Lightening Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation refers to the presence of brown or grayish-brown spots on the skin. One common form of hyperpigmentation is melasma. A study conducted on Asian women examined the effects of a certain brand of skin cream containing a combination of glycolic acid and hydroquinone on melasma. The results showed some lightening of the condition. However, a research article published in JAMA Dermatology disputes these findings, stating that there is no statistically significant improvement in melasma when using hydroquinone, with or without glycolic acid. This conflicting information emphasizes the necessity for further research to better understand the potential benefits of glycolic acid in treating melasma.
Contact Urticaria: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Contact urticaria, also known as CU, is a condition characterized by immediate swelling and redness of the skin upon direct contact with an irritant, such as glycolic acid. It may manifest as wheals, which are swollen marks on the skin similar to the aftermath of a slap. There are two types of CU: nonimmunological and immunological.
The nonimmunological type of CU occurs immediately after the first exposure to the irritant. On the other hand, the immunological type requires multiple sessions of exposure before an immune response is triggered. The severity of contact urticaria can range from mild discomfort to severe anaphylaxis.