Glycolic acid peels also known as chemical peels are one of the most commonly used beauty products in the cosmetic industry today. These products work by combining a number of common active ingredients with your skin which helps exfoliates the built up dead layers of skin which in turn will reveal the clear new rejuvenated skin underneath.
And while these treatments were once a hugely kept secret – only available to the richest and most popular of the Hollywood celebrities, today they are widely available to the general public.
Because of the widespread adoption of facial peels one of the most common questions we get asked here on this blog is ‘what are the main ingredients in a glycolic acid peel?’. I’ve put together this post to run you through a number of the more common ingredients found within these product.
Glycolic Acid Peel Ingredients
Depending upon the specific brand of glycolic facial peel that you use, there will be a number of different complementary ingredients that are used in conjunction with the more common ingredients found within these products.
Depending upon the strength of the product you are using also, facial peel ingredients will tend to vary from the lighter of the fruit acids (alpha hydroxy and glycolic acid) found in most of the common home peel kits. All the way up to the much stronger phenols that are required in medical strength peels.
You should always realize that chemical peel ingredients need to be used with the utmost case – as there is the potential to cause your body harm if used incorrectly. Make sure that you always follow the recommended guidelines with the utmost precision to ensure that you don’t cause any irreparable damage to your skin.
Common Glycolic Acid Peel Ingredients
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s)
Alpha hydroxy acids are extracted from common fruit and milk sugars – the most common of these acids being glycolic and lactic acid. These two types of acid are utilized because of their exceptional ability to break down the skins dead cells and help shed them to rejuvenate the underlying new skin.
There are five common AHA’s that are most commonly used in most cosmetic products:
- Glycolic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Malic Acid
- Tartaric Acid
Trichloroacetic Acid
Trichloroacetic acid which is also more commonly known as TCA, is used for a majority of the more slight to moderate skin peels. It is generally used in combination with a formula known as Jessner’s solution by some skin care doctors to ramp up the efficiency and create a slightly deeper peel that requires less healing time than some of the more higher grade chemical peels.
A recent study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Cosmetic Professionals found that the majority of fine surface wrinkles, superficial marks and blemished, and many skin pigmentation problems will easily be treated with a high quality TCA.
Phenol (Carbolic Acid)
For the very deepest of skin care peels most skin care professionals will utilize an ingredient known as Phenol. This type of chemical peel is so strong that in many cases a general anesthetic will be required prior to the treatment, with bandaging of the face and several weeks of bed healing time being required.
According to a scientific study carried out by the American Academy of Dermatologists, most medium and deep depth facial peels will result in blistering and swelling that can cause facial issues if not treated correctly. This process is generally carried out over a 14 day period.
Other Facial Peel Ingredients
Glycerine is one of the most common other facial peel ingredients, and is generally used in more of a complementary capacity as opposed to as a key ingredient.
Colored dyes can also be included as an active ingredient which will help aid the doctors to make sure they are applying the chemical peel evenly to all areas of your skin.