Glycolic and lactic acid 40% pH 1.6 (chemical peeling)

Glycolic and lactic acid 40% pH 1.6 is a preparation for exfoliation treatments. It moisturises, rejuvenates, prevents wrinkles, stimulates the renewal of collagen fibres, stimulates keratinisation, reduces scars and discolouration.

Indications for glycolic and lactic acid:

• any skin type, especially with signs of post-sun damage – such as signs of photo-ageing, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone
• mature, with wrinkles and lack of elasticity
• mature, with wrinkles and lack of elasticity
• dry and dehydrated
• acne-polluted oily skin with blackheads and scars

Effects of glycolic and lactic acid:

• stimulates cell renewal, elastic fibre synthesis and hydration
• smoothes wrinkles, firms
• normalises the keratinisation of the epidermis, reduces the stratum corneum
• regulates sebaceous glands, reduces sebum, cleans pores
• reduces hyperpigmentation
• reduces discolouration and scars
• brightens and evens out skin tone

Glycolic acid – more information

✓ Glycolic acid is extracted from sugar cane and belongs to the group of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). It is a substance that is widely used in chemical skin peels. It is well soluble in water and its small molecule size (it is the smallest of the hydroxy acids) facilitates skin penetration. The most commonly chosen concentrations of glycolic acid range from 20% to 70%. It is used for all skin phototypes.
✓ Peelings using glycolic acid have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and caratolytic effects. Glycolic acid has been shown to have a beneficial effect in the removal of acne, achieving improvements in skin parameters.
✓ Another proven effect of glycolic acid is reduction of pigmentary changes. It is an effective preparation in the treatment of osteoma and for hyperpigmented post-inflammatory lesions. Its brightening action is due to both the remodelling of the epidermis by exfoliation and its effect on tyrosinase, an enzyme important in melanogenesis. Also important is its action on the removal of skin photodamage such as hyperpigmentation, lentigines spots and fine wrinkles.
✓ It has also been shown to increase collagen levels in the skin as a result of glycolic acid-containing preparations.

What do we know about lactic acid?

✓ Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) of moderate potency. It plays an important role in biochemical processes. It is produced by lactic acid bacteria of the Lactobacteriaceae family. It is also formed during intense exercise in our muscles and its presence causes acidification of the muscles, which results in reduced performance.
✓ In low concentrations (up to 10%), lactic acid has a moisturising effect – it is one of the main components of NMF, or natural moisturising factor. It therefore influences the hydration and moisturisation of the skin and allows the epidermis to maintain a normal moisture level.
✓ In higher concentrations (usually 30-50%), it has an exfoliating effect. Peelings containing lactic acid also have, in addition to their ability to exfoliate the epidermis, a skin pigmentation-improving effect, for example in facial acne and hyperpigmentation.
✓ Furthermore, lactic acid also shows the ability to increase epidermal thickness by increasing levels of procollagen I and collagen I. Thanks to these properties, it is considered suitable for use in rejuvenating skin with photodamage.
✓ Lactic acid is therefore used very frequently in chemical peel treatments because it effectively stimulates collagen and elastin production. It therefore stimulates skin hydration and elasticity, smoothes wrinkles, lightens spots and discolouration, smoothes scars and stretch marks, and additionally regulates keratinisation, cleanses and shrinks skin pores. To conclude, lactic acid is a mildly effective agent for achieving an all-round improvement in skin condition: hydration, firmness and colour.