A method for reducing the appearance of skin changes associated with intrinsic and/or extrinsic aging, said skin changes associated with aging resulting from natural or innate aging or exposure to actinic radiation, whereby said skin changes associated with aging are selected from the group consisting of wrinkles, thinning of the skin, deepening of skin lines, yellowish skin, loss of elasticity, loss of recoilability, and loss of collagen, said method comprising topically applying to an area of skin exhibiting said change a composition comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, or a topically effective salt thereof, in an amount and for a period of time sufficient to reduce the appearance of said skin changes associated with aging. view more

A method according to claim 1, wherein said composition is formulated as a solution, gel, lotion, cream, or ointment.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said topical application is on a daily basis.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said compound is the principal ingredient responsible for effecting said skin change.

The method according to any of claims 1-11, wherein said compound is lactic acid in D, L or DL form, or a topically effective salt thereof.

Method of visibly reducing a human skin wrinkle comprising topically applying to said wrinkle 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (lactic acid), or a topically effective salt thereof, in an amount and for a period of time sufficient to visibly reduce said wrinkle. view more

The method according to claim 1, wherein said topical application is on a daily basis.

The method according to claim 1, wherein said 2-hydroxypropanoic acid or topically effective salt thereof is present in a topically acceptable composition comprising a carrier.

The method according to claim 9, wherein said composition is a lotion, cream, gel, ointment or solution.

Method of topical treatment for warts, nail infections, age spots, wrinkles and aging related skin changes comprising topically applying a therapeutically effective amount of alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids, or related compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for topical treatment; said alpha hydroxyacid being at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl alpha hydroxyacid, aralkyl and aryl alpha hydroxyacid, polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid and polycarboxylic alpha hydroxyacid represented by the following chemical structure: ##STR3## wherein Ra and Rb are H, F, Cl, Br, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra and Rb may carry OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha hydroxyacid existing as a free acid or lactone form, or in salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali, and as stereoisomers as D, L, and DL forms when Ra and Rb are not identical; said alpha ketoacid being at least one member selected from a group of compounds represented by the following chemical structure: ##STR4## wherein Ra and Rb are H, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra may carry F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha ketoacid existing as a free acid or an ester form, or in a salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali; and said related compound being at least one member selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, quinic acid, isocitric acid, tropic acid, trethocanic acid, 3-chlorolactic acid, cerebronic acid, citramalic acid, agaricic acid, 2-hydroxynervonic acid, aleuritic acid and pantoic acid. view more

The method of claim 9 wherein said alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids or related compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-methyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-phenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2,2-diphenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-phenyl 2-methyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-phenyl 3-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-ketopropanoic acid, methyl 2-ketopropanoate or ethyl 2-ketopropanoate. view more