How to use glycolic acid for best results
It is a fact that glycolic acid is great for your skin. However it’s important that you know how to use it properly to ensure you reap only its amazing benefits and none of its unwanted side effects. Don’t make the mistake many people do of buying products with the highest percentage of glycolic acid thinking that a higher concentration means faster and better results. This only leads to severe reactions, especially if your skin is not used to glycolic acid, or if it’s already sensitized.
It’s better to start using a product containing about 5-8% of glycolic acid, like a Glycolic Daily Exfoliator with 7.5% glycolic acid. Daily exfoliators like this are a great choice as they provide for easy and consistent use in the right manner while building your skin’s tolerance levels.
Once you have started using the exfoliator, note how your skin reacts. It’s normal to have a mild tingling feeling for the first few times as it means its working. However there shouldn’t be any pain or any flaking and peeling after use. If you find that it has become red or irritated, then you need to reduce your usage to using the exfoliator only once in 2-3 days and not every day, for a couple of weeks.
Consequently, if you find that your skin can tolerate the glycolic acid, as there is no tingling sensation or redness of skin, you can increase its application frequency or the amount of time it’s left on your skin.
Keep a watch on your skin as you may not have to increase anything as lots of people find that using a good glycolic acid with 5-8% concentration is sufficient to keep your skin healthy and clear from any blackheads and fine lines.
However when you wear glycolic acid, it’s important that you wear a good sunscreen while outdoors. This is because regular use of glycolic acid makes your skin susceptible to sunburn.
Who should avoid using glycolic acid?
It’s not advised to use glycolic acid if you are, or have recently stopped using Roaccutane. It’s also not advisable to use if you have recently undergone a microdermabrasion treatment or have thin or sensitive skin. Don’t use glycolic acid if you use sunbeds, or if you are frequently in the sun without sufficient protection.
So it’s actually easy using glycolic acid in your normal skin care routine once you understand your skin. Regular use of glycolic acid helps improve your skin condition by balancing its acid mantle, providing an effective and deep exfoliation and by increasing cell turnover.
