Glycolic acid modulation of collagen production in human skin fibroblast cultures in vitro

BACKGROUND. Glycolic acid has been used extensively for the treatment of photoaging and wrinkles. Suggestions have been made that glycolic acid may have specific dermal effects, although biochemical studies are limited. OBJECTIVE. This study's purpose was to examine the effect of glycolic acid on the radioactively labeled collagen production in human skin fibroblasts in culture. METHODS. Normal dermal fibroblasts were grown to semi-confluence and incubated in the presence of glycolic acid for 24 hours. Radioactive proline was added to the cultures. Using a specific amino acid assay, the amount of radioactive hydroxyproline was measured and teas used as an accurate index of collagen production. RESULTS. Results show that glycolic acid caused an elevated collage production in the fibroblasts. CONCLUSION. These results demonstrate a specific stimulatory effect by the glycolic acid and could explain some of the positive benefits from the clinical use of glycolic acid.