The most popular benefits of AHAs are able to prevent signs of premature aging and make the skin healthier. Because of these benefits, AHAs have become one of the most popular ingredients in the beauty world. In addition, there are still various benefits of AHAs that we can get.
AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) are a group of acids found naturally in foods, such as glycolic acid from sugarcane, citric acid from oranges, tartaric acid from grapes, and malic acid from apples.
Use of AHA-based products, such as moisturizers, cleaners, toners, and masks, no doubt in overcoming various skin problems. Typically, products with AHAs are used as exfoliator (exfoliant) which is suitable for dry, wrinkled, and acne-prone skin conditions.
These are the various benefits of AHA for the skin
Below are the various benefits of AHAs that you can get for beauty and skin health:
1. Rejuvenate skin
The main function of AHAs is to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells, so that skin regeneration or the process of forming new skin cells can occur faster and the skin will look healthier overall.
Skin regeneration is important for facial skin that looks fresh and youthful. As you age, your skin's natural cell turnover cycle slows down. This can cause skin cells to accumulate and the skin to look dull and unkempt.
2. Brighten the skin
AHA is useful for brightening the skin because its exfoliating effect is able to reveal healthy glowing skin cells that were previously hidden in the lower layers.
Thanks to their exfoliating effect too, AHAs used regularly can help improve uneven skin tone caused by acne scars, scars or melasma, as well as fade skin hyperpigmentation caused by excessive sun exposure.
That's why AHAs are often used in everyday skin care products, such as moisturizers and cleaner.
3. Fights signs of aging
AHAs are known for their benefits in fighting signs of premature aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin, which are commonly associated with decreased collagen production.
Regular use of AHAs, for example in the form of serums and facial moisturizers, can increase collagen production by destroying old collagen fibers and paving the way for new collagen formation. That way, the lines of wrinkles will be reduced, the skin will be firmer, and look smoother. This is the reason why AHAs are often used as an ingredient in anti-aging face creams.
4. Prevent and treat acne
AHAs also have benefits for overcoming and preventing the appearance of recurring acne. This is thanks to the exfoliating effect of AHAs that can help clean clogged pores due to dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria. If the pores are clean, the risk of acne formation will also decrease.
Not only that, AHAs can also help shrink pores, disguise acne scars, and help soothe inflamed skin.
5. Increase absorption of other skin care products
AHAs can increase the absorption and effectiveness of other skin care products used afterward. To increase the absorption of your daily skincare products, try a toner with an AHA that is used after cleansing and before serum or moisturizer.
If you have too many dead skin cells, the moisturizer you use on a daily basis will just sit on top of your skin without hydrating the new skin cells underneath. AHAs such as glycolic acid can penetrate the layers of dead skin cells and make moisturizers work to new skin cells more effectively.
How to Get AHA Benefits
In general, AHAs are very safe ingredients and proven effective for use on the skin. However, there are still some things you need to pay attention to before using AHAs as part of skin care.
The safe ways to get the benefits of AHAs are:
- Using a product with an AHA concentration level of less than 10% for less frequent use, for example once every 2 weeks.
- Using AHA products with lower concentrations, which is about 5%, for daily use such as serums, toners, and moisturizers
- Use sunscreen every day and reapply every 2 hours if using AHA based care products
- Choose AHA products from trusted sources.
If you have never used an AHA before, you may experience minor side effects as your skin adjusts to an AHA product. Temporary side effects that may appear include itching, redness, and irritation.
To reduce the risk of side effects, use AHA products at intervals of 1 day for the first few weeks. Once your skin is used to AHAs, you can try using them every day.
However, if you have certain skin conditions, such as burns, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema, you should consult a dermatologist first before using treatment products that contain AHAs.