Glycolic Acid Peel
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are a group of organic acids, some of which are derived from fruits, hence their name "fruit acids". Despite the fact that glycolic acid can be found in sugar cane, the glycolic acid used in your practice is not derived from processing sugar cane. It is created in a laboratory from chemical reagents, that is, bubbling carbon monoxide through formaldehyde. Below is a list of acids and their natural sources:
Glycolic - Sugar cane
Lactic - Sour milk
Citric - Citrus fruit
Malic - Apples
Tartaric - Grapes
These products are often used in 8% to 15% concentration as part of a daily regimen of skin care. However, they can also be used as peeling agents. When we speak of AHA peels, we are usually speaking about glycolic acid. Although there are peeling solutions made up of pure lactic acid or of mixtures of other AHAs, most AHA peels are done with glycolic acid.
Glycolic acid is a peeling agent, rather than a daily sin care product, usually in a concentration of 30% or greater. Glycolic acid peels using concentrations of 30% to 50% are often performed by estheticians or nurses, whereas peels using 50% to 70% glycolic acid are generally performed by physicians.
As with all other nonphenol peeling agents, the higher the concentration of the acid, the more aggressive its action and the deeper the peel: that is, a 70% glycolic acid peel is a more aggressive peel than a 30% glycolic acid peel performed on the same patient. AHA peels are useful in the treatment of many conditions in addition to photodamage. At this time, AHA peels are probably the most commonly performed peels in the world, certainly in the United States. This is due to the following factors:
They are systemically safe, nontoxic acids.
They are usually very superficial peels, and hence have few
complications.
The lay press has written extensively on them, creating a
great deal of consumer interest and demand.
The Pros of a glycolic acid peel:
Even very superficial glycolic acid peels may be able to
achieve significant effects.
Peels are well tolerated by patients.
Glycolic acid produces no systemic toxicity.
The Cons of a glycolic acid peel:
There is tremendous variability from patient to patient in
reactivity and efficacy.
Glycolic acid does not always create actual peeling of the
skin.
It has to be neutralized.
It has a tendency to penetrate unevenly.
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