Alpha Hydroxy Acids To The Rescue

There are so many skin care words being floated around these days, that it really gets dizzying to the average customer. AHA, tretinoin, glycerin, alpha lipoic acid, DMAE. And on and on.

Today, we are going to concentrate on AHAs or Alpha Hydroxy Acids. The AHAs are commonly referred to when re-building skin. In other words, these chemical formulations are designed to improve roughness, uneven pigmentation, lines and wrinkles. But these AHAs can also do a number on your skin, if you aren't cautious. Alpha hydroxy acids are not for the faint of heart.

Alpha hydroxy acids are actually made from gentle ingredients like fruit and milk sugars. The beauty of using an AHA on your face is quite appealing. These acids are able to penetrate deeply into the skin. Their main focus is to exfoliate, or remove dead skin cells, and increase cell turnover. In the end, AHAs return the skin to a smoother texture, firmness, and healthy appearance. The skin is rejuvenated, and the big bad wrinkles and sun damage start to slowly fade away.

There are five major AHAs found in skin care treatments (use concentrations of 10% or under). Higher concentrations are best applied by dermatologists, since the side effects can be tough going:

Glycolic Acid....made from sugar cane
Lactic Acid.......made from milk acid
Malic Acid........made from pears and apples
Citric Acid........made from lemons and oranges
Tartaric Acid...made from grapes

AHAs are great for thickened, oily, pimpled, and sun-damaged skin. When applied, their formulations can dry out the skin, but can also cause burning, itching, peeling, redness, and even scarring, if the acid is too harsh. You must be very careful when applying an alpha hydroxy acid because of the irritation and sensitivity to sunlight. If you don't arm yourself with a good sunscreen, you will turn red, and yes, even your face can hurt with a stinging senation.

If you can get through the nasty side effects, your face will love you back. Alpha hydroxy acids can work wonders and rescue damaged skin, as long as you gradually work up to their applications, be smart in the sun, and let your dermatologist work along with you.

Here's one of the more popular AHAs to try:

M.D. Forte® Skin Rejuvenation Lotion I ($55).

It combines Alpha Hydroxy Acid with a boost of Vitamins A and E to renew and rejuvenate the skin reducing the visible signs of skin aging. Helps diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, defend against future skin damage, and promote healthy looking skin. Consult your physician prior to use.