Create Younger Looking Skin with Alpha Hydroxy ...

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Create Younger Looking Skin with Alpha Hydroxy Acids

In the past twenty years, Alpha Hydroxy Acids have been hailed for their long-lasting improvement to the appearance of skin and have created a storm in the beauty and cosmetic world.

Now available in many high-end, over the counter, anti-ageing skincare lines, Alpha Hydroxy Acids are also used by SPA and Salon owners and Dermatologists in their highest concentrations for their ability to minimize wrinkles and fine lines, reduce skin dis-colouration and blemishes and soften the appearance of scars while creating a smoother, finer, younger looking texture to the skin.


What Are Alpha Hydroxy Acids?

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are naturally occurring acids in the sugars of milk and plants and have been used for thousands of years to renew the appearance of skin and treat skin blemishes, giving skin a younger and 'fresher' look. Most famously it has been claimed that Cleopatra would regularly bathe in sour milk (Lactic Acid) to improve the complexion of her skin.
These days, the most commonly used Alpha Hydroxy Acids appearing in skincare are:

  • Citric Acid - derived from Citrus Fruits
  • Glycolic Acid - derived from Sugar Cane
  • Folic Acid - derived from Vegetables and Fruits
  • Lactic Acid - derived from Milk
  • Malic Acid - derived from Apples
  • Tartaric Acid - derived from Grapes

How Do Alpha Hydroxy Acids Work?

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are highly effective in anti-ageing products and clinical treatment skincare because essentially they are an exfolliant that penetrates deeply into the skin.

Their ability to improve the texture and appearance of the skin is due to the size of their molecules, which are small enough to penetrate the outer layer of the skin and dig deep into the lower layer (dermis). The Alpha Hydroxy Acids cause the cells of the epidermis to become unglued so that old dead cells become dislodged, torn apart and discarded and they 'eat away' at old, dry, rough and hardened skin on the surface.

Generally Alpha Hydroxy Acid levels in over the counter skincare products are between 5-10% with a pH of 3 to 4, which is a relatively low concentration and considered to be safe for home use, while still creating a beneficial improvement to the skin, especially when used long-term.

For a more pronounced and dramatic alteration to the deeper layers of the skin, face peels featuring high concentrations of Alpha Hydroxy Acids between 50%-70% are available (using lower pH levels), from professionals such as licensed salon owners, Dermatologists and Cosmetic Surgeons. Facial peels featuring Alpha Hydroxy Acids are normally applied for 3- 8 minutes and usually require follow-up treatments every 2-4 weeks for optimal results.

Using skincare products that contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids often provide an immediate improvement to the appearance of the skin however it is when these products are used regularly and over a long period of time that long-term results become evident, usually resulting in skin that overall has become softer, lighter, with minimized wrinkles, blemishes and age/sun spots.

The most popular benefits claimed by many from using skincare featuring Alpha Hydroxy Acids are:

  • Gentle and immediate exfoliation of dead skin cells and dry skin
  • Renewal of skin at a cellular level
  • Overall texture of the skin becomes smoother, minimising fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes and creating lighter, younger and 'fresher' looking skin
  • It is thought to stimulate the production of collagen
  • When used by professionals in numerous treatment applications, Alpha Hydroxy Acids can reduced the appearance of age spots and freckles and is effective in the treatment of acne

What precautions should you take with Alpha Hydroxy Acids?

While most over the counter skincare products featuring Alpha Hydroxy Acids are safe to use, if used incorrectly in high concentrations, Alpha Hydroxy Acids can cause potentially long-term serious damage to the skin.

When seeking specific skin treatments such facial peels, always consult only with a licensed and experienced professional to ensure that the quality of the product and their method of application is both effective and safe for your skin.

Caring for Skin with AHA

These days Alpha Hydroxy Acids in skincare products are generally safe to use and if side effects do occur, the most common are mild skin irritations, redness and flaking. For this reason, it is generally recommended that only one product featuring Alpha Hydroxy Acids be used as part of a regular beauty regime, while the other skincare products consist of ingredients that are highly nourishing, regenerative and moisturising, such as a Cosmeceutical line.

For skin that has undergone a more rigorous treatment such as a facial peel, temporary side effects can be more pronounced and the salon professional or dermatologist would usually recommend ongoing skin maintenance products during this time.
 

Starting Your Own Anti-Ageing Skincare Line Featuring Alpha Hydroxy Acids

With the popularity of Alpha Hydroxy Acids in skincare continuing to gather momentum, there is a great potential for new businesses or those wishing to start their own anti-ageing Private Label Skincare line.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids are now utilized in a variety of skincare products, such as face moisturising creams, exfoliating facial creams, cleansers, toners and face masks, making the potential for a new, niche Private Label Skincare line limited only by your imagination.

Kylie Drury

10 Sep 2019

More about: Skincare

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