AHA is best for dry skin and surface-level skin concerns like acne scars. BHAs are best for oily and acne-prone skin types. You can use both by buying products with both ingredients, or by alternating products.
The Ordinary AHA + BHA Peeling Solution is ideal for combination, oily and acne-prone skin types. The combo of glycolic and lactic acids fully exfoliate the outer layers of the skin, while the salicylic acid goes deeper into the pores.
AHAs may also help treat and prevent recurring acne. Acne pimples occur when your pores are clogged with a combination of dead skin cells, oil (sebum), and bacteria. Exfoliating with AHAs can help loosen and remove the clog. Continued use may also prevent future clogs from forming.
Hydrating: AHAs and BHAs are both humectants—ingredients that help your skin to attract and hold more moisture. Clearing and preventing acne: AHAs and BHAs both help with acne by exfoliating the dead skin that can lead to clogged pores.
BHA seems to be more effective for treating skin conditions like acne because of its antibacterial properties. AHAs, such as glycolic and lactic acid, may be effective in treating changes in skin color such as melasma, solar lentigines, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The short answer is yes you certainly can! The longer, more detailed answer, is there are a couple of ways to truly benefit from using niacinamide after using AHA and BHA. To avoid any redness or irritation from overusing potent skincare ingredients you can alternate which time of day you use them.
Skin purging, if you don't know, is a process in which your skin breaks out when you try a new skincare product. Some products, such as Niacinamide and Retinol, accelerate the skin turnover process and can cause purging. This only means that pimples that would pop out sooner or later, come out all seemingly at once.
As it contains very high concentration of free acids, it is recommended to be used only if you are an experienced user of acid exfoliation and your skin is not sensitive. It is advised that it should not be used on sensitive, peeling, broken or compromised skin.
Here are the commonly used active ingredients and treatments that can amp up cell turnover and pave the way to skin purging: Acids - The most common acids that can cause skin purging are AHA's and BHA's, which include salicylic acid, malic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid.
Over time, this phase will pass (for some, it may be one to two months, depending on the severity of your breakouts.) The most probable reason for the breakouts experienced after using a BHA is pure coincidence.
Because BHA is oil-soluble, it exfoliates not only on the surface of skin, but also inside the pore lining. That kind of exfoliation can trigger a mass exodus of inflammatory substances and oil that, under certain conditions, can create more breakouts.
Though some people do report experiencing irritation and breakouts after using the ingredient, niacinamide is unlikely to cause purging. That's because it doesn't affect the skin in a way that usually triggers purging.
Purging is a sign that the product is working and you should continue with the treatment as prescribed. After a few weeks of purging, your skin and acne will have noticeably improved. Breaking out is when your skin is reacting because it is sensitive to something in the new product.
Niacinamide should be used after your BHA exfoliant. From there, you can apply the rest of your products in order of thinnest to thickest texture.
Niacinamide and zinc are very soothing ingredients. Yes, you can use this product after using the AHA/BHA peel. With the peel, ensure you apply to freshly cleansed and dry skin and leave on for absolutely NO more than 10 minutes-5 if it's your first time.
Salicylic acid helps clear pores, reduce inflammation, and is good for gentle exfoliation. It's a great ingredient for acne-prone skin, especially if you have oily skin type. Salicylic acid works more effectively when layered with niacinamide. Niacinamide is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and helps with acne.
It seems that niacinamide has a normalising ability on the pore lining, and this influence plays a role in keeping debris from getting backed up, which leads to clogs and rough, bumpy skin. As the clog forms and worsens, the pores stretch to compensate, and what you'll see is enlarged pores.
When selecting niacinamide products, Dr Ho advises that “a concentration of 4-5% niacinamide is ideal—enough to improve acne and fine wrinkles”. Higher concentrations, like The Ordinary 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc, have not yet been proven to exhibit a higher rate of efficacy.
As it's well tolerated by most people, niacinamide can be used twice a day everyday. It works at any time of the year although it comes in particularly handy in winter during cold, dry weather and frequent use of central heating. Use it in the run-up before starting your retinol treatment and alongside it, too.
Salicylic acid also improves the shape of the pore lining, and once the pore is normalized, the backed-up, smaller clog can more easily come to the surface, appearing as new clogged pores (blackheads or white bumps).
While physical exfoliants may buff away dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling smooth, the friction involved may irritate your already-inflamed skin, leading to increased redness and breakouts.
Dr. Shah notes that the concentration of ingredients in your acne product doesn't always affect how well they work, but it can. If you're having continued issues with your skin, it's possible the concentration of an ingredient like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide could be contributing.
Skin purging typically looks like tiny red bumps on the skin that are painful to touch. They are often accompanied by whiteheads or blackheads. It can also cause your skin to become flaky. The flare ups caused by purging have a shorter lifespan than a breakout.
She notes a purge period can prompt allkinds of pimples. “It may look different from person to person, but you can get a mix of whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, cysts, and even the tiny 'pre-pimples' that aren't visible to the eye, called microcomedones.” Dry, peeling skin is also common.