How To Use Lactic Acid For Skin >. Using lactic acid is one of the best ways to improve your skin. Lactic acid helps smooth and refine your skin, helping to reduce pores, acne scars and even out the skin tone giving you a radiant youthful glow. But what if you don’t want to use an expensive product containing lactic acid? There are lots of alternatives that can be used like milk, yogurt and even beer.
Have you heard the buzz about lactic acid and what it can do for your skin? You’ve probably heard that lactic acid is an active component of milk and yogurt since it’s lactic from bacterial fermented sugar. But do you know how lactic acid is made. This treatment reduces the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin tone while increasing cell turnover to boost Collagen production. Read on to learn more best lactic acid for skin/how to make lactic acid for skin.
How To Use Lactic Acid For Skin
It’s a popular ingredient in numerous skin care products nowadays. But its use is nothing new. It dates back to ancient Egypt. It’s common knowledge that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to keep her skin looking more youthful.
Like glycolic and mandelic acids, lactic acid belongs to the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. AHAs are water-soluble organic compounds that, in cosmetic formulations, offer unparalleled benefits for the skin. Lactic acid presents an additional advantage that other AHAs don’t have. Besides its ability to significantly improve the skin’s appearance, it helps keep it naturally hydrated.
Additional Benefits of Lactic Acid
Much like its more aggressive counterparts, lactic acid has many known perks. It increases cell turnover and helps eliminate accumulated dead skin cells on the epidermis — the top layer of the skin.
When using lactic acid in 12% concentrations, the skin gets firmer and thicker. As a result, there is an overall smoother appearance and fewer fine lines and deep wrinkles. These outcomes show that, in such high concentrations, lactic acid can permeate into the deeper layers of the skin. Lower concentrations of about 5% have no impact on the middle layer of the skin. Still, they have similar effects on a more superficial level.
After using lactic acid, you’ll notice a brighter and smoother complexion. It can fade out age spots and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and highly visible pores. Lactic acid is one of the mildest forms of AHA, so it’s safe to use it on sensitive skin in the right concentrations.
Lactic acid as an effective antimicrobial. Some research suggests that lactic acid and probiotic supplements can help with sensitive skin. By teaming up to fix certain inflammatory reactions, they can both give a microbial balance to the skin. While probiotics promote more in-depth regulation by balancing the gut, lactic acid works alongside them as a treatment for moderate skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
Lactic acid for acne. Skin with a tendency to get acne can be more sensitive to exfoliating therapies. Still, many doctors prescribe lactic acid chemical peels in low concentrations alongside antibiotic treatments. Using low concentrations has significantly improved the skin texture and reduced up to 90% of inflammatory lesions in people with acne in controlled clinical studies.
How to Use Lactic Acid Safely
Even though it’s a milder AHA exfoliant, you shouldn’t use lactic acid too frequently. You risk over-exfoliating your skin and messing with its natural barrier. Consider using this effective skin resurfacing ingredient every other night unless your doctor says otherwise.
Be careful if you’re using retinoids and aggressive scrubs. Avoid doing these treatments all at once, or you might see some irritation. In severe cases, you might cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which happens when the skin produces extra melanin as a natural response to stress. This type of hyperpigmentation can take a long time to fade out.
Using any chemical peel puts your skin at a greater risk of sun damage. Always wear an SPF 30+ whether you’re outdoors or not. Reapply it every two hours when you’re exposed to direct sunlight. Failing to protect your extra-vulnerable skin from UVA and UVB damage might increase your chances of getting skin cancer.
Follow the product’s directions carefully. Some preventive measures you could take before applying lactic acid — or any other AHA exfoliant — are:
- Making sure the lactic acid concentration is below 10%.
- Looking for products with a pH of over 3.5.
- Looking for products that warn about the potential effects of sun exposure after lactic acid use.
Risks of Using Lactic Acid for Skin Care
Any chemical peel can cause adverse reactions. When trying out lactic acid for the first time, keep an eye out for:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Burning sensation
- Severe itching
- Noticeable peeling
If you notice any of these skin reactions, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Also, take a break from exfoliants altogether. You don’t want to cause any more stress to your already damaged skin.
Best Lactic Acid For Skin
Using expired sour milk on your face probably seems like a recipe made in TikTok hell, but lactic acid is actually a chemical exfoliant that’s gentle enough to treat acne and uneven texture on sensitive skin.
