Glycolic acid is a kind of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is colorless and translucent. It is mostly found in sugar cane, sugar beets and unripe grapes. It has a small molecular size that can penetrate into the cell walls of the skin and helps in the formation of collagen. Due to its ability to make skin healthy, it is widely used for skin rejuvenating and other beauty products.

Glycolic acid is widely used for cosmetic purposes. It has effective exfoliating properties. It can penetrate the skin resulting to younger-looking skin as it helps get rid of dead skin cells. It lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps increase moisture of skin by binding with water and penetrating the skin cells to keep them hydrated and prevent drying out. It also lessens excess surface skin oil to prevent blackheads, pimples and other skin impurities on the skin. It can reduce acne because it can exfoliate the top skin layer of the skin that contains acne and help produce new clear skin.

The glycolic acid is used to tighten and smooth the skin. The strength of the acid varies depending on the kind of skin. Over the counter medications with glycolic acid usually contain low concentration of about 3 percent while others such as prescribed medications by dermatologists may contain as high as 50 percent. Those who use medications for the face containing glycolic acid usually experience fresher and younger-looking skin. This kind of use may be referred to as chemical peel because it does peel off old skin to allow new skin to come out. This allows some time to take its effect on the skin and may result to some redness or slight irritation of skin. This is considered as normal since the peeling off of dead skin takes some time.

Though glycolic acid is generally safe to use and with little side effects, it is still wise to be careful about using it. If you have sensitive skin, you may experience some redness, burning and irritation of the skin. This means that you have to use lower concentration of glycolic acid. Always remember to ask your dermatologist to recommend you the right concentration if you want to use glycolic acid for cosmetic purposes. As an added precaution, try to stay away from the sun or use a good sunscreen to protect your skin from too much heat.

The use of glycolic acid is widely known in the cosmetic industry especially for skin care. However, it also has its industrial uses. It is a good household cleanser because it can get rid of rust and grease. It is less toxic and almost odorless to combine with other chemicals to make other household products.

Jason Ladock

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