glycolic acid

[Girl about town]

Hi this may not be the right board for this , but does anyone use glycolic acid on their skin, i have heard its great for open pores and spot prone skin! im not sure what percentage or product to start with, there are loads on ebay but i really don't have a clue where to start, any advice please???

 

[a_star]

I have uses Glycolic acid. It was the body wash i used and a lotion for after shower. What it does is, it burns your skin off. Sometimes can be harsh and leave your skin red for a while. But the results are pretty good. The only reason why i had to use it was because i had few bumps on my skin. Its is also good for KP. The results were, when i first used it, it made me skin red but you get use to it. The lotion was really good although it was pricey. It does sting, makes yur skin much smoother and flatten any bumps you have on your skin. The only problem is, you have to keep using it for better results so if you stop using glycolic acid, your pores, spots, kp etc will come back.

 

[athena123]

Glycolic acid is one of the acids in the AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) group. Since I started using this over a year ago, my skin has brightened, cleared and best of all, I've changed my skintype from oily/acne prone to oily/combo very few breakouts. Fine lines have certainly diminished and no one can accuse me of being dull! [ this applies to both skin and mind!

]

It works by exfoliating dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of your skin. If you don't exfoliate all this junk, skin looks dull, rough and pores can clog. AHA acids really are an all around product good for oily and anti-aging.

For me at least, the combination of BHA[beta hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid] and AHA keeps my skin clean, smooth and bright. I use a 20 percent solution of glycolic acid everyday, but I've worked up to this over the past year. If you have never used AHA before, start off slow, with lesser amounts and always, always do a patch test before you use it all over your face. If you find that glycolic acids [derived from sugar] don't work for you, other possible AHAs would be Malic acid [derived from applies] or Lactic acid [milk based]. For sensitive skin that can't tolerate any kind of AHAs, fruit enzyme acids [the kind derived from pineapple and papaya] are also very beneficial.

To start you off, there's a very decent drugstore line called Alpha Hydroxy.Home - Alpha Hydrox - Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc. You can find this at most Walgreen's and CVS and it's a great way to introduce yourself to glycolic acids. Murad is also a very good line and a great way to get you started on skincare, but it tends to be a little pricey. I use a brand from a home-based company and it's proven to be extremely effective as well.

I cannot stress this enough. When you start using AHAs or other exfoliants on a regular basis, it'll be critical to use a facial sunblock every single day. Increased cellular turnover will increase your sensitivity to harmful UVA rays. Damage from free radicals causes more obvious aging than nearly any other environmental factor.

To get you started on your own research, here's a few links: The first one is a very long thread from one of my favorite forums and contains a wealth of information. The last two links aren't quite as lengthy but should hopefully provide you with a little more food for thought.

1. Am I too young to use Lactic Acid peels biweekly?
2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids
3. Glycolic Acid, Glycolic, Lactic, TCA Peel, At Home Chemical Peels, Exfoliating Peels, Facial Peels, Skin Peels

 

[Dreamergirl3]

I use Proactivs toner which has glycolic acid in it. I love using it to prevent my pores from getting clogged, but if my pores are already clogged and blackheads have showed up, I prefer beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid).

ETA: I fully agree with athena123, a combo of both acids works well, and do not forget your sunblock!
And just to comment on her link to MakeupArtistsChoice, I love their 3% beta hydroxy serum! Waaay better than Paula Begouns if anyone's used hers,IMO

 

[Kiseki]

I use Neostrata skincare which has glycolic acid and does wonders for my skin, and don't forget to use sunblock.

 

[iHEARTorange]

i've recently stopped using glycolic because i started using the obagi system. i work for a dermatologist who swears by glycolic acid so i started using it when i started working there. it does wonders!! i noticed such a dramatic change in my skin and i love it.

 

[_trimm_trabb]

I use Alpha Hydrox's 10% Glycolic AHA Lotion on my face, neck, and upper chest every day. I also use a serum with 2% BHA. It basically clears away the top layer of skin over time which can help eliminate superficial blemishes and blackheads, as well as scarring.

As someone else already mentioned, you MUST use a sunscreen every day, even if you will only be outside for 5 minutes. Because newer, fresher skin will be exposed, it won't have the built in SPF that your top layer of skin has to protect itself.