What is the difference between AHA and BHA
If you are wondering to have glowing, smooth, and healthy-looking skin, cleansing and exfoliation must be included in your skincare regime. But days are gone when we use those harsh and grainy apricot/walnut scrubs to exfoliate our skin. Do you know they damage your skin by causing micro tears? These days AHA and BHA are the most heard terms in the skincare industry. Everyone is talking about chemical exfoliation whose two heroes are skin-loving actives - AHA and BHA. Because of their proven capacity to remove the dead cells from the skin without damaging the skin, these chemical exfoliators are in trend and are recommended by all.
Here, we’ll explain what AHA and BHA are and why you should add both to your skincare routine.
What Are AHAs?
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) are used as exfoliants to remove dead skin cells and is suited to all skin types. Glycolic acid, Lactic acid, and Mandelic Acid are well-known AHAs that boost collagen, reduce spots, improve skin’s appearance, brighten the complexion and increase the absorption of your next product application.
The Benefits of AHAs:-
You may be surprised to find that AHA’s naturally occur in nature and they are safe for long-term use. Plus, they’re effective. AHAs show an instant effect on your skin. They not only exfoliate the surface but also make your skin look cleaner and smoother.
Scroll down to know the various benefits of AHA and why to incorporate it into your skincare routine.
- Removes dead skin cells: AHA being a chemical exfoliant, helps remove the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Well, of course, there are many other agents to exfoliate the skin none are as gentle as AHA. This process of gently exfoliating those dead cells is vital for bright skin, unclogging pores, even skin tone, and overall healthy-looking skin.
- Reduces Uneven Skin tone: In our younger selves, no one has told us the importance of sunscreen and what we can do to protect our skin from sun damage. But now, thanks to AHA. The use of AHA resulted in reduced skin tanning, uneven skin tone, and roughness, all of which are caused due to sun. Also, use Shadow SPF50+ sunscreen gel to further protect and prevent your skin from sun damage.
- Promotes Radiance: We can’t measure radiance but when our skin appears from dull to not so dull, the change we feel is noticeable. The skin appears dull when dead cells are trapped on the skin surface, when there are blemishes and pores are clogged with dirt and oil and dead cells. When these dull culprits are removed, the skin gets an overall glow.
- Reduces Fine Lines, and Smoothens the Skin Texture: Fine lines and wrinkles are some of the annoying skin problems, but AHAs can help with those too. AHAs have been proven effective in reducing the visible signs of wrinkles. Glycolic acid and lactic acid boost cell turnover, stimulate collagen production and produce new skin cells which improve skin firmness and thus minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles so it naturally smoothens the texture of the skin and the skin looks visibly younger.
So, if AHAs provide various benefits, then why not give every advantage to your skin? Time for you to try your AHA.
What Are BHAs?
BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acids), are oil-soluble (first love of oily skin beauties:-p) also known as Salicylic Acid (as you have always seen salicylic acid in the ingredients list for an anti-acne product), is the best way to exfoliate the acne-prone skin for clear, smooth, and hydrated skin without irritating the active acne. Salicylic acid is the most effective for acne-prone skin as it penetrates into the skin very deeply and actively removes the dead skin cells, unclogs the pores to prevent acne, and reduces the post-acne marks too.
The Benefits of BHAs
- Reduces blackheads: Blackheads are the bumps on the skin that fill with excess oil mixed with dead skin cells. BHA is known to penetrate deep inside the skin, but before penetrating it exfoliates the upper layer of the skin and works on blackheads. It helps in skin shed and controls the flow of sebum and oil within the pores, and reduces the appearance of blackheads and lesser blackheads in the future.
- Prevents pore clogging: Pores are itsy-bitsy openings on the skin. Some are tiny, which are barely visible and some are enlarged pores. BHA is the best topical treatment for unclogging pores and fighting bacteria. It smoothly removes dirt, oil, gunk, and excess skin cells from the pores and as well as from the surface of the skin. As it also controls the sebum production. Sebum can then no longer accumulate and the pore will return to its normal size.
- Dissolves Whiteheads: A whitehead is a white, painful, and bulbous, pore that gets clogged with dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria. Unlike blackheads that can be popped out easily as they are open at the end, whiteheads are closed at the surface and are not easy to push them out. BHA deeply penetrates into the skin surface and gently works inside the skin to exfoliate the whiteheads from within.
- Acne: We all know what acne looks like, but we are concerned about how to get rid of them. Include BHA in your skincare routine. BHA is a well-known dermatologically approved formulation that is safe, potent, and highly effective in minimizing pores and treating active acne due to its antibacterial properties.
- Reduces sebum production: BHA slows down sebum production and reduces the excess oil by working at a deeper skin level to clear trapped oil and sebum in the pores and prevent new clogs from forming.
How to Choose: AHA vs BHA
When we choose between AHA and BHA, we get confused about, which product will work along with our skin concerns.
For issues like dry skin, sensitive skin, or your goal is just to exfoliate the top dead surface of the skin, then AHA is the best option. AHAs like lactic acid and glycolic acid are known to be great exfoliator, also it is hydrating and soothing at the same time, a plus for those with sensitive and dry skin types.
If your skin issues are deeper like acne or cystic acne, choose BHA. BHAs like Salicylic acid or Benzoyl peroxide are the most common ingredients that work on acne inflammations, skin breakouts, and for treating whiteheads as well. Due to their, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, BHAs decrease the irritation of the skin, which comes with painful pimples. It gently exfoliates the skin and breaks the bond between the skin cells to further prevent acne issues.
Shop AHA Products:
You can try Mandefix, a gentle exfoliating everyday foaming cleanser from Fixderma for mild exfoliation on regular basis. Also, you can choose Fixderma Peelonate AHA Alternate Day Face Cleanser. This enzyme exfoliation is the best option if you are looking for a non -irritating AHA chemical exfoliant.
Shop BHA Products:
You can choose the Fixderma Salyzap range to get rid of acne, which is formulated with the most potent and safe BHA formulations of salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Also, if you want a gentle chemical exfoliator for your skin you can try your hands on Peelonate BHA Alternate Day Face Cleanser to gently exfoliate your acne-prone skin without harming your skin and acne.
(After using AHAs or BHAs, DO NOT SKIP SUNSCREEN before stepping out in the sun)
P.S- Read about PHA (Poly Hydroxy Acids) too.
Read more - Hyperpigmentation: Types, causes, and treatment
