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A guide to acids in skin care (and why you can’t count hyaluronic acid among them!)

March 31st, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak

To understand why and how are acids used in skincare, first, we have to understand what is an acid. The word acid is derived from the Latin acidus/acēre, meaning ‘sour’. Think lemonade, a solution of citric acid in water (plus other chemicals). A useful definition of acid: a molecule or ion capable of donating a proton (H+). When dissolved in water, am acid will give a solution with a sour taste, and react with bases (like sodium hydroxide) and certain metals to form salts. An aqueous solution of an acid has a pH lower than 7. A lower pH means higher acidity and has a higher concentration of free protons.…

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