Have You Heard of Glycollic Acid Peeling?

glycolic acid is a heavyweight ingredient in skin care, which is often used in exfoliator, toner or facial masks. Because of its strong skin care effect, it is often used for chemical peeling, but high concentration of acid may stimulate the skin, so we need to be careful in the usage. Next, let us learn about what is glycolic acid peeling.

1. What is glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid is a colorless and odorless α - hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugarcane. It is a chemical exfoliator that dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells, making the skin easy to be wiped off and exposing the smooth and young skin underneath.

Actually it is the smallest natural AHA. It means that glycolic acid can penetrate the skin more deeply and easily than other AHAs such as lactic acid, which is why it is so commonly used. glycolic acid is water-soluble, which means it can dissolve in water. On the other hand, β - hydroxy acids (BHA) such as salicyllic acid are oil-soluble, which means that they are only soluble in oil and can penetrate deeper into oily pores.

2. What concentration of glycolic acid do you need?

There are three concentrations of ethyl alcohol peeling, and the main differences are concentration time and aftercare time.

Mild peeling: Mild or surface peeling requires 20% to 30% glycolic acid, and it only needs one or two minutes to brush. Mild peeling will only peel off the surface of the skin and reduce mild hyperpigmentation. We do not need to pay attention to the aftermath after the mild peeling.  Just avoid skin care or cosmetics in 24 hours and the skin can recover in this period.

Moderate peeling: 35% to 50% glycolic acid is needed to be applied in 2 to 5 minutes. The acid can penetrate into the top layer of the dermis and improve the overall texture of the skin. It takes a week for aftercare. The skin may be red and sensitive, so cosmetics and some skin care products must be avoided.

Deep peeling: For deep skin, dermatologists use 55% to 70% glycolic acid for at least three minutes or possibly as long as 15 minutes. These acid can penetrate the deeper layers of the dermis. It takes two weeks for aftercare.