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Treatment with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) appears to decrease wrinkles and reverse the changes caused by chronic sun exposure. These authors studied the mechanisms of AHA's effects. Seventeen patients with moderately to severely photoaged skin were randomly assigned to apply a 25% concentration of an AHA lotion containing either lactic, glycolic, or citric acid to one forearm and placebo to the other twice a day forup to six months.
Clinical assessment revealed a marked thickening in the skin of the treated forearm. Biopsies were performed on eight patients and evaluated independently by three dermatopathologists. Microscopic examination showed marked thickening of the epidermis in the treated arm as compared with the control arm, as well as…