How to Use Glycolic Acid in Your Skin Care

Glycolic acid is a water-soluble alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) made from sugar cane. It is one of the most widely used AHAs in skin care products.

These AHAs are natural acids that come from plants. They usually consist of tiny molecules that are easy for your skin to absorb. This property makes them ideal for smoothing fine lines and improving your skin texture. Hence it has several anti-aging uses.

Here we take a closer look at glycolic acid and how it can help your skin. It also includes several tips on choosing the right product for your skin and how to use it safely.

How Glycolic Acid Works

You would be surprised to know that glycolic acid has the smallest-sized molecules among all the AHAs. This feature allows the acid to get absorbed into the skin and exfoliate it even better than other AHAs.

Glycolic acid works by speeding up cell turnover. In simple words, the acid can dissolve the bonds that hold your skin cells together. In effect, your skin is able to shed dead skin cells more rapidly than it would on its own.

The acid triggers your skin, thus making more collagen. Collagen in your skin is the protein that makes your skin firm, plump, and elastic. It also gives your connective tissues and bones their strength.

Note that your skin will make less collagen as you age. You should be aware that collagen is also destroyed when you spend too much time in the sun. Therefore, using glycolic acid each day can help prevent collagen breakdown.

What Glycolic Acids Do for Your Skin?

Hope you know that it is a viral treatment for many reasons: 

• Anti-aging: It smooths fine wrinkles and improves your skin’s texture and tone.
• Hydration: It plumps the skin and prevents it from getting dry.
• Sun damage: It fades dark patches, thus caused by sun damage, and protects collagen from the sun.
• Complexion: It brightens the skin when you use it regularly.
• Exfoliation: It prevents ingrown hairs and makes pores appear smaller, thus helping your skin shed dead skin cells.
• Acne: The acid cleans out pores to prevent blackheads, comedones, and inflamed breakouts.

Although many sources claim glycolic acid can help get rid of scars, this is one thing it simply can not do. Yes, but the acid can lighten dark patches left by acne or other wounds on your skin. It might also soften the look of raised scars and pitted scars, but note that it will not make them go away.

Remember that better treatment for scars is either a professional strength glycolic acid peel or a different scar treatment.

Glycolic acid often consists of tiny molecules that your skin will absorb very well. It will protect collagen and help your skin shed dead skin cells. This process can smooth and brighten your skin, thus keeping your pores clean. Finally, preventing ingrown hairs and acne.

Where You Can Find It

If you search for glycolic acid, you might have lots of choices.  This skin care favorite you can find in many over-the-counter (OTC) products.

Try your local drug store, market, supermarket, or skin spa. You will find plenty of masks, cleansers, toners, and moisturizers that contain glycolic acid. Most OTC glycolic acid products tend to come in different strengths of up to 10 percent.

For more potent treatments, you can use glycolic acid in chemical peels. Light duty glycolic acid can peel up to 30 percent strength which an esthetician can do at the skin spa or salon. Stronger peels of up to 70 percent can be done at any dermatology offices.

Even though glycolic acid is made from sugar cane, the sugar you buy at the store is very different. Rubbing the face with sugar can exfoliate the skin and leave it feeling smoother. But note that it will not give you the same results as glycolic acid treatment would provide.

Choosing the Right Skin Treatment

The glycolic acid treatment you choose solely depends on your skin type and what your end goals are. The OTC products with glycolic acid may be enough to give you brighter, radiant, and more healthy-looking skin.

These may also be enough to prevent breakouts and reduce fine lines without the need for stronger pro peels.

Note that professional skin peels may be a good option to treat a specific skin issue. For instance, professional peels might help with sun damage, acne, dark spots, or deeper wrinkles. You can achieve greater results more quickly. But because most of these peels contain a higher percentage of glycolic acid, they carry a greater risk of irritation too. 

When you choose any glycolic acid treatment, the percent of acid it contains is just one factor to think about. Another important aspect is the product’s pH. The more acidic a product is, the stronger and more effective it might have on your skin despite how much glycolic acid it contains.

