You may know many of the buzzwords in the beauty world, but you may not know precisely what they are or what they do. If this powerful ingredient applies to you, let’s get straight to the point about some of the benefits of BHA (or salicylic acid) in skin care. BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid. It’s oil-soluble, which means it’s oil-loving, and it’s an exfoliating acid. Technically, there’s only one type of BHA: Salicylic acid.
You may have seen salicylic acid on the ingredient list of acne products. Salicylic acid exfoliates by removing dead skin cells. As such, it is often recommended for complexions that need more exfoliation, as well as for treating acne and oily skin.
Exfoliating with acid can help remove topical issues found on your skin, such as pimples, clogged pores, blackheads, and blackheads. It not only reduces the secretion of but also reduces redness and inflammation.
What are BHAs?
Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is an oil-soluble chemical peel that breaks down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. What is a physical peel (like a peel) that manually peels away dead cells? Unlike chemical peels, which slough away unwanted cells from the skin, it can be exfoliated in its own time for even exfoliation.
BHA is an organic compound with anti-inflammatory properties. They help new skin cells replace old ones, exfoliate the top layer of skin, and dissolve excess oil and sebum (the oily wax found in clogged pores).BHA has exfoliating properties. This makes it ideal for people with oily or acne-prone skin, but it’s not limited to one skin type. Also, read about AHA here.
How does it work?
BHA has a desmolytic structure, which means it has the ability to break the bonds between cells. This process allows new cells to form while the outer layer of the epidermis or skin is sloughed off.
BHA is also fat-soluble, which allows it to more easily avoid fats and oils in and on the skin.This ability allows BHA to penetrate the surface of the skin, penetrating the pores of the skin to remove dead skin cells, It helps combat the formation of comedones (acne lesions such as pimples and pimples) by dissolving and removing all the debris that helps form comedones, such as oil, bacteria, and more.
Benefits of BHA
BHA’s properties help treat and prevent many skin problems. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties of BHA peels remove sebum, skin cells and debris that cause and exacerbate common skin conditions.
Acne
Accumulation of dead skin cells clogs pores and prevents the release of sebum, an oily substance that helps the skin retain moisture. , the formation of comedones such as acne occurs. This is a condition called acne vulgaris.
BHA’s fat solubility means the chemical can concentrate in oily sebaceous glands. Substances clogging pores and follicles are removed and the pores are reopened.
Bacteria feed on the fatty acids produced during sebum overproduction. This further contributes to the formation of acne lesions. However, since BHA is antibacterial, it also fights bacteria that contribute to acne breakouts.
Wrinkles and fine lines
Aging, genetics, and damage from the sun’s UV rays cause the skin to lose elasticity and form wrinklesnand fine lines.
A derivative of beta lipohydroxy acid (LHA) and sodium salicylate (SS), BHA peels help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The exact reason for this is not yet known, but it is believed that skin turnover in the exfoliation process contributes to BHA’s ability to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the darkening of the skin. PIH affects people of all skin types, but more commonly affects people with darker skin tones.
Skin irritation or damage can cause PIH. It can also occur as a side effect of certain skin care products and cosmetics.
Chemical peels with SA do not have a significant impact on reducing PIH, but are effective in reducing the redness, dryness, flaking and oily skin associated with PIH flare-ups.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a kind of skin disease that causes erythema, or redness of the skin, and visible blood vessels. Red bumps may also appear on the skin, resulting in uneven skin texture and thickened or dry skin.
BHA peels have anti-inflammatory properties and can help treat erythema caused by rosacea. Unlike other topical peels, BHA is less likely to exacerbate inflammation caused by rosacea outbreaks.
Milia
Milia are tiny cysts filled with a protein called keratin that become trapped below the surface of the skin along with dead skin cells.The underlying cause of milia is unknown, but the use of harsh skin care products may occur due to
A BHA peel can go a long way in preventing the accumulation of dead skin cells and softening or reducing the number of milia already present on the skin.
psoriasis
Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition that most commonly affects the scalp, appearing as thick red plaques and silvery scales.Psoriasis can also be found on the neck, hairline, forehead and ears. BHA peels in the form of SA have a keratolytic effect on psoriasis, thinning the skin and softening keratin to make patches and lesions less noticeable.
Treating psoriasis with BHA peels is more effective when combined with other topical agents, as BHA in the form of SA helps other cosmetics to penetrate the skin better.
Dandruff
Dandruff is an itchy condition that causes scaly skin on the scalp. The more extreme type of dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or SD, can occur in areas of the body where oil glands are concentrated. When dandruff is relatively mild, SD is inflammatory. , in addition to scaling, reddens the skin.
The keratolytic action of BHA peels is an effective treatment for dandruff. When used for SD symptoms, BHA has been shown to reduce flaking, redness, itching, dryness, and discomfort when used as part of a consistent skin care routine.
warts
Warts present on the epidermis can appear in a variety of forms and can be skin-colored or dark and flat, rough, or smooth.
A BHA peel is the first-line treatment for wart removal. SA’s keratolytic properties remove the outer layer of the epidermis infected with HPV, which causes warts.
