Effects of alpha‐hydroxy acids on the human skin of Japanese subjects: The rationale for chemical peeling

Abstract

Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) agents, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, have been used as therapeutic agents for more than a quarter of a century. Recently, they have been used as agents to rejuvenate photo-aged skin. It is believed that these AHA agents induce the epidermis to remodel and accelerate desquamation, thus exerting their therapeutic effects. In this study, we investigated the histological differences in skin treated with glycolic, lactic, citric and acetic acids once daily for 6 weeks. The melanin pigments in the basal layer were less prominent in the glycolic and lactic acid-treated skin than in the citric and acetic acid-treated skin. The melanin deposits in the horny layers were equal for all AHA. However, the melanin deposits in the squamous layers were less prominent in the glycolic and lactic acid-treated skins than in the citric and acetic acid-treated skins; this was analogous to observations of the basal layers. Collagen I and procollagen I were increased after treatment with glycolic, lactic and citric acid in the upper dermis, but were not increased with acetic acid treatment. However, the staining of the epidermis and dermis for matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) after treatment was not significantly different among the agents. Our data suggest that longer treatment intervals with glycolic and lactic acid can cause improvements in both the epidermal and dermal components and support the usefulness of AHA for rejuvenating photo-damaged skin.

A Comparative Study of Glycolic Acid Versus Mixture of Trichloroacetic Acid and Glycolic Acid Peeling for Treatment of Three Benign Epidermal Lesions

“…Yamamoto et al [3] found that treatment with glycolic acid can cause improvements in both the epidermal and dermal components and support the usefulness of AHA for rejuvenating photo-damaged skin. Furukawa and Yamamoto [13] revealed that glycolic acid of the appropriate pH increased the thickness of the treated skin and made the melanin pigments in the basal layer less prominent.…”

“…Yamamoto et al [3] mentioned that GA in mix peeling had effects to increase the epidermal thickness, the hyaluronic acid, collagen I, procollagen I, and mucopolysaccharides, but to reduce the fragmentation of elastic fibers.…”

“…In addition, AHA application on the skin regulates the epidermal thickness, the hyaluronic acid, collagen I, procollagen I and mucopolysaccharides, also reduce the fragmentation of elastic fibers [3].…”

Fructose 1, 6‐diphosphate regulates desmosomal proteins and collagen fibres in human skin equivalents

“…S3), implying that the effects of FDP might be caused by systemic changes in both the epidermis and dermis. These similar changes were observed in the process of chemical peeling, which destroys the epidermis and the dermis to regenerate new epidermis and dermis (19)(20)(21). The effects of these agents such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and lactic acid, have been proved to be mediated by the induction of epidermal remodelling, the acceleration of desquamation and the increase in collagen 1 in the upper dermis.…”

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Glycolic Acid

“…Glycolic acid (GLA) is used in the preparation of a large variety of products, including consumer and industrial cleaners, [1] personal care products, [2] and as a monomer in the preparation of polyglycolic acid (PGA) for dissolvable sutures, [3] drug-delivery materials [4] and gas barrier packaging materials. [5] The majority of glycolic acid currently produced commercially is prepared by the high-pressure, high-temperature reaction of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide by acid catalysis.…”