Alpha Hydroxy Acids in Cosmetic Products You Use

Every woman who uses skin moisturizer, ointment, or facial treatment, or who subscribes to a women's magazine, surely knows about alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). These acids - which are obtained from natural products, such as sugar cane, milk sugars, or fruits - are noted for their quality of being able to make the skin appear newer or fresher. In the same way that retinoic acids work, alpha hydroxy acids peel off dead skin cells and accelerate their replacement. There is no proof, however, that alpha hydroxy acids can increase the production of collagen in the body.

It isn't enough though that one is aware of what alpha hydroxy acids are, how they work, or what they can do. The more important thing to be aware of is that not all cosmetic products are made equal in terms of the concentrations of alpha hydroxy acids that are present in them. Some cosmetic products contain concentrations of the acids much higher than others. About ten years ago, the cosmetics industry's Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel inferred that cosmetic products having concentrations of ten percent or less of alpha hydroxy acids are safe for consumer use. This conclusion became the basis for the cosmetics industry's specific guideline that all cosmetic products sold over the counter should have concentrations of no more than ten percent of alpha hydroxy acids.

The other thing you should be conscious about is that there are varied terms or names for alpha hydroxy acid. Included here are citric acid, malic acid, fruit acid, alpha-hydroxycaprylic acid, alpha-hydroxyoctanoic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid, the last two being the most frequently used in cosmetic products. Knowing these different names is especially important when the product you are buying does not indicate the percentage of concentration; make sure any one of these names appears among the first three ingredients in the list. Ideally for a product to be effective, it should have concentrations of between five and ten percent. There are some ointments sold over the counter that contain less than three percent. While these products may cause old or dead skin cells to be stripped off, they won't penetrate as deeply as others with higher concentrations do.

As a rule, cosmetic products with alpha hydroxy acid concentrations of over ten percent should be used only under the supervision of a physician. In addition to this, there are other specific guidelines set by the cosmetics industry on the safe use of products with alpha hydroxy acids. Foremost of these is that the products you want to buy should have sufficient labeling, with a list of ingredients that indicates which alpha hydroxy acid is present and its concentration. When first using a product, test it on a small portion of skin; if you get some odd feeling at any time (like stinging or burning), you have to discontinue using it. The instructions provided on the product's label should be carefully followed, especially if you are using the product without the professional advice from a dermatologist or a physician. [Read the Original Article]