With Alpha Hydroxy Acid products (such as glycolic acid, also known as
hydroxyacetic acid, C2H4O3) I often notice that many of the products
are buffered with Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), a common base. I am curious
- with glycolic acid, is it the acid molecule itself that loosens dead
skin, or is it the free H+ ions in acidic solution? if it is the H+
ions that do the work, then why do so many skin products use NaOH as a
buffer? Wouldn't adding the buffer decrease the effectiveness of the
acid peel? Or am I totally off base about the way acid peels work?