Dangers of Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Alpha hydroxy acids occur naturally in certain foods. They are often recommended in skin care for their primary ability to penetrate deeply into the skin, and to aid the rate of cell turnover. Alpha hydroxy acids have been well researched and their skin rejuvenation benefits are well documented.

However, even though alpha hydroxy acids (AHA's) have many positive uses in skin care, they, like any other method also carry some dangers.

At the most basic level, using alpha hydroxy acids on your skin can be burning, irritation, and increased sensitivity to sun.

Symptoms may include redness, itching, pain, and, in severe cases, scarring. This is especially likely when the concentration of alpha hydroxy acid is too high (at levels of more than 10% should be prescribed and administered by a dermatologist).

Dark skinned people are at a higher risk of scarring with regular alpha hydroxy acid use- something about these acids interacts with the pigment in the skin, and may lead to hyperpigmentation in some areas.

Sun sensitivity is another side effect of alpha hydroxy acids. Kind of funny, in a way, because these [tag]AHA's[/tag] are effective in combating damage caused by photoaging - but, at the same time, they may make photoaging more likely. Anyone using AHA's must use a good sunscreen offering both UVA and UVB protection.

In 1997, the FDA released the following guidelines for consumer use of products containing alpha hydroxy acids :

• Concentration of AHA must be 10% or less
• Final product must have a pH of 3.5 or higher
• Final product must include an effective sunscreen in the formula or clearly warn people to use sunscreen products after using the AHA product.

If you're considering adding alpha hydroxy acid to your skin care regimen, follow these guidelines to reveal more beautiful skin, without complications.