Peeling

Peeling: BHAs or AHAs?

Regular exfoliation effectively removes dead skin and stimulates the skin renewal process. Your skin is radiant again and in this condition it is better able to absorb all the care products applied afterwards.

Unlike mechanical peels or cleansing products that work with abrasive particles such as sugar, sea sand, or almond bran, peels or other cleansing products with AHAs or BHAs cause a chemical reaction that causes the protein in the top layer of skin to coagulate. and thereby exfoliate the cells of the surface of the skin.

This means that the skin treatment with AHA or BHA acids is more intense and gentle on the skin. Sensitive skin can be irritated by mechanical abrasive particles, while oily skin and acne are easily infected if the abrasive particles spread bacteria throughout the skin. These problems do not occur with the use of AHAs and BHAs in personal care products, which is why they are becoming more popular and used in a variety of skin care and cleansers. However, AHA and BHA acids can sometimes cause skin reactions and irritations. For this reason, people with sensitive skin should always thoroughly test any peels and products with these ingredients for tolerance.

What is the difference between AHA and BHA and which option is recommended for which skin type or skin problem?

AHA = alpha hydroxy acids (fruit acids such as lemon, lime and malic acid).

AHA peels are especially suitable for improving mature skin. These peels are extremely effective because their very small molecules can penetrate deep into the skin. They are water-soluble and therefore effectively improve the moisture and elasticity of the skin. AHAs are also very effective against age-related and sun-related skin damage such as age spots. In addition, they are usually well tolerated by people with sensitive skin. However, to be on the safe side, easily irritated skin types should always check their effectiveness carefully and use the appropriate product no more than 1-2 times per week.

BHA = beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid)

BHA peels are especially suitable for oily, damaged skin and acne problems, since salicylic acid is oil soluble and thus binds fats and cleans clogged pores well. In addition, BHAs have an anti-inflammatory effect, which makes skin irritation go away faster. That's why BHA is so often found in cleansers for problematic skin. The beta hydroxy acid molecules are larger than AHAs, so they are well tolerated by normal skin types as an exfoliating agent. The same applies to oily but sensitive skin types regarding the use of AHAs. Check carefully and use no more than 1-2 times a week at first.

Briefly: which peeling for which skin?

Normal skin: AHA, BHA

Dry, sensitive skin: AHA

Damaged skin, acne, combination skin: BHA

Mature skin: AHA

You should pay attention to the following details if you want to integrate AHA and BHA products into your skincare routine:

Acid peeling is a very effective treatment, but for this reason it can sometimes be irritating. That's why you should start with it carefully and test portability first on first use. If you have very sensitive skin, it might even be a good idea to test a new product on the back of your hand before applying it to your face. Mild tingling and redness of the skin can often be experienced, especially with BHA products, but these symptoms usually resolve within a few minutes. If you've tested a product for portability, it's best to use it in this order:

K-Beauty procedure

Start with a regular facial cleansing followed by a chemical peel and then continue with the other steps of the K-Beauty treatment such as serum, face lotion or night cream. After peeling, it is very nice to pamper your skin with extra care and maybe even lock moisture into the skin with an overnight mask.

Best time

Evening is the best time for a chemical peel, as the procedure increases the skin's sensitivity to light. If you want to exfoliate in the morning, be sure to apply a sunscreen with a very high SPF, for example: COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++.

If a strong acid peel initially seems too intense for your skin, you can alternatively use various products that integrate AHA or BHA acids in small amounts into the appropriate formulation, including toners.

In this way, you can first determine if you generally tolerate AHAs or BHAs, and then gradually move on to more intensive applications or classic peels.