Oily Skincare and Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) Exfoliation | Glycolic and Lactic Acid for Face Oil Control

AHAs and Oily Skincare

If you have oily skin, you've probably tried many products to control the shine that seems to build up as the day progresses. One type of products that can help are called alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs. AHAs are basically exfoliants.

Oily skincare exfoliation with AHAs

Products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) have become widely used in recent years. For oily skin, AHAs basically act as exfoliants. In other words, they speed up the process of shedding the topmost layer of skin cells. The degree of exfoliation depends on what type of AHA you are using, its pH (acidity), its concentration and other ingredients that are in the product. Most of the AHAs you find over-the-counter contain up to 10 percent. This can be useful for oily skin, because it can keep pores from becoming blocked.

AHAs for oily skin

To find out if a cosmetic, lotion or cream contains an AHA, look on the list of ingredients. AHA ingredients may be listed as:

• L-alpha hydroxy acid, tri-alpha hydroxy fruit acids or triple fruit acid
• sugar cane extract, mixed fruit acid
• alpha hydroxy and botanical complex
• glycolic acid or lactic acid - the most common
• malic acid, citric acid
• glycolic acid + ammonium glycolate
• alpha-hydroxyethanoic acid + ammonium alpha-hydroxyethanoate
• alpha-hydroxyoctanoic acid, alpha-hydroxycaprylic acid
• hydroxycaprylic acid
• glycomer in crosslinked fatty acids alpha nutrium (three AHAs)

Of these, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the most frequently used in cosmetics are glycolic acid and lactic acid.

Products with AHAs are marketed for a variety of things. For oily skin, the most significant are:

• to unblock and cleanse pores
• to improve oily skin
• to improve acne
• to improve skin condition in general

It is important to follow the use instructions on the label. Do not exceed the recommended applications. Make sure you test any product on a small area of skin to see if it causes irritation, and if it does, don't use the product.

AHAs may make users more sensitive to sunlight and especially to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation component of sunlight. UV exposure can damage the skin and at high doses, especially over a long period, can cause skin cancer. That's why sun protection is essential if you are using AHA lotions or AHA creams on your skin. Use a good sunscreen or wear sun protective clothing and hats to protect your skin from sunburn. FDA says it is important to use sun protection, including a sun screen, if you use an AHA product, even if you haven't used the product that day. If you use the AHA at bedtime, be sure to apply an additional sunscreen in the morning before going into the sun.

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:

verify here.

Updated June 2011

© | All rights reserved.