AHA and BHA.
These two acid compounds are plural you encounter as the content of skincare on the market. Circulating everywhere, have you understood about the functions and differences of each?
Basically, AHA and BHA are the active ingredients you normally encounter in skin exfoliation products. Its function is to accelerate the process of exfoliation or removal of dead skin cells. So not infrequently, these two materials are often used as the main ingredient eksfoliator.
Although it looks similar, AHA and BHA in fact have a number of significant differences.
AHA
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) is an acid compound that is useful to help the process of exfoliation of dead skin on the skin.
"Alpha Hydroxy Acid works by loosening the bonds of dead skin cells, so the skin more easily ekseksololiasi," said Dr. Melyawati Hermawan, SpKk, when met at Branche Bistro, Senopati, Thursday (17/5).
"Make people who are hyperpigmented, usually wear the AHA because we want to make peel cells that have pigmentnya it," he continued again.
AHAs are moisturizing, making them suitable for use by dry skin, especially at night. Examples of AHA content that is often encountered are glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and mandelic acid.
BHA
Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) has the same working principle, only penetration deeper and penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin.
Unlike the moist AHA, BHA is just the opposite.
"Working right up to the pores, it's like oil, so it's automatic for people with oily skin to really use salicylic acid acid (another form of BHA) .Not too irritating, and enough to control oil and reduce pore size- pore, "continued Melyawati again.
So, BHA-based exfoliator suitable for you the oily skin, and problems with acne and blackheads. BHA is also soothing, so it can reduce redness on the face. "If for prone acne, because the problem is also in oil, more suitable to use BHA," he said.
Safety limit
Many skincare lines also combine the two. So, the product selection is entirely based on your skin needs and condition.
Before purchasing an exfoliator product, thoroughly correct the content listed on the packaging. In addition, it is important to consider the concentration of AHA or BHA content.
For generic cosmetics circulating freely on the market, BPOM RI implements AHA maximum limit of 10 percent only with the degree of acidity (pH) 3.5 or more.
Because if used excessively, can cause negative effects on the skin. The content of more than 10 percent is only allowed on a doctor's prescription.
