AHA vs BHA Exfoliants: What’s the Difference (and How to Choose the Right One for Your Skin)
These two types of acid exfoliants are popping up in more products than ever before, and often together!
So you might be confused about which one(s) would be best for your skin, what results you can expect, and if it's a good idea to combine them.
If so, this tutorial is for you! Below, we will cover:
- What are AHAs vs BHAs
- How they're similar, and how they're different
- How to choose the right one for your skin (and whether you can use both)
- My AHA and BHA product suggestions
AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acid—a type of acid that is derived from sugarcane, milk or fruit.
As chemical exfoliators, AHAs work by peeling away the dead skin cells on the skin surface, revealing the fresh new skin cells underneath.
But how exactly do they do that? According to a 1999 study, AHAs exfoliate by reducing the concentration of calcium ions within the epidermis and the "glue" between skin cells, which allows them to be sloughed off. But more recent studies have found they do so by causing a type of cell death known as apoptosis. More on this in a second!
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