Therefore, most skincare products only list the percent of glycolic acid used. They generally are not required to list the pH. It actually makes it a bit harder to compare products.

Most OTC skin care products contain up to 10 percent glycolic acid and hence are a good option for your daily skin care. Pro peels often have up to 70 percent glycolic acid. Therefore, they can quickly reduce stubborn deep wrinkles, acne, and sun damage but are more likely to bother your skin.

How to Use Glycolic Acid Safely

In general, most glycolic acid products are very safe for your skin and work well. To keep your skin safe, there are a few things to know before using this acid.

First and foremost, you must wear sunscreen SPF 50 or lower – whenever you are using glycolic acid treatments. Probably because – like all AHAs, glycolic acid might make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You do not want to undo all the good your glycolic acid is doing, nor do you want to have your skin sunburnt.

Therefore, allow your skin to get used to glycolic acid. If you are using an OTC product, start off by applying it only thrice every week for a week. If your skin is not red or irritated,  you may try using it four times a week for a couple of weeks. 

For the next few weeks, keep slowly building up by using this way until you are able to use it every day. If at any point your skin becomes red or irritated, give your skin a rest before continuing again.

For in-salon or in-office peels, you should start off with a lower amount of glycolic acid. If your skin tolerates that well, you may likely bump up to higher strengths for your next peels.

Note that your skin might feel a bit rough after your first few treatments. This is normal and only means that the glycolic acid is working. You can keep using your this acid products unless your skin is irritated. After a few weeks, you will slowly see smoother, more healthy skin.

Do not use the acid, even OTC products, if you are currently using topical retinoids like Differin or Retin-A or Accutane or any products that rapidly exfoliate your skin.

Most importantly, if you are under a dermatologist’s care, get their permission before using any the acid product or having a peel done.

FAQs on Glycolic Acid

What does glycolic acid do to your face?

This acid works wonders to exfoliate the skin. It is possible as it speeds up cell turnover and boosts collagen production. The acid helps to clear pores, improve skin tone, smooth fine wrinkles, fade dark patches, and sun damage. Moreover, the acid can even hydrate your skin for a more youthful appearance.

Is it safe to use glycolic acid every day?

Not at first. This acid might irritate your skin, and it may take a while for your skin to get used to it.

Therefore, experts believe that you should start by applying it three times a week. If your skin is not irritated or red, apply it four times the following week. Then slowly increase the number of days you use the  acid as your skin begins to tolerate it. 

If your skin becomes irritated, you might take a break from using glycolic acid until the irritation and redness clear.

Does glycolic acid treat scars?

Despite several marketing claims, there is no scientific evidence to support the use of this acid to eliminate scars. In reality, the acid might help soften the appearance of your scars, but it will not make them disappear completely.

What should you know before using glycolic acid?

Do you know that glycolic acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun? Therefore, it is essential to wear sunscreen outdoors when using this acid. 

Note that you should not use topical form of the acid and retinoids at the same time. In fact, also try avoiding other products that rapidly exfoliate your skin while using this acid. 

If you currently see a dermatologist, talk to them before using any of its products.

Summary 

Glycolic acid OTC products and professional peels have been popular for a long time. They have been around a long time. They have a safe track record and are known to work wonders on your skin. Most skin types can use them without much trouble.

If you are among those who have very sensitive skin, you might want to stick with wash-off glycolic acid products like cleansers. Probably because they are less likely to bother your skin. The acid might also allow your skin to build up a tolerance that doesn’t irritate your skin.

This acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that comes from sugar cane. As the acid gets absorbed into the skin, it promotes cell turnover. It is an excellent substance and a great exfoliant that gives the skin a healthier, youthful, and glowing look.

As you might know, this acid is a common ingredient in many OTC and regular skin care products, primarily found in anti-aging products. The acid also supports collagen production, protects your skin against sun damage, and prevents pores from getting blocked.

If you need any help choosing a glycolic acid product, your dermatologist is the right person to help you do so.