Which AHA is Most Effective?

Mo must know…It is very confusing with so many first cousins around of AHAs, Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid & Ammonium Lactate. Which one is the better one of these? I believe all of them essentially do the same job – They help with itching in KP/Eczema/Psoriasis, slough off dead skin, exfoliate, unplug pores, reduce wrinkles.

The Right Brain responds:

Mo, we’re sorry to tell you that the answer is none of the above: the best AHA is actually Lactobionic acid. (Ok, technically it’s a Poly Hydroxy Acid but the basic idea of how it works is the same.)

Loving lactobionic acid

Hopefully all our readers recognize AHA as the abbreviation for Alpha Hydroxy Acid, a class of chemical that is used to loosen dead skin cells and increase cell turnover. According to research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Lactobionic acid is not only more effective than glycolic acid at improving cell turn over but it’s also less irritating.

An international team from London, Serbia and Slovenia tested both AHAs in a cream and a gel. 26 volunteers used the products twice a day for two weeks. The researchers found that Lactobionic acid scored better in both forms even though their data indicated the gel base worked a bit better than the cream form.

What do YOU think? Do you use AHAs to smooth your skin? Which products do you like? Leave a comment and share your alpha hydroxy affinity with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Source: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology

Issue 9, pages 3-10