- Unlike the name suggests, lactic acid is not derived from milk. Lactic acid is the acid ingredient of sour dairy products, fermented fruits and vegetables and sausages. Lactic acid has been consumed by humans since prehistoric times.
- Lactic acid as a product of nature, however, is even older. It is present in every form of organized life and was supposedly already prevalent in the first forms of primitive life that existed on earth.
- Lactic acid is mainly produced in muscle cells and red blood cells. It forms when the body breaks down carbohydrates to use for energy during times of low oxygen levels. Times when your body’s oxygen level might drop include :
- During intense exercise
- When you have an infection or disease
Benefits
- Lactic Acid is sometimes added to facial skin care peels, which are designed to be smeared onto your skin and left on for a certain amount of time before being washed off. Such peels are popular due to their benefits for your skin’s overall health.
- Skin Brightener:Melanin is your skin’s pigment. Overproduction, often attributed to your skin’s exposure to the sun, can lead to discolorations like brown spots or splotches. Lactic acid at a strength of 4 to 10 percent can help “directly inhibit melanin formation,” creating a “formidable” tool for lightening or removing skin discolorations.
- Radiance Regimen: Lactic acid peels exfoliate your skin’s surface and help improve skin cell turnover rates. The removal of skin cells can help encourage the skin’s production of natural elastin and collagen. This in turn may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
- As your skin gets older, it can become uneven, thick and rough. Writing for “Elle” magazine, dermatologist Jeanine Downie says that a lactic acid peel can improve your skin’s texture by sloughing off the top surface of the skin. This can help alleviate roughness, encouraging your skin to remain smooth and flawless. For the best results, the peel or facial treatment should have lactic acid at a minimum concentrated strength of 5 percent, though she says optimal results require a concentration of 8 to 10 percent.
References
- Source: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003507.htm
- Source: www.lactic-acid.com/
- Source: Duvauchelle ,Joshua; “The Benefits of a Lactic Acid Peel”, 12 Mar 2014