A healthy skin reflects overall health. Day in and out, the outermost layer of our body encounters harsh outside environment trying its best to save us from external trauma, insulating us from the heat and cold, and keeping the inside of us safe and sound as much as possible. But as we age, skin renewal starts to slow down and does not work like it did in our younger days. We start to lose skin’s elasticity and develop fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles. In the good old days when there were fewer pollutants and toxic environments, it was easy to maintain dermal health. Just a few simple home remedies were enough to keep the skin healthy, smooth, and younger-looking. Unfortunately, times are different now, and with insane levels of pollution and skin harming toxins, we need a lot more skincare ingredients for the inevitable damage beyond our control.
Lately, AHAs also known as alpha hydroxy acids-a group of acids that naturally occur in certain foods have been gaining popularity in skin care realm. Many cosmetic products such as cleansers, toners, face creams, serums, and moisturizers contain AHAs as their key ingredient. From a range of many amazing AHA’s, malic acid is an effective alpha hydroxy acid quite a famous exfoliator. This skin-befitting component found in abundance in apples (hence it got its name from the Latin word ‘Malum’ meaning apple) is also available in other fruits like grapes, pears, watermelons, cherries, and in veggies such as broccoli, peas, and carrots. Malic acid is also a popular additive in many foods and exotic wines.
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What Makes Malic Acid Health And Skin Friendly?
- Malic acid is well known to shed dead skin cells by loosening the top layer of old cells and breaking them down. This makes way for a new layer of skin to appear on the surface
- Malic acid is sour and acidic. The sourness helps to make more saliva in people hence the malic acid sprays are an effective remedy to cure dry mouth problems
- Malic acid supplements are used extensively to treat chronic fatigue and boost athletic performance
- Rich in anti-inflammatory properties, this acid can combat pain related to gout
- Malic acid foods and supplements are used to prevent the formation of kidney stones. This is because malic acid is a cellular component from which citrate gets formed. This compound can inhibit crystal growth in the kidneys
A Word Of Caution Before Using Malic Acid
Though malic acid is considered safe when applied topically to the skin some people may have skin redness and irritation, headaches, and digestive issues. Consult your medical practitioner before taking its supplements or before its topical application.
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Besides boosting renal. oral and liver health this natural compound benefits you in many ways. A deadly combination of both alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids you guessed it right, we bring you superb skin incentives of malic acid! Foray into this infographic to know more: