What does lactic acid do for skin? Its benefits are varied, and it’s one of the most popular ingredients in skin care today. Here are five reasons why you should use lactic acid on your skin to get smoother, softer, and more radiant-looking skin in no time at all!
What Is Lactic Acid?
Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that’s derived from milk. It’s a popular ingredient in skincare products because it’s gentle and effective at exfoliating the skin, increasing cell turnover, and brightening the complexion. And unlike other AHA’s like glycolic acid, lactic acid doesn’t produce much peeling or flaking of the skin. As such, it’s less likely to cause irritation for those with sensitive skin. Plus, it has moisturizing properties that hydrate the skin while also promoting cellular renewal. There are so many reasons why you should start using lactic acid on your skin! Here are five benefits:
What Are the Benefits?
- Lactic acid can help exfoliate the skin, improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.
- Lactic acid can also help hydrate the skin by increasing the production of natural hyaluronic acid.
- It has antibacterial properties, so this could be useful for people with acne-prone skin or other conditions like rosacea.
- Lactic acid has been shown to reduce pigmentation spots by as much as 20% when used for six months!
- That’s not all though, lactic acid also helps to firm up sagging skin and smooth out rough texture.
There are a lot of benefits you’ll get from adding this powerful AHA into your skincare routine.
It also promotes healthy collagen production. This means that it makes your skin more elastic and less likely to wrinkle or develop lines from years of exposure to the sun or other environmental factors. Finally, lactic acid has anti-inflammatory properties. If you have sensitive skin prone to breakouts or rosacea, this might be a good option for you!
When To Use It?
Lactic acid is mostly used as an exfoliating agent. It can be found in many over-the-counter skin care products, including cleansers, toners and moisturisers. Lactic acid has been shown to soften the skin by increasing cell turnover, which means that it sloughs off dead cells faster than usual. Cell turnover also speeds up natural production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid—all crucial elements for youthful looking skin. These effects are more pronounced with higher concentrations of lactic acid such as 20% or 30%. With increased concentrations, skin gets firmer and thicker resulting in smoother skin with fewer fine lines and deep wrinkles. A study published in Dermatologic Surgery found that when people applied a topical cream containing 12% lactic acid twice daily for one month, they experienced a 29% increase in skin thickness. Researchers believe this increase was due to stimulation of fibroblasts and increased synthesis of structural proteins.
Each product is different depending on the concentration and product usage so make sure you read the labels and apply as and when recommended.
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