In the skincare world, there is an ailment for every condition. Glycolic acid has been among the top few products that are a vital part of the routine. Most people use glycolic acid for hyperpigmentation due to its exfoliation properties. Found in the form of serums, toner, and essence, it is a simple yet highly effective solution. Glycolic acid for dark spots has also been a promising solution due to its ability to boost cell renewal. This is a solution for many skin problems, such as wrinkles, dullness, acne, pigmentation, and dark spots and is the reason behind its popularity.
What is Glycolic Acid?
A member of the AHA or Alpha Hydroxy acid family, glycolic acid comes from sugarcane. The AHA family comprises natural fruit acids that are a part of the majority of skincare products. AHA for hyperpigmentation is recommended for its properties of exfoliating and speedy dead skin renewal properties.
Glycolic acid, also known as Acide glycolique is specially designed with ingredients for hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. It is the smallest of the AHA class with a low molecular weight. This allows the skincare ingredient to penetrate the skin. Suitable for most skin types, it fits well in almost every skincare routine.
Does Glycolic Acid Help with Hyperpigmentation?
An effective solution for hyperpigmentation, glycolic acid is a gentle chemical agent that does wonders for the skin. While strong ingredients will only irritate the skin and aggravate the existing hyperpigmentation, glycolic acid gently lightens blemishes and exfoliates the top layer of the skin. The smallest and lightest AHA serum for hyperpigmentation, glycolic acid will reduce the pigmentation color and improve the appearance.
Adding this to your skincare routine, paired with other skincare ingredients improves the overall appearance and texture of your skin. You can choose combinations like glycolic acid and vitamin C or even glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid.
What are the Causes of Hyperpigmentation?
The dark spots and patches formed on the skin causing uneven skin pigmentation. This condition is known as hyperpigmentation. It has several causes such as inflammation, sun damage, skin injuries, and aging. It is important to know how to prevent hyperpigmentation and avoid it from further aggravating.
-
Sun Exposure and Melanin
Most of the hyperpigmentation is triggered and caused by sun damage. Prolonged exposure to the sun can disrupt melanin, the natural sunscreen for our skin. Melanin protects the skin from the UV rays of the sun; however, excessive exposure will lead to hyperpigmentation and develop dark spots or sun spots. This will also aggravate existing conditions like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, and tan.
-
Aging
As you age, your skin ages, decreasing melanin-producing cells or melanocytes. While the remaining melanocytes form a focused distribution, the changes enhance the appearance and amount of age spots. This is common in people over the age of 40-45.
-
Hormones
As the body experiences a change in hormones, the skin is quick to react to it. Especially in women, estrogen, the female sex hormone, and progesterone contribute to the overproduction of the skin’s melanin upon sun exposure.
During this process, hyperpigmentation is among the side effects.
-
Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
When you have acne, your skin experience inflammation. Once the acne heals, it leaves behind darker spots. These dark spots are called hyperpigmentation. This can also be caused after an inflamed injury and leaves behind post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
-
Melasma
Mainly affecting your face and stomach that is exposed to the sun, melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that is common among people having a darker complexion and living in places with a high concentration of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
How to Use Glycolic Acid for Dark Skin Safely?
Hyperpigmentation leads to dark spots and darkening of the affected parts of the skin. This condition can be solved by glycolic acid. However, it is important to remember how to use the product.
Mixing with Other Acids
While skincare actives can be potent, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist, especially if you have sensitive skin. Mixing different types of acids at an early stage and on aggravated skin might be more effective for calming the skin. However, it is best to research which products work best with each other as not all product combinations work out.
AM or PM Routine
As glycolic acid makes your skin sensitive to the sun, it is preferable to use the acid only during the evening. Exposure to UV with glycolic acid may also lead to inflammation.
Skincare Routine
It is important to remember that before you start your skincare routine, you cleanse your skin with a cleanser and pat dry with a good-quality napkin. To dry skin, apply a toner, this will help the acid absorb better into the skin. Wait for a few minutes and let the toner absorb before you apply your glycolic acid. Take a few drops and gently spread them across your face and neck. After a few minutes, when the product has been absorbed, add a gentle moisturizer that goes well with your skin type.
Benefits of Glycolic Acid for Hyperpigmentation
-
Powerful Exfoliator
Exfoliation of the skin helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. The removal of these dead cells makes it possible for new ones to generate.
Using glycolic acid exfoliates the skin effectively yet gently while it boosts the production of new cells. Exfoliation will gradually eliminate hyperpigmentation and maintain a youthful glow on your skin. Glycolic acid is an incredible serum for dark skin caused due to hyperpigmentation.
-
Reduce Sun Damage
Sunburn is the most popular cause of hyperpigmentation. While UV damage harms the skin, glycolic acid’s rich antioxidant content helps heal UV. The miraculous ingredient also lightens the blemishes and dark spots caused by sun exposure. It also helps exfoliate black skin caused due to tanning and pigmentation.
-
Acne
Inflamed acne is one of the primary causes of hyperpigmentation among acne-prone skin. After the inflammation subsides and the acne heals, it leaves behind a nasty scar that takes time to heal leading to pigmentation. While glycolic acid heals the already-caused dark spots, it also aids in peeling the pore-clogging gunk. Clearing this dirt and excess oil will reduce your likeliness of breakout and clear your skin. Thus, reducing acne and preventing further hyperpigmentation.
-
Lines and Wrinkles
Glycolic acid has the property of exfoliating the skin deeply the top layer of the skin. This removed the fine lines and wrinkle-causing dead skin cells. This causes the deep fine lines to look shallow and reduces their visibility.
-
Warts
A contagious disease, warts is a viral disease. This can be cured by glycolic acid’s deep exfoliation properties that clear the skin’s gunk and excessive oiliness that contributes to the aggravation of warts.
Moreover, warts can lead to post-inflammatory scars, and glycolic acid soothes and lightens these scars.
-
Boost Collagen Production
Collagen is the protein present in your skin that maintains the skin’s smoothness, radiance, and plumpness. Aging and sun exposure break down collagen resulting in sallow and drooping skin.
Glycolic acid has the ability to penetrate the skin. This helps them reach the dermis, the skin’s middle layer where collagen is present, and helps form a place for the formation of new collagen by degrading the disrupted collagen.
-
Promotes Blood Flow in the Skin
Proper blood flow to the skin is crucial for good skin health. This is because proper blood flow to the skin is equivalent to your skin cells receiving vital nutrition. This is due to the oxygen-rich blood cells that make the skin look radiant.
Glycolic acid’s anti-inflammatory properties improve blood flow and enhance dull-looking skin.
Glycolic acid has been a dermatologist's recommendation for a long time. It is available in various forms-moisturizers, serums, mists, and more. Suffering from hyperpigmentation needs to be treated or it may lead to unrepairable damage over time. Effective prevention and cure, glycolic acid not just treats acne, it also flattens deep lines, controls acne, fixes sun damage, and improves the overall appearance and quality of the skin.