BHA vs Sun Damage

I've been reading about the anti-aging properties of Alpha Hydroxy and Beta Hydroxy acids on photo-damaged skin lately.  These gentle exfoliators receive high marks from every source I've found.  I decided to try my own very un-clinical trial to see if all the hype is true.

I have been using Oxy Deep Cleaning Face Wash with 2% Salicylic Acid (which is Beta Hydroxy Acid) for some time, and it really has seemed to improve the overall look of my skin, as well as keeping my breakouts at bay.

For testing purposes, I have been applying the cleanser to the back of my left hand and gently exfoliating with a baby washcloth twice a day for one week.  I have applied moisturizer to both hands as usual, so the only difference is the salicylic acid and washcloth.

Within two days I began to notice a  slight difference.  The fine lines on the treated hand seemed less severe. After 4 days, the difference was obvious.  The overall texture of the skin on my left hand was much improved.  There was no real change between the 4th day and the 7th day, so there is clearly a limit to the improvement that can be expected.  But overall, I'd say that the results were remarkable.