Want ageless, smooth, and forever glowing skin? Let lactic acid be your hero

Lactic acid, a type of alpha-hydroxy acid or AHA, is known to work like magic on your skin by removing dead skin cells, reducing fine lines, and preventing acne.
anti-ageing peel
Found in a lot of beauty products these days, is lactic acid actually worth it? Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Grace Bains Published: 17 Dec 2020, 09:54 am IST
  • 68

It’s said that Cleopatra, the beautiful Egyptian queen, would bathe only with milk. Well, turns out she probably did it to maintain her beauty. She might have discovered the power of lactic acid before all of us!

You might have come across various products highlighting lactic acid as a key ingredient and wondered how exactly lactic acid can solve your skin problems. Turns out, it is an AHA and can take care of all your ageing-related woes. 

What exactly are AHAs?

Alpha-hydroxy acids, known as AHAs, are a group of plant or animal-based acids. There’s been plenty of research on how AHAs can be useful when it comes to keeping wrinkles at bay, lightening the appearance of fine lines, and ensuring your skin stays free of acne. 

There are various types of AHAs, but only two have been proven to be effective in combating your skin-related problems without being too harsh. These are glycolic acid and lactic acid. By now, you’re probably acquainted with glycolic acid’s ability to give you a smooth, even-textured skin. It’s lesser-known cousin, lactic acid, however, is only now gaining the attention it deserves.

Lactic acid is actually the mildest AHA and is very gentle on the skin. At the same time, it is also extremely effective. Here’s how lactic acid works on your skin to ensure you get even-toned and glowing skin.

1. Exfoliation

Just like other AHAs, lactic acid is known for its strong exfoliation action. It removes dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin, ensuring new cells get generated. Exfoliation is one of the most important aspects of skincare because if you let dead skin cells accumulate, it will lead to skin problems like a dull skin tone, acne, and even the appearance of fine lines. Lactic acid will get rid of the dead cells, ensuring your skin looks bright and is healthy from within.

The Moms Co
Get soft and glowing skin with The Moms Co Natural Vita Rich Face Serum Image courtesy: Shutterstock
2. Moisturisation

When compared to its other members of the AHA family, the unique thing about lactic acid is that it moisturises the skin. Research published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology found that lactic acid can actually mimic the skin’s own mechanism of moisturisation and improve its ability to keep itself hydrated, thus preventing dry skin. Ensuring that the skin stays well-moisturised also minimises the risk of fine lines.

3. Collagen stimulation

You see, we need collagen because it is a building block for the skin and ensures your skin stays youthful. After the age of 25, its production starts to decline. Turns out, you can apply lactic acid on your skin to stimulate collagen production! This will ensure that you stay clear of signs of ageing.

Also, watch:

Select Topics of your interest and let us customize your feed.

PERSONALISE NOW
4. Reduces hyperpigmentation

If you’ve noticed hyperpigmentation on your skin, you should definitely look into lactic acid. Lactic acid can prove to be particularly helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and helping you even out your skin tone, primarily due to its exfoliation properties.

There’s no doubt that lactic acid can be great for your dermatological health but also keep in mind that it can cause sensitivity to the sun. Hence, apply it only during the nights and don’t leave your home without applying sunscreen the next morning. With just a little care, you can use lactic acid to boost your skin health!

  • 68
About the Author

Grace is someone who likes writing enough to make a living out of it. When she isn’t writing, you will find her having chai and reading a book. ...Read More

Next Story