alpha-hydroxy acid


noun

a type of organic acid, commonly used in skin-care preparations, that has a hydroxyl group attached to the carbon atom next to the carbon atom carrying the carboxyl group

Medical definitions for alpha-hydroxy acid

alpha-hydroxy acid
[ ăl′fə-hī-drŏksē ]

n.

Any of various fruit acids with the capacity to trap moisture in the skin and initiate formation of collagen.