One of the best known of a group of chemicals called fruit acids or alphahydroxy acids (AHA) is glycolic acid. It’s derived from sugar cane so it’s considered a natural product just as citric acid from oranges and other citrus fruits.

Most of us know glycolic acid for its cosmetic purposes as a natural skin exfoliant and moisturizer because of its high acidity. What you may not know is that industrial uses for the product include rust removal and degreasing but that’s in concentrations of 70% or better which would be extremely dangerous to anyone exposed to the ingredient. In fact, the government considers any product with a concentration of glycolic acid over 10% to be a hazardous material which is why your cosmetic products usually offer less than a 10% glycolic acid concentration.

Glycolic acid works as an exfoliating agent because of its high acidity but is easily soluble in water.  When you put an exfoliating cream or gel on your skin, the glycolic acid goes under the upper layers of skin and destroys the material which holds dead skin to the surface. This dead skin is chemically burned off, the other ingredients in the acid carry the individual flakes away and a rinse with water neutralizes the remaining acid. All of which results in a much smoother skin surface and more youthful appearance.

Another benefit from glycolic acid is its ability to draw moisturizers into the newly exfoliated skin surface. That is why you will often find a complete system of skin care sold with a glycolic product because the other products contain moisturizers and neutralizers to counteract the more corrosive actions of the glycolic acid.

You need to be careful of exposing yourself to the sun even when you use the cosmetic version because the glycolic acid leaves the skin especially sensitive to the sun. You should be using sunscreen as part of your daily routine, but when you used a winkle cream with glycolic acid you can actually damage your skin.

Customers who want a more complete exfoliation often opt for what is called a chemical peel. Usually a chemical peel involves a scrubbing of the skin followed by an application of a powerful AHA such as glycolic acid. Concentrations of glycolic acid may be as high as 50 % or more.  As a result, a patient will look like he has a sunburn after a chemical peel.  It takes a couple of days to recover completely which means staying out of the sun for that time. Most patients say they have little discomfort and the results are worth the inconvenience.

Still another use of glycolic acid recommended for some is to prevent skin cancer. Glycolic acid peels are taken on a regular basis to exfoliate the actinic keratosis, a scaly patch of skin usually caused by too much exposure to the sun and considered a precursor for basal cell and squamous skin cancer.

As with any other acid, glycolic products should be kept in the correct storage conditions and kept somewhere where kids can’t get to them.

Some consider glycolic acid a miracle ingredient and the next best thing to the Fountain of Youth. Do you have any thoughts on this? Have you used products with glycolic acid. I welcome your comments.

To your success at healthy aging,

Ruthan

Anti wrinkle Skin Care Secrets
http://ruthanbrodsky.com
http://fromretirementtocareerchange.com

In my last post I wrote about a few cosmetic procedures that are taken care of in the hospital. In this post I’m writing about procedures that take place in your doctor’s office.

What is interesting is that the facelift is not as popular as it once was. Many people are focusing on what is called lunchtime lifts which focus on the mid-face and cheek or mini lifts which deal with the jaw line and neck. People don’t want to go through the pain and a long recovery of a facelift.

Both the lunchtime lifts and mini-lifts are performed in-office under local anesthetic or mild sedation, and take about an hour. Recovery is about one week and costs are $4,500 – $5000 for each.

Others are opting for fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm which help eliminate deep and fine lines. Then there are the Botox injections, a muscle relaxant that works on your crow’s feet and other creases such as the one between your eyes. Lots of people like these because they are not surgery and they are affordable. Fillers can run from $450 to $700 an injection and you usually need to repeat them over a period of time.

From my conversations with plastic surgeons, people need to be more realistic about recovery time and the fact that there might be pain. What ever you do it won’t be an overnight miracle. You may not need recovery time, for example, but you may feel uncomfortable for several weeks and there may be bruises.

My advice if you are thinking about any of these procedures is to make an appointment and then consult with the physician.  Take someone along with you to ask the questions you forget.  Make sure you and the doctor have the same idea and philosophy you do.  And ask to talk with some of the doctor’s patients who had the procedure.  After all, it’s your face!  Make the most of it.

To your healthy aging success.

Ruthan brodsky