AHA and BHA: Understanding the Difference

Everyone has a different skin tone and skin conditions but using the right skincare products is crucial for keeping your skin healthy and radiant. There are many ways to treat your skin for instance laser skin therapy, the use of AHA exfoliate and BHA exfoliate, medications, ointments, or even consulting your dermatologist. Any skin type exfoliates the dead cells every day but with age and unprotected sun exposure, the process slows down and may stop together. This causes the skin to get dull, dry, blocked, enlarged pores, and wrinkles, making it look old, and have uneven skin tone. As a result, chemical exfoliants like AHA and BHA may make a huge difference by eliminating dead skin and exposing the healthy appearance beneath.

Each of the skin-treating chemicals has its own merits and demerits and some require time with professional help while some can be done at home with ease. However, if you are ever planning to incorporate AHA and BHA in your skin treatment routine, you should first understand each term and what they actually do. Also learn what to choose when it’s about AHA vs BHA.

What are AHA and BHA? 

Simply put, AHA and BHA are hydroxy acids. You can find these types of acids in various skincare products like facial cleansers, face masks, body moisturisers, scrubbers, etc. Both AHA and BHA are acids but they treat skin in a separate manner. Both are made from natural and plant-based acids for exfoliating the skin tone. 

The main purpose of both AHAs and BHAs is to exfoliate the skin. They are responsible for removing upper dead skin. No one is better than the other because their main work is to deeply exfoliate the skin, however, their usage in our skincare regimen can make a huge difference.

How are AHA & BHA Different?

If you want to use either AHA or BHA, it’s critical to understand the difference between AHA and BHA.  

1. AHAs are generally water-soluble substances whereas BHAs are oil-soluble substances. 
2. AHAs mainly work on peeling your upper layer of skin to make it look smooth and glowing. While BHAs mainly focus on getting deeper into the skin pores in order to clean them thoroughly and remove all the dead skin and unwanted dirt. 
3. AHAs mainly consist of glycolic acid whereas BHAs mainly consist of notable salicylic acid.  
4. AHAs are used for sensitive and fragile skin tones while BHAs are used for rough and timid skin tones. 
5. AHAs are less harmful but may cause irritation if repeatedly used while BHAs can  help calm sensitive skin.
6. Some examples of AHA acids include lactic acid (found in dairy and vegetables), glycolic acid (found in sugarcane), malic acid (found in apples), citric acid (found in oranges and lemons), and tartaric acid (found in grapes).
7. Examples of beta hydroxy acids are salicylic acid, tropic acid, trethocanic acids, etc. to name a few. 

Why are AHAs and BHAs Good for Your Skin?

While most of us may be thinking that these AHA and BHA hydroxy acids are bad for our skin but in reality, they help our skin tone in a number of ways. The most beneficial thing about AHA and BHA exfoliants are that they are versatile and can be used by individuals with any skin type. 

1. They help in keeping the skin hydrated and moisturised.
2. They actively help slow down the lines and wrinkles path, slowing down premature wrinkling. 
3. Both of them help the skin look a lot radiant and make the skin look more firm.
4. Any rough, hard, and bumpy texture on your skin is removed, helping keep the skin soft and smooth.
5. Both AHA and BHA help eliminate dead skin and unclog pores.

AHA vs BHA: Choosing the Right Hydroxy Acid for Your Skin

The best type of chemical exfoliation for your skin is typically determined by one’s needs. AHAs are the most commonly used remedy for improving skin tone, patches, pigmentation, and tanning. 

However, if you have oily, acne-prone skin and are looking for solutions for unclogging and oil reduction, BHAs could be your best choice. Nevertheless, if you have highly sensitive skin due to some kind of skin problems or dermatosis etc. Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA) is a good choice because it is less harsh. Both AHA and BHA acids can be great for your skin, but it totally depends on the kind of skin tone and nature of use. 

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of AHAs And BHAs?

As AHA and BHA exfoliants are chemical acids, there are chances of side effects after using them. Though the side effect is not a big one but can cause discomfort to you. However, AHAs are more commonly used by people, as they are less harmful and more effective. Possible side effects are:

1. Mild or severe itching (this totally depends on the skin tone)
2. Irritation in the area of chemical application
3. Chances of increased inflammation on the skin
4. BHA exfoliants generally make the skin dry
5. Possible redness in the area where hydroxy acid was used.

Conclusion

Because of the many advantages, a lot of skincare brands use hydroxy acid components in their products. Both AHA and BHA exfoliate the skin and help to heal sun-damaged skin. However,  AHA appears to be more beneficial in correcting skin pigmentation disorders.

Combining AHA and BHA has been found to produce good effects in the long run for a number of skin problems. When it comes to AHA vs BHA, a good skincare routine should use both of them. They are surprisingly mild while exfoliating and revealing softer, healthier, and shinier skin.

Moreover, anyone who has very sensitive and fragile skin should always first consult their doctor before using these hydroxy acid products. Concludingly, both AHA and BHA acids can be said to be good for the skin to remove dead and unwanted cells and experience smooth and shining skin.