin should avoid these products.

Dr. Marilyn Syrett is a renowned physician and nurtures a keen interest in skin care and the effectiveness of skin care products. She believes that every women has the right to healthy and flawless skin. She has also reviewed several products from popular brand names like Obagi, iS Clinical, Clinique Medical and so on.