Glycolic acid is what type of agent?

• A. A beta hydroxy acid
• B. A ceramide
• C. An alpha hydroxy acid that breaks the bonds connecting skin cells together, allowing turnover and exfoliation
• D. A pigment

Answer: (C)

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid, a type of exfoliant that works on the surface of the skin by loosening the bonds between the cells in the outer layer. This desmosome breakage allows skin cells to turnover and shed more easily, leading to smoother, brighter skin. Glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size among AHAs, which helps it penetrate effectively to promote exfoliation. It is not a beta hydroxy acid, which are different in both chemistry and how they exfoliate (often more oil-soluble and pore-targeting). It isn’t a ceramide, a lipid that supports the skin barrier, nor a pigment like melanin.