Clinical Blogs — glycolic acid
What is glycolic acid? Why glycolic acid is incorporated into hydroquinone containing products?
Glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) which is derived from sugar cane. It is commonly added to hydroquinone-containing products for the treatment of hyperpigmentation (dark patches of skin). Glycolic acid is used to exfoliate skin. This helps to remove dead skin cells and thus helps to improve the penetration of hydroquinone into the skin. It also helps to enhance the depigmentation effects. The study has shown that the combination of hydroquinone and glycolic acid is safe and effective in the treatment of melasma (a form of hyperpigmentation). While using glycolic acid containing products, avoid using other...