Acne.org AHA+ (Glycolic Acid – 10%)

I strongly recommended that everyone who is on The Acne.org Regimen add in Acne.org AHA+ after 1 month.

This is how I describe what it does: The Acne.org Regimen will get you completely clear. Adding in AHA+ will take clear to perfect. In other words, careful application of The Acne.org Regimen works to get people completely clear. However, adding in Acne.org AHA+ enhances the efficacy of the regimen even further, adding insurance that your skin will stay perfectly clear. It also improves skin tone so your skin will appear glowing and healthy. Basically, expect compliments once you start using it.

Acne.org AHA+ contains 10% glycolic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid – AHA), which is the legal limit in over-the-counter products. It also contains licochalcone, an ultra-calming licorice root extract. Acne-prone skin tends to be irritated, and licochalcone helps calm the irritation and bring the skin into balance. It is fragrance-free and dye-free, and of course, it is completely non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores).

I formulated Acne.org AHA+ at a pH of 4.0 – 4.1, which is just enough to powerfully exfoliate, but not too acidic that it stings too badly (it will sting a bit though – that’s how you know it’s working). Oddly enough, many manufacturers formulate their glycolic acid products at too high a pH to be effective, so be careful when choosing glycolic acid products, and make sure you know the pH.

For the face (and front of the neck): Perform The Acne.org Regimen for 1 month before you add in Acne.org AHA+ to be sure you have given your skin enough time to become accustomed to Acne.org Treatment (Benzoyl Peroxide – 2.5%). If you use it sooner than this it may sting very badly. Trust me. Give it a month. When you are ready to use it, you can use it in 1 of 2 ways:

• Use Acne.org AHA+ in place of Acne.org Moisturizer every other evening. DO NOT use it every day at full strength.
• Dispense 1/2 Acne.org AHA+ and 1/2 Acne.org Moisturizer into your palm, mix, and apply every evening.

For the body and back of the neck: Acne.org AHA+ works alongside Acne.org Treatment to completely clear body acne and acne on the back of the neck. See The Acne.org Body Regimen or The Acne.org Neck Regimen for instructions.

As a spot treatment: If you see a zit forming, try to catch it early. Apply Acne.org Treatment (Benzoyl Peroxide – 2.5%) and allow it to dry, then apply Acne.org AHA+, twice a day. This can stop the zit from developing. Note: Putting an ice cube in a Ziploc®-type bag and holding it on the lesion for 5 minutes twice a day (you can do it more frequently than this if you want but don’t stress yourself out about it too much and make sure you leave 2 hours between applications) will up the chances that spot treatment will be successful.

To combat physical irritation of the skin: When anything rubs against the skin repeatedly, such as a chin strap or helmet, it irritates the skin and can cause a breakout. Attempt to avoid or reduce irritation when possible. However, if you do end up irritating your skin, apply Acne.org AHA+ after your next regimen application (reminder: make sure you don’t introduce AHA+ until you have been on The Acne.org Regimen for 1 month). This can help prevent an irritation-induced acne flare up.

What is licochalcone?

Licochalcone gives this product its characteristic yellow color. It is a highly distilled and potent extract of a species of licorice root well known for powerfully calming the skin. It is especially beneficial on acne-prone skin which tends to be sensitive and irritated. Licochalcone is included in AHA+ at the ideal efficacious amount (.1%) and not simply for “label claim.” If you suspect you may be allergic to licorice root, patch test your skin by applying some AHA+ to your inner elbow for 2 days before applying to the face. Note: To avoid staining light colored clothing, allow Acne.org AHA+ to absorb and dry for a minute or so before dressing.

 SUNBURN ALERT: Any alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen and limit sun exposure while using AHA and for a week after discontinuing its use.

See the Acne.org AHA+ FAQs for answers to frequently asked questions.