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Multiple Choice

Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is known for its small molecular size among common facial acids, which lets it penetrate deeper into the outer skin layer and exfoliate more aggressively. That combination makes it the strongest and most penetrating option in typical esthetic acid treatments. Because of this potency, it can cause irritation if used at higher concentrations or without proper precautions, so it’s not the mildest or non-irritating choice. Other AHAs like lactic or mandelic acids are milder precisely because their larger molecules don’t penetrate as deeply.

Glycolic acid is known for its small molecular size among common facial acids, which lets it penetrate deeper into the outer skin layer and exfoliate more aggressively. That combination makes it the strongest and most penetrating option in typical esthetic acid treatments. Because of this potency, it can cause irritation if used at higher concentrations or without proper precautions, so it’s not the mildest or non-irritating choice. Other AHAs like lactic or mandelic acids are milder precisely because their larger molecules don’t penetrate as deeply.