AHA's and BHA's are common ingredients used in skincare products. You've probably heard the term before and thought "WTF are AHA's and BHA's". This skin blog discusses what AHA's and BHA's are, talks about their benefits and how to incorporate these active ingredients into your skincare routine.
Lets get started.
AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid and are water-soluble acids. These acids are derived from naturally occurring compounds such as sugar cane (glycolic acid), fruit (citric acid) and milk (lactic acid) and can also be synthetically produced. AHA's work by dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells to assist the natural exfoliating process of the skin.
BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid and is a oil-soluble acid. This acid is derived from aspirin (salicylic acid) and can also be synthetically produced. BHA's work by dissolving the oil plug in the pore assisting to remove congestion and oil build up within the skin.
BENEFITS OF AHA's + BHA's
AHA's and BHA's are often referred to as chemical exfoliants. The benefits of a chemical exfoliant compared to a physical exfoliant is they don't require any friction when applied to the skin to remove dead skin cells therefore they reduce the likelihood of skin irritation and sensitivity. When applied to the skin, chemical exfoliants have the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin than just the surface layer providing an effective exfoliation without friction.
AHA's and BHA's have different benefits, can be manufactured in different concentrations and come in different forms of skincare products so they can be tailored to you skin type and/or concern providing the most effective exfoliation for your skin.
TYPES OF SKINCARE PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN AHA'S + BHA'S
Cleansers
Toners
Serums
Spot treatments
Exfoliants
Masks
HOW TO INCORPORATE AHA's + BHA's INTO YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
As with the introduction of anything new to your skincare routine, it is recommended to consider if this skincare product is right for your skin type and/or concern, what this skincare product is targeting and doing to your skin and whether it is suitable for you.
When incorporating a AHA or BHA consider where and when you'd like to incorporate this skincare product into your skincare routine. This will also help to determine the frequency of use needed for a particular skincare product. As a general rule, it is recommended a higher concentration of AHA or BHA for less frequent use and a smaller concentration for daily use.
Overuse of AHA's or BHA's can interfere with the skin's natural desquamation process, impair the skin barrier and sensitise the skin. If your seeing any of these signs, it is recommended to reduce the frequency of use for this particular skincare product. If signs continue after this, reduce use of the skincare product altogether. With any exfoliating product, it is recommended to be using a sunscreen everyday regardless of the weather as exfoliating can increase skin sensitivity to the sun and UV radiation.
See related: Sunscreen - Why it's SO important!
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