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Hyperpigmented or dark spots on the face could most certainly be a troubling concern for many individuals. Whether these spots are caused due to sun exposure or inflamed acne it needs to be dealt with.
These marks appear due to melanin overproduction and accumulation at particular spots when it gets triggered due to any reason. These stubborn dark spots persist on the face for a long time and might not fade away easily on their own. It requires targeted skincare products for proper clearance.
Using a glycolic acid face wash could be an appropriate choice for dark spots clearance. It might be able to deliver better results which may not be achieved using some topical products. Glycolic is a small sized molecule belonging to alpha hydroxy acids and has the ability to penetrate deep into the pores of the skin.
It helps in clearing the skin efficiently because of this. It also helps in accelerating the skin renewal process which allows new and even toned cells to appear on the surface. It is ideally the best first skincare measure to opt for dark spots reduction.
Cause behind dark spots
Dark spots are considered as hyperpigmented spots which appear dark, brown or pale and appear when melanin production might get clustered at particular spots. Melanin is the natural skin pigmentation which is secreted by specialized skin cells called melanocytes.
These cells might get triggered due to some disturbing factors that could affect the skin. As a defense melanocytes start producing an excess amount of melanin. Sun exposure is the most common trigger for melanin production because UV rays are harmful for the skin.
Also inflamed acne spots could leave behind pigmentation marks as melanin gets triggered due to inflammation. This phenomenon is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which could also be caused due to bites, burns or even cuts.
The dead skin cells when they stop shedding and pool up at particular spots could also look like dark spots. When the hormonal levels fluctuate sometimes melanin production gets increased resulting in dark spots. Melasma is a common hormonal problem during pregnancy which leads to dark spots appearance.
What is glycolic acid really?
Glycolic acid is one of the water soluble alpha hydroxy acids. It is unique from other AHAs because of its small molecular structure. It is a chemical exfoliant which works to lift off the pooled up pigmented cells. This particular AHA is derived from sugarcane.
The smaller sized molecule of glycolic acid allows it to penetrate into the skin which most of the other alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid can’t. It works to dissolve the molecular bonds of dead skin cells and helps in shedding them from the surface. It works to accelerate the skin renewal process.
Glycolic acid for fading dark spots
Melanin is ideally the skin pigment responsible for the visible color of skin, hair and eyes. This pigment when gets triggered due to external or internal factors result in formation of dark spots.
Glycolic acid helps in fading these discolored skin spots through the process of chemical exfoliation. It loosens the cellular bonds of the pigmented or dead skin cells by cutting them down. These bonds hold the cells together and when they shed off a clear skin can be achieved after rinsing the glycolic acid face wash.
When the pigmented cells on the surface of the skin get cleared or shed they reveal new fresh skin cells which are not pigmented. Using this face wash in routine skincare helps in scattering the pigmented melanin cells and prevents skin pigmentation.
It is beneficial for improving the skin texture as it works to remove the build up of impurities from the skin. This helps in clearing rough patches from the skin.
It is also ideal for clearing the excess oil from the surface of the skin preventing shiny skin texture.
Opting suitable concentration
It is important to select the right concentration of glycolic acid in your face wash for making it suitable for your skin. You need to opt for 2% to 5% of glycolic acid if you are using it for the first time or have a highly sensitive skin which requires gentle products only. If you want proper clearance and fade stubborn dark spots or have oily and acne prone skin you can use 5% to 10% percent of glycolic acid.
Glycolic acid delivers better and visible results after using it consistently for about 10-12 weeks in routine.
Stepwise guide for using gentle cleansers
Final Thoughts
Glycolic acid is ideal for fading the pigmentation marks from the skin if used for routine purposes. It helps in renewing the skin cells and clears out pigmented cells with time. It works as a chemical exfoliant and is considered a gentle cleanser for skin. This could deliver results only if you use it wisely considering every factor including concentration, application and formulation.
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