Is Daily Use of Glycolic Acid Safe for Sensitive Skin?

You finally got your hand on glycolic acid, the miracle skincare product that your favourite Instagram creator has been raving about. It claims to give you a glow, smooth texture, and less acne. You apply it once, and your skin looks great. You apply it a second time, and it's still okay. But over a few applications, one does think if they can apply glycolic acid daily, especially on sensitive skin?

Before you layer it on daily and hope for the best, it’s important to understand how this popular acid actually works and whether sensitive skin can truly handle it.

What Is Glycolic Acid, and Why Is It So Popular?

Glycolic acid is classified as an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) mainly coming from the sugarcane plant. The molecule is so small that it can penetrate the skin effectively hence, among the AHAs, it has the best power to handle skin issues like acne, pigmentation, and wrinkles.

In a previous interaction with the editorial team of Onlymyhealth, Dr Ruben Bhasin Passi, Consultant Dermatologist at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram shared that glycolic acid is great because it has the smallest molecular size amongst AHAs, thus, making it possible for the acid to go deeper into the skin. However, this characteristic also makes glycolic acid potentially unsafe for sensitive skin types.

Can Sensitive Skin Take Daily Use?

The short response to this question is usually no. In another interaction, Dr Passi pointed out that the sensitive skin has a weaker skin barrier, and that is why it reacts quicker to the strong active ingredients. Daily application of glycolic acid could lead to the stripping of the essential oils, causing the skin barrier to get disrupted, and consequently, one would have to cope with oiliness, redness, burning, peeling, or even increased sensitivity.

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Sensitive skin is generally not able to tolerate daily glycolic acid especially in high concentrations, although people with strong or oily skin might manage it with guidance.

How Often Should Sensitive Skin Use Glycolic Acid?

For sensitive skin, less frequently is better. According to experts:

• One to two times a week is generally safe
• Begin with low concentrations (5 to 7%)
• Apply it only at night, never in the morning
• Repair the skin barrier with a gentle moisturiser
• Follow-up with a sunscreen next morning

Your skin may feel a slight tingling for a few seconds and that could be normal. But if you have burning, stinging, or redness that lasts longer, it means your skin is overwhelmed.

Signs You’re Overusing Glycolic Acid

Your skin will let you know when you are using glycolic acid too often. Be on the lookout for:

• Redness or irritation that won’t go away
• Dry, flaky patches of skin
• Breakouts that are more than normal
• Skin that feels tight or sore
• All of a sudden you are sensitive to products that you used to be able to use

If you ignore these signs and continue to use it daily, it can lead to hypersensitivity in the long run.

How to Use Glycolic Acid Safely on Sensitive Skin

Here are a few expert-approved safety tips to use glycolic acid safely on sensitive skin:

• Always do a patch test before the first use
• Do not mix glycolic acid with retinol, vitamin C, or any other exfoliating acids on the same day
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every day because glycolic acid makes the skin more sensitive to the sun
• If you are new to acids, try gentler options such as lactic acid or mandelic acid

Bottomline

The daily use of glycolic acid is not advisable for sensitive skin. However, it is a potent exfoliator, and if used excessively, it can lead to damage of the skin barrier and irritation. However, if used right and in moderation, glycolic acid can still bring benefits, without harming your skin.