Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is a type of chemical compound derived from natural sources such ascitrus fruits, sugar cane, apples, and grapes. It is widely used in skincare products, with the AHA molecules being small enough to penetrate the surface of the skin to remove dead skin cells, improve moisture levels, reduce wrinkles and increase the production of collagen. AHA can also help to reduce acne and other skin blemishes.
α-Hydroxy acids, or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), are a class of chemical compounds that consist of a carboxylic acid with a hydroxyl group substituent on the adjacent (alpha) carbon. Prominent examples are glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid and citric acid.
Although these compounds are related to the ordinary carboxylic acids and are therefore weak acids, their chemical structure allows for the formation of an internal hydrogen bond between the hydrogen at the hydroxyl group and one of the oxygen atoms of the carboxylic group. The net effect is an increase in acidity. For example, the pKa of lactic acid is 3.86, while that of the unsubstituted propionic acid is 4.87; a full pKa unit difference means that lactic acid is ten times stronger than propionic acid.
