Why are AHAs effective for the treatment of Aging Skin?
AHAs act in two ways to treat aging skin. Firstly AHAs will moisturize and unlike moisturizers that form a barrier on the skin to prevent excessive evaporation, AHAs moisturize by “signaling” the skin cells to increase the natural ground substance found in Hyaluronic acid or HA (do not confuse this with AHA). HA is a natural substance found in skin that binds 1000s of times its molecular weight in water. HA is the skins natural moisture retention substance. AHAs therefore manages to moisturize the skin from the INSIDE OUT! Secondly, AHAs exfoliate the skin naturally. Our skin constantly renews itself by the process of cell division, migration of cells to the skin surface, and ultimately dead skin cell shedding or exfoliation. As we get older the process slows down. Dead cells back up on our outer skin layer so the skin becomes dull, sallow, coarse, and accentuates fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tones. AHAs exfoliate the skin by their unique ability to dissolve the cellular cement
