Alpha Hydroxy Acids: Miracle Workers or Skin Wreckers?

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are lauded by the cosmetic industry and even dermatologists for their alleged anti-ageing properties. AHAs are a group of acids derived from a variety of sources, including fruit and milk sugars. There are a range of AHAs used in cosmetic products, including: glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, ammonium glycolate, ammonium alpha-hydroxyethanoate and alpha-hydroxyethanoic acid. They are used in cosmetic products as exfoliants to remove the outer layer of skin, supposedly revealing fresher, younger, smoother looking skin underneath, and as moisturisers and emollients. Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons use AHAs in much higher concentrations than cosmetic products Read more