Table of contents:
- Functions & Usage
- What is glycolic acid used for?
- How do you use glycolic acid?
- How to store this drug?
- Dose
- What is the dosage for glycolic acid for adults?
- What is the dosage for glycolic acid for children?
- In what dosages and preparations is this drug available?
- Precautions & Warnings
- What should be considered before using glycolic acid drugs?
- Certain drugs and diseases
- Allergy
- Is this drug safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Side effects
- What are the possible side effects of glycolic acid?
- Drug Interactions
- What drugs can interfere with the action of glycolic acid drugs?
- Can certain foods and drinks interfere with glycolic acid drugs?
- What health conditions can interfere with the performance of this drug?
- Overdose
- What to do in an emergency or overdose?
- What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?
Functions & Usage
What is glycolic acid used for?
Glycolic acid or glycolic acid is a topical medication used to exfoliate the face or exfoliate dead skin cells. This drug is classified as an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which is made from sugarcane.
Glycolic acid has many benefits for skin health, such as:
- improve skin texture
- rejuvenates the skin
- increase skin moisture
- blemishes acne scars
- evens out skin tone
- prevent acne
According to PubChem, glycolic acid has the smallest molecule size compared to other AHA types. Therefore, glycolic acid is easier to enter into the skin layer. This makes glycolic acid more effective at exfoliating the skin than other AHAs.
How do you use glycolic acid?
To use glycolic acid, you must follow the instructions given by your dermatologist, or those written on the product label of the drug.
Glycolic acid or glycolic acid itself is a type of topical drug. This means, this drug is only used for external use.
If this is your first time using glycolic acid, use the product gradually, for example 2-3 times a week. If your skin doesn't show any signs of irritation, you can increase the use of it every day.
Make sure you wash your hands and clean facial skin first before using this medicine.
Avoid exposure to heat or sunlight after using this medicine. According to the FDA, AHAs like glycolic acid cause your skin to become much more sensitive to sunlight. If you have to go outside, use it sunscreenwith SPF 30 and above.
How to store this drug?
There are several ways to store the drug that you must comply with, such as:
- Store this medication at room temperature. Do not be in a place that is too cold or too hot.
- Keep this medication away from exposure to sunlight or direct light.
- Keep this medication out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not store this medication in the bathroom or other damp places.
- Do not also store this drug until it freezes in the freezer.
- Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules.
- Always pay attention to the drug storage rules listed on the packaging.
If you are no longer using this medicine or if the medicine has expired, discard this medicine immediately according to the procedure for disposing of the medicine.
One of them, do not mix this drug with household waste. Do not also throw this drug in drains such as toilets.
Ask the pharmacist or staff from the local waste disposal agency about the proper and safe way to dispose of drugs for environmental health.
Dose
The information provided is not a substitute for a doctor's prescription. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dosage for glycolic acid for adults?
The following is the recommended dosage for using glycolic acid:
- To reduce skin wrinkles and premature sun aging: 10% per day. Doses above 20% in daily products are not required.
- To get rid of acne scars: use Glycolic Acid on the skin at 20%, 35%, 50%, and 70% which is used every two weeks.
- To brighten facial skin caused by melasma: lotion containing 10% glycolic acid is applied to the skin every night for 2 weeks along with a 3-month exfoliation program: 50% glycolic acid is applied to the skin three times a day.
What is the dosage for glycolic acid for children?
There is no provision for the dosage of this drug for children. This medicine can be dangerous for children.
It is important to understand the safety of drugs before use. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
In what dosages and preparations is this drug available?
Glycolic acid is available in the form of face wash, facial cleanser, toner, lotion, moisturizer, cream, serum.
You can get products with glycolic acid that are sold over the counter. However, this drug can also be obtained by prescription, depending on your skin condition.
Precautions & Warnings
What should be considered before using glycolic acid drugs?
Before using this drug, here are a few things you need to know:
Certain drugs and diseases
Tell your doctor about any medications you are currently using, especially medicines for skin problems. Several types of drugs may interact with glycolic acid.
In addition, it is also important to inform your doctor about any diseases or other health conditions that you are currently suffering from. It is possible that this drug can trigger interactions with certain diseases or health conditions.
Allergy
Tell your doctor if you have a history of allergies to glycolic acid or other AHA ingredients. Your doctor may prescribe other alternative medications.
Is this drug safe for pregnant and lactating women?
This medicine is considered a pregnancy risk category A according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:
- A: It's not risky
- B: No risk in some studies
- C: It might be risky
- D: There is positive evidence of risk
- X: Contraindicated
- N: Not known
Side effects
What are the possible side effects of glycolic acid?
As with other medicines for facial skin, glycolic acid may cause side effects in some people.
This medication can make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight. If you have very sensitive skin, be careful when using this product.
Other side effects that may arise due to this drug are:
- slight skin irritation
- redness
- swollen
- itchy
- discoloration of the skin
- skin burns
Drug Interactions
What drugs can interfere with the action of glycolic acid drugs?
Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article.
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.
You should not use glycolic acid with topical retinoid products, such as tretinoin and adapalene.
Can certain foods and drinks interfere with glycolic acid drugs?
Certain drugs should not be used when eating certain foods because drug-food interactions can occur.
Smoking tobacco or consuming alcohol with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur.
Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your doctor, medical team, or pharmacist.
What health conditions can interfere with the performance of this drug?
Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. These interactions can worsen your health condition or change the performance of the drug.
Always tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have other health problems.
Overdose
What to do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose of glycolic acid, call the medical team, ambulance (118 or 119), or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?
If you forget a dose of this medicine, use it on the skin as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.
