What are the Common AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)?
AHAs can broadly be classified into natural and synthetic. Though there are many natural sources of alpha hydroxy acids, majority of cosmetics available in the market contain synthetically produced AHAs. Following are the natural sources of commonly available alpha hydroxy acids: • Glycolic acid: Sugarcane. • Lactic acid: Fermented milk • Citric Acid: Citrus fruits like lemon • Malic acid: Unripened apples • Mandelic acid: Bitter almonds • Tartaric acid: Fermented grapes (a la Cleopatra)How Do AHAs Help Even Out the Skin Tone? The alpha hydroxyl acids act on the skin in a number of ways to produce their effects. • At low concentrations, AHAs produce superficial peeling of the skin by interfering with the intercellular binding of the superficial layers of the skin. • At higher concentrations, they cause deep peeling by detaching the keratinocytes, known as epidermolysis. • By inhibiting the enzymes responsible for melanin synthesis, AHAs reduce the production of melanin, resulting in li
