Glycolic Acid Skincare Products
Glycolic acid skin care products are products based on the use of one of the alpha hydroxy acid group to remove dead skin and open the skin’s pores. These products vary from chemical peels which contain a high concentration of the acid, and should really only be used under trained medical supervision, to creams and lotions with a concentration of under 10% which can be bought from any drug store, and are safe for use by anybody. There are also pads which are placed directly on the skin, from which the glycolic acid is absorbed slowly into the skin. These allow for a consistent, steady, application of the acid into the body.
There is a disagreement between many people in the skincare industry and the government as to what is a safe concentration of glycolic acid. Government guidelines state that any concentration above 10% is potentially hazardous. This view does not find favour with many people who produce skincare products, or with many who work in the skincare industry on a day-to-day basis. Many glycolic acid skincare products are produced which have a higher concentration than this, although many of the best-known manufacturers have held back because they are worried about the possibility of lawsuits.
Among the most common, and safest, glycolic acid skincare products are the creams and lotions which are readily available over the counter. These typically stay within the government’s safety guidelines and are safe for anyone to use. The creams are rubbed into the skin as gently as possible, and the active ingredient has the effect of unbinding the dead flaky skin from the healthy living skin around it. This then means that the unwanted dead skin can be washed away from the body. It may be a good idea to use other alpha hydroxy products, both to neutralize the effect of the acid, and to moisturize the skin.
A very similar effect can be achieved with a lotion, but the lotion will be more easily absorbed into the body. This can make such a lotion an excellent choice for someone with sensitive skin. The lotion can then be washed away in the same manner, but this will probably be achieved more easily than the washing away of the cream. Another possibility, which is even kinder to the skin, is to use a pad which can be placed on the surface of the skin. These pads are impregnated with the glycolic acid, which is absorbed very slowly into the body. With such a pad, there is no rubbing action whatsoever, making them eminently suitable for people with very aggravated skin.
At the sharp end of glycolic acid skincare products are the chemical peels which have a far higher concentration of the chemical. These chemical peels have an inevitable but unwanted side effect, in that the skin takes on a sunburned appearance after use. This should not cause any lasting damage, but it is sure to cause concern to anyone who has no experience of this. These chemical peel products are better used by a trained dermatologist, or at least by a patient who is in constant consultation with such a professional. It is not advisable to use these stronger compounds unless you have first tried the less harsh glycolic acid skincare products.