What is glycolic acid good for

In these cases, you could also choose to use glycolic acid as a nighttime product to help minimize some of these effects, though your skin will still have some increased sensitivity the next morning.

As an exfoliator, glycolic acid does come with the risk of causing dry skin. This is normal and should fade with time. But if you experience burning, pain, or itching, you may be experiencing an adverse reaction to the glycolic acid. In these cases, wash your face and discontinue use until you speak to your dermatologist or esthetician about the next steps. However, it can still be irritating for those with parti cularly sensitive skin or certain skin conditions, such as eczema or rosacea.

If this sounds like you, you may be better off using lactic acid, which is a much more gentle skincare ingredient. On a positive note, glycolic acid is safe to use during pregnancy unlike many other well-known skin care ingredients such as retinol. Although, under these circumstances, you may want to consider using products with concentrations less than 10 percent. Rather if you are a new user, you should begin with a low potency product to allow your skin to adjust and build up to stronger products over time.

If you start to notice any signs of irritation, cut back on your usage or discontinue it completely. Frequency of use comes down to the specific product you end up adding to your skin-care routine. Some can be applied daily while others are for only once a week, he adds. Sensitive skin types should look for products with low percentages of glycolic acid, specifically under 10, and use it less frequently than their instructions recommend, preferably every other week.

Kim adds. No matter what, be sure to not get overzealous with your glycolic acid usage just because you're seeing amazing results. To avoid irritation and compromising your skin's barrier, be sure to not layer glycolic acid onto your face at the same time as vitamin-A derivatives , like retinol, retinoic acid, and tretinoin, Kim says.

Reason being: Both glycolic acid and retinoids speed up the turnover of cells, so combining them increases one's risk of irritation and dryness, Dr. The same goes for physical or manual exfoliants, such as scrubs. Instead, reach for vitamin C in the morning and glycolic acid at night. Michelle Lee and Jenny Bailly called upon dermatologist Marie Jhin to share some hard-and-fast rules for skin-care layering.

Hydroquinone should also be off the table, Aegean Chan , M. Allocate them to their own routines — one for daytime; the other for nighttime — or swap out hydroquinone for an alternative, like tranexamic acid or licorice extract.

Zubritsky and Dr. The lightweight cream works its magic overnight without causing irritation by sunrise — even our tester attests to its gentleness. Glycolic acid is an example of an acne-fighting acid.

Keep reading to find out more. When applied to the skin, glycolic acid works to break the bonds between the outer layer of skin cells, including dead skin cells, and the next skin cell layer. This creates a peeling effect that can make the skin appear smoother and more even. This includes dead skin cells and oil. With less to clog the pores, the skin clears and you usually have fewer breakouts.

Also, glycolic acid can affect the outer skin barrier, helping it retain moisture instead of drying your skin out. This is an advantage for acne-prone people because many other topical anti-acne agents, like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, are drying.

Glycolic acid can also thicken skin by stimulating collagen growth. Glycolic acid is available in several forms, including over-the-counter and prescription treatments. These include:. Traditional wisdom is to start small, unless your dermatologist directs otherwise. You may wish to try a glycolic acid cleanser to see if your skin can tolerate glycolic acid. A few things to remember. First, glycolic acid is an example of chemical exfoliation.

Your face may feel too sensitive otherwise. Consistent use of one product with occasional spot treatments is often enough to keep your skin clear. Some people have reactions to glycolic acid that can include symptoms such as swelling, itching, and burning sensations.

Those with dry or sensitive skin types may find glycolic acid is too irritating for their skin. In addition to these concerns, some people find they are more sensitive to sun when they use glycolic acid. I always wait til too late to mask at night, but this one only takes 10 minutes. You feel a difference in your skin as soon as you take it off, and my wrinkles definitely soften! It also features niacinamide that helps brighten acne marks.

Creamy yet lightweight, this leave-on exfoliant removes built-up layers of dead skin, while also improving the appearance of hard, clogged, red bumps on arms and legs. It works well on my KP. Why we love it: This product features a pair of socks pre-filled with an advanced blend of plant extracts and exfoliants to smooth and soften rough, callused feet.

Glycolic, malic and lactic acids slough off hardened, dead skin to promote a soft texture and new cell growth to leave feet looking and feeling supple. Read what happened when we tried Baby Foot. It smelled great lavender and were easy to use. Gracee Tolentino is the former managing editor of the Dermstore Blog.