Luckily, there’s no need to play around with the spoiled jug of milk that’s been in the back of your fridge for months. Beauty brands have long been onto the benefits of lactic acid, safely incorporating it into their serums, creams, and masks.
But before you add any lactic acid products to your cart, we turned to a top dermatologist and chemist to get a full breakdown of what the chemical exfoliant does for your skin and the best methods for incorporating it into your routine.
How Does Using Lactic Acid Benefit Your Skin?
Lactic acid is an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is found naturally in milk, but it can also be produced synthetically in a lab.
“Acids can remove several layers of dead skin in just one treatment allowing treatment products and skincare to effectively penetrate the skin,” says Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. “They can remove blemishes, fade sunspots, improve skin tone, texture, reduce hyperpigmentation and superficial wrinkles.”
In the case of lactic acid, it can be used as both an anti-aging and acne treatment because it exfoliates, improves fine lines and wrinkles, and improves the appearance of discoloration.
Michelle Wong, cosmetic chemist and founder of Lab Muffin points out that while lactic acid is an exfoliant, it’s also a hydrating humectant. “It can hydrate your skin, reduce clogged pores, smooth out skin texture and help fade pigment,” she says.
Who Should Use Lactic Acid?
For sensitive skin types, lactic acid can be a great chemical exfoliant because it’s gentler than other AHA and BHA acids.
“Lactic acid is best used on sensitive skin because it is a mild exfoliant which will not disrupt the pH of the skin or cause redness and irritation,” Dr. Green says.
Because lactic acid has a larger molecule size in comparison to other AHA acids, it doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply, providing a more superficial exfoliation. In other words, lactic acid isn’t as potent, but it can still be effective, which is ideal for sensitive skin types that are prone to irritation.
What Ingredients Don’t Play Nice With Lactic Acid?
“Lactic acid should not be used in conjunction with other forms of AHA’s or in addition to using BHA’s, retinols or tretinoin,” Dr. Green shares. “These ingredients all cause cell turnover and some degree of exfoliation. When combined together, they can cause severe skin irritation.”
Wong says that because lactic acid products are at a low pH, they can conflict with pH-sensitive ingredients such as peptides. “Usually it’s not a big problem if you wait 15 minutes between applying products,” she says.
How Should You Use Lactic Acid in Your Skincare Routine
There are a number of products infused with lactic acid, from cleansers to serums to face masks. While which one you try is up to you, it’s always best to consult with a dermatologist if you’re unsure about adding anything new to your existing routine.
Just don’t forget to apply SPF every morning, because like other exfoliants, lactic acid can cause sun sensitivity.
“Lactic acid is also a melanin suppressor therefore it inhibits tyrosinase which is the enzyme responsible for melanin production,” Dr. Green says. “Because it decreases your melanin production, you should wear sunscreen and protective clothing to protect the treated areas from sun damage.”
Due to this reduction in melanin production, Dr. Green says the skin is “noticeably healthier, lighter, and brighter almost immediately.
How To Make Lactic Acid For Skin
What is a lactic acid mask, and why might you want to use one?
Lactic acid is a chemical naturally found in many dairy products. It is a keratolytic product, used in medical and cosmetic procedures to eat away dead skin cells and soften keratin, resulting in softer, smoother skin.
You can spend a lot of money in a spa getting a lactic acid mask – which can be totally worth it if you have the time and money – but if you’re busy and just need a quick, cheap, effective fix, this mask is for you.Add TipAsk QuestionCommentDownload
Step 1: Mix and Apply Your Mask
Recommended sources of lactic acid:
- Organic milk from cow, goat, sheep – powdered is nice because it keeps in the freezer for longer.
- Sour milk products like yogurt or kefir.
To make this specific lactic acid mask, you’ll need:
- 3 tbs goat milk powder
- 1-2 tbs raw apple cider vinegar
- Optional: 1 tsp guar gum or gelatin
- To create the mask, mix your ingredients to form a smooth, spreadable paste approximately the texture of yogurt. The guar gum or gelatin will give the mask some slip while it’s wet, making it easier to apply, and prevent the mask from crumbling and flaking off your skin as it dries.
- Test the mask first (on your neck below your ear is a good spot, since it’s sensitive enough to react should the mask be too strong, but inconspicuous enough that any irritation will not be so visible), especially if you already know you have sensitive skin!
- Do not apply the mask anywhere near your eyes — the mask actually releases acidic fumes as it dries and can be very irritating.