What Are PHAs and How Can They Help Your Skin?

You may not realize it but acids are staples in skin care. Depending on the particular acid and how it’s used, they can help cleanse your skin, clear away dead skin cells on the surface, clear blocked pores, and more. But different types of acids work differently on your skin. While you might have heard of the acids AHAs and BHAs, there’s another group you probably haven’t heard about: PHAs.

What Are PHAs?

PHAs are polyhydroxy acids, and they’re a group of acids that work as chemical exfoliants for your skin. This means you’ll most often find them in exfoliants and cleansers. The most common PHAs are gluconolactone, galactose, and lactobionic acid, but if you haven’t heard of those, don’t worry, you’re not behind the curve. PHAs are newer to the skin care world than other acids, and they still haven’t received the fanfare they deserve.

How Are PHAs Different from AHAs and BHAs?

AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) are the more well-known classes of acids that are effective chemical exfoliants for your skin. The major difference between PHAs and those other classes is that PHAs have larger molecules, which means they don’t penetrate deep into the skin the way AHAs and BHAs do.

Because of this, PHAs exfoliate the surface of your skin but don’t reach the more delicate deeper layers of your skin, which makes them less irritating. They also don’t make your skin more sensitive to sun damage like other chemical exfoliants do, so you don’t have to limit them to nighttime use like you do with AHAs and BHAs.

So, in general, PHAs are gentler on your skin.

How Do PHAs Help Your Skin?

PHAs refresh your skin by exfoliating away dead skin cells to give your skin a more even tone and a smoother, healthier finish. This exfoliating also allows your skin care products to work better because they don’t have to get through a layer of dead skin cells before they reach your skin.

PHAs have the added benefit of helping to prevent glycation, a process where sugar you’ve digested binds to the collagen in your skin, weakening it and making you age faster. This is part of the beauty of exfoliants like PHAs: they instantly give your skin a brighter complexion and smoother texture but they also make your skin healthier and more youthful in the long term.

Which Acid is Best for Your Skin: AHAs, BHAs, or PHAs?

There’s no hierarchy between AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs – it’s all a matter of which one is the best fit for your skin because they each have different abilities.

AHAs penetrate deeper into your skin than the other classes, so these are perfect if you need more intense exfoliation and rejuvenation. They’re especially helpful if your skin is dry or normal/balanced because they can help to boost your natural moisturization.

BHAs, on the other hand, have a fantastic knack for getting into pores and breaking up blockages. This makes them ideal for oily or acne-prone skin.

Finally, PHAs are a perfect choice if your skin is sensitive or prone to irritation, or if you’ve had irritation and redness from chemical exfoliants in the past. They’re often recommended for people who have sensitive skin conditions like rosacea or eczema.

How to Use PHAs in Your Skin Care Routine

If the benefits of PHAs sound like a good fit for your skin, you don’t have to toss out your skin care routine and start from scratch because it’s easy to incorporate these gentle yet mighty ingredients.

Use a PHA-Based Exfoliant

If you want to prioritize exfoliation to enhance your skin’s tone and texture, there are plenty of exfoliants that are PHA-based. Some exclusively use PHAs while others combine PHAs with other acids for a multi-layer smoothing.

Try PHA Exfoliating Moisturizers

Because PHAs are so gentle, they can easily be combined with moisturizers that both soothe and exfoliate your skin at the same time. A PHA-based exfoliating moisturizer can be an easy, one-step way to keep your skin smooth and hydrated daily.

Choose Anti-Aging Products with PHAs

Another way to incorporate PHAs into your skin care efficiently (AKA without adding a whole extra step to your skin care routine) is to use them as part of your anti-aging regimen. For example, an anti-aging eye cream with PHAs can be restorative and keep your eye area looking refreshed.

Choosing Your Acids Wisely

The right acids can make a tremendous difference in the health and vitality of your skin and could even help you keep your youthful look for longer. It all starts with making the right picks for your skin and using quality skin care products. Explore Skin Elite’s PHA products to supercharge your daily routine.