A few years ago after visiting my dermatologist, whom I had been going to for a few years and really loved, I mentioned to her that my pores on my nose always seemed to be getting clogged. It wasn’t that I had black heads or white heads, it just felt as though the only way they would get rid of the dirt and oil of the day to day was through an extraction tool. It seemed as though my pores were almost now dependent on me doing this every evening in order to purge themselves of the gook and grime of makeup, pollutants and everyday life. When I would do this it cause my nose to get dry and peel a lot. It was like a never ending battle: in order to rid my pores of the gunk in there I had to wash my face and use the tool but by doing so it made my nose dry and flakey. I couldn’t for the life of me understand how to stop this viscious cycle. This is when I asked my dermatologist if there is something that I can use to get rid of the pore clogging junk without having to do this every night. She mentioned to me glycolic acic. “Acid?!” Right away images of chemical peels, raw red skin, people’s melted faces started to pour into my head. In my head I was thinking, “Sorry lady there is nothing about acid that sounds good to me.” It turns out in that short visit she gave me the low-down on glycolic acid, what it does (and doesn’t do) and why it might be a good addition to my skin care cleansing regiment to help battle clogged pores, especially in the nose and t-zone area. (note: the only area of concern I had was my nose, but I believe this helps with all areas of the face as well in case you are in need of some TLC there too.)

So what is glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid (or hydroxyacetic acid) is the smallest α-hydroxy acid (AHA). Glycolic acid is probably the most common alpha hydroxy acid and has the reputation of being one of the safest forms of alpha hydroxy acid.

This colorless, odorless, and hygroscopic crystalline solid is highly soluble in water. It is used in various skin-care products. Glycolic acid is found in some sugar-crops. Due to its excellent capability to penetrate skin, glycolic acid finds applications in skin care products, most often as a chemical peel performed by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or licensed aesthetician in concentrations of 20 to 70% or at-home kits in lower concentrations between 10 and 20%. In addition to concentration, pH also plays a large part in determining the potency of glycolic acid in solution. Glycolic acid is used to improve the skin’s appearance and texture. It may reduce wrinkles, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation and improve many other skin conditions, including actinic keratosis, hyperkeratosis, and seborrheic keratosis. Once applied, glycolic acid reacts with the upper layer of the epidermis, weakening the binding properties of the lipids that hold the dead skin cells together. This allows the stratum corneum to be exfoliated, exposing live skin cells. Highly purified grades of glycolic acid are commercially available for personal care applications.

Why would glycolic acid be good for my pores?

Glycolic acid sloughs away dead skin to encourage cell turnover, collagen production and to smooth wrinkles for a healthy, radiant glow. Highly effective glycolic acid clears pores and improves clarity and texture achieving maximum absorption without the irritation of an aggressive chemical peel. For me glycolic acid pads seemed to be the best approach, similar to the look of a Stridex pad. It was astonishing to me that even after washing my face with my favorite exfoiliating scrub, I would use a glycolic acid wipe on my nose area and still get dirt and oil. For some reason by extracting the pores each evening I was actually breaking down the skin cells and the layer of skin on the top which would them cause my nose to peel a day or two later. Then I would moisturize to help stem the peeling which would then clog the pores more. Round and round we would go.

 

So I went online after leaving the dermatologist that day and went online to do some searching for the best one. I found quite a few really good quality glycolic acid wipes or pads online and for good prices. The one I settled on was by Avon, but below are a few others I thought were very good as well. I have to say that if you have sensitive skin you may want to start out only doing this every 2-3 days to see what your tolerance is to the products. I did not feel any type of burning but I did feel tingling after using it. You may also notice that after using the glycolic acid pads that your skin even itches a little. Let the skin dry completely and then put on your favorite night time moisturizer. I only used these in the evening so that I didn’t have to worry about any type of sensitivity to the sun. Many reviews highly recommend to pair this with a good SPC sunscreen regiment since AHA type products can make you more sensitive to the sunlight. (Plus, you should be using lots of sun protection on your face anyway).

Top Glycolic Acid Products (pads & wipes) That I Recommend:

 1.  Avon ANEW CLINICAL Advanced Retexturizing Peel

 

2.  DCL Glycolic Acid Pads 20%, 50 pads

3.  Bliss That’s Incredi-Peel Glycolic Resurfacing Pads, 30 Pads

4.  Malin + Goetz 10% Glycolic Acid Pads

Suggested Usage:
-Each night, gently wipe the pad over clean dry skin.
-Do not rinse.
-Wait a few minutes and apply moisturizer.
-Continue using pads nightly unless you experience irritation or excessive dryness.
-If these reactions persist, discontinue use.
-Individuals with sensitive skin can start by applying every other night an gradually build up to nightly use.

Products mentioned in this post:

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