How To Use Glycolic Acid Lotion

By Laura Gallagher


Glycolic acid lotion may not really sound like a cosmetic product. The fact is, at miscellaneous percentages, it is used in many facial peels and products. For those with particularly sensitive skin, these products are not ideal. However, anyone with an acne problem has probably used them.

In higher concentrations, these skin peels are applied by dermatologists, and sometimes cosmetologists. There are kits one can use at home, however. They are shown to improve the appearance of skin, and to clear up small lines and acne. They are also effective at reducing, or even getting rid of age spots or brown marks left by sun damage and acne. Some people have described the stronger peels as leaving their face feeling somewhat sunburned.

The way this product works is to actually weaken the agent the binds dead skin cells to live cells underneath. By removing these dead cells, also known as exfoliating the skin, a fresh and clear complexion is revealed. Once a strong peel has been administered, dermatologists will tell their patients to avoid harsh facial chemicals, and to keep their face out of direct sunlight.

These products can be found over-the-counter for anyone who wishes to do their own chemical peel. However, it is important to know what the potential side-effects are for a person with sensitive skin. Additionally, this product converts into an oxalic compound when ingested, and thus it should never be made available to small children due to potential poisoning.

There is some disagreement as to whether or not the over-the-counter version is effective as a skin peel. Because of the potential dangers, no manufacturer will release a product with more than a ten percent acid mixture. Chemical peels provided by dermatologists are much more effective as a wrinkle reducer and acne treatment because they are anywhere from twenty to fifty percent AHA mixture.

In addition to being used as a skin peel, it can also be found in many facial moisturizers. Because this product is able to be absorbed below the first layers of skin, it is used to draw moisturizers below the skin surface. This is why some wrinkle products cause irritation to some with particularly sensitive skin. For the same reason, it is used in acne treatments.

There are many textile uses for this product, in much higher percentages. The basic chemical composition is altered through many processes, including polymerization. This is used in tanning and dying cloth. It can also be found in inks and paint to make the products more glossy and smoother to pour. It is in degreasers and as an additive to wood varnish. These are in percentages of over seventy percent, and should never be directly applied to the skin.

Oddly enough, this compound can also be used in flavoring agents and preservatives. In its natural state, it is found in sugars. While modern science has learned to synthesize these compounds, they are largely regarded as organic due to their origins as a byproduct of sugars. For this reason, glycolic acid lotion can be advertised as an organic product.




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