Glycolic Acid: A User's Guide For your skin to reap the full benefits of a glycolic acid product, it must be used correctly, says Dr. Clark. Here's how to choose and use these products, whether you get them from the corner drugstore or a dermatologist. Test the waters. Try an over the counter product before consulting a dermatologist, suggests Dr. Price. You may find that using a lower percentage of glycolic acid will give you the results you want. Get the right formulation for your skin. Both over the counter and dermatologist's office glycolic acid products come in creams, gels, and liquids (sometimes called serums). Generally speaking, people with dry skin prefer cream formulations, while those with thicker, oilier skin prefer the gels or the serums, says Dr. Perricone. Test before you treat.Using glycolic acid isn't without its drawbacks: It can cause some people's skin to sting, itch, or, in rare cases, break out in a rash. So take a skin sensitivity test before using glycolic acid for the first time, says Dr. Clark. Rub a small amount of the product on the inside of your elbow every day for a week. If there's no redness or irritation in this time, chances are that the glycolic acid won't overly irritate the skin on your face, she says. If you do experience irritation, Dr. Clark suggests that you try using the product only every other or every third day. If that doesn't work, try a lower concentration. Apply it at night. After you apply glycolic acid, it takes at least 15 minutes for it to penetrate the skin. So if you have only minutes to spend on your morning skin care routine, smooth on your product before bed, suggests Dr. Clark. Applying moisturizer or makeup immediately after glycolic acid can reduce its effectiveness, she says. Be sure to avoid getting glycolic acid products in or around your eyes. Use sunscreen. The use of glycolic acid products can make skin more sensitive to the sun than it was before. So without fail, apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 before going out for the day, says Dr. Fusco. Or use one of the many moisturizers or foundations that contain SPF 15 sunscreen. Quit if your skin cries "ouch!" Stop using glycolic acid immediately if your skin becomes intensely red, irritated, or inflamed, says Dr. Clark. While such severe reactions are rare, they do occur, especially in women with sensitive skin. Anti Aging Anti Aging Generation| Anti Aging Health Strategy| Anti Aging for Women| Take a Bite Out of Aging| Check the Index| Aim Low| Fat Factor| The Zobra Diet| Bulf Of Long Life| What about Meat?| Get the Protein, Forgo the Fat| The Taxic Avengers| Great Ways to Ambush Radicals| Going Vegetarian Sparked Her Youth| Is That a Toxin in My "Soup"?| Put Your Diet into Rehab| Little Bean, Big Benefits| Sneaking Soy into Your Diet| The Anti Aging Supplements| Alpha Lipoic Acid| Vitamins Minerals| Bioflavonoids| Coenzyme-Q10| Flaxseed Oil| Ginkgo| Are Harmone Supplements Safe?| Melotonin| Phoaphatidylserine| Pycnogenol| Vitamin C| Vitamin E| Aerobics| Disease-Proof Your Body| Liven Up Your Lifestyles| 12 Tips For a Better Workout| Weather Your Workout| Water| Erasing the Lines of Time| Skin Enemy Number One: The Sun| Sunscreen to the Rescue| A Sunscreen Primer| Sun Tips for Sun Junkies| Clean Up Your Act| Perfect Cleanser| Navigating Moisturizer Maze| The Care and Feeding of Youthful Skin| Special Problems of Aging Skin Cosmetic Nutrients Cosmetic Nutrients| Get Glowing with Glycolic Acid| User's guide of Glycolic Acids| Retin-A and Renova| Using Retin-A and Renova| Vitamin C: Future Youth?| Don't Get Lost at "C"| Getting the Most from C Makeups Makeup That Enhances| Foundation| Concealer| Blush| Powder| Eye Makeup| Lipstick| Winning the Battle of the Mane| Color to the Youthful| Dressed to Impress| Acting Your Age| 10 Attributes of a Youthful Mind Right Weight Getting Your Right Weight| Weighing In| Say Goodbye to Dieting| Putting Exercise into Everyday Events| Defying Disease| Disease Proof Your Lifestyle| Arthritis| Cancer| Diabetes| Heart Disease and Stroke| Osteoporosis|Keeping Your Senses Sharp|Can You Speak Little Louder?|Preventing Hearing Loss|Target Hearing Loss Early|The Eyes Have It|Buying Sunglasses|Eyes Need Exercise|The Life of Visionary Memory Memory Like an Elephant| Keeping the Brain Up and Running|Improving Your Everyday Memory| Get Organized| Living a Memory Enhancing Lifestyle Sleep Sweet Sleep and Relaxation| Turning Out the Lights, Naturally| Easing Toward Dreamland|When All Else Fails