Hydroxy Acids, the Most Widely Used Anti-aging Agents

Aging process begins from birth and continues during the lifetime. Skin aging is the result of some reactions in dermis, epidermis, pigment cells, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, blood vessels and secondary organs in the skin layers. In this case, the thickness of epidermis, which is the outmost layer of the skin, decreases, while the stratum corneum layer that is the outmost layer of the epidermis thickens. The phenomenon in turn causes roughness and scaling and finally break down of the skin.Anti-aging medicine is a medical specialty founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases (1, 2). Hydroxy acids, also called fruit acids, are among nonorganic acids which have been used in the treatment of skin disorders since about 40 years ago. They are some of the most widely used and studied anti-aging skincare compounds. Clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of these ingredients in reversing the effects of photoaging and improving wrinkles, skin elasticity, tone and hydration. Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) are two main classes of hydroxy acids. AHA is used Please cite this paper as: Moghimipour E. Hydroxy Acids, the Most Widely Used Antiaging Agents. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod.2012.7(1):9-10.