I thought I'd post about my experiences with AHA since I couldn't find all too much about it. Maybe this will help someone one day

My background: mod-severe acne since I was 13 and I'm 20 now. Birth control took care of most breakouts while a few weeks of clindatech (a topical antibiotic) put a stop to the couple of big nasty ones i was still getting each week. Problem is that I still had redness, scarring, blackheads and whiteheads. So while I guess I',m clear, its doesnt really look like it

I started 'NeoStrata Ultra Smoothing Lotion' two weeks ago which has 8% glycolic acid and 2% citric acid. After 4 days of using it, my nose (which has blackheads but never pimples) and forehead had about a trillion really tiny pimples and the rest of my face was really bumpy also.

Now its been two weeks and the breakout has definitely gone down; now when i run my hands over my face when i cleanse its mostly smooth instead of pebbly.

My forehead now looks like it did before i started, still covered in a number whiteheads My nose still has blackheads too,although i'm pretty sure they sllloooowllly are diminishing in number. However the redness from my older marks have faded considerably but not completely

I haven't experienced any stinging, just a bit ichy in some places, also my skin gets dry but my moisturizer takes care of that. THe box says I can use it twice a day after two weeks and thats tomorrow - I'm just hoping wearing it under my makeup doesnt do anything crazy. I know it takes up to 3 months to see full effects so I have my fingers crossed

What I've been using till now:

Morning:

Spot treat with Thursday Plantation Tree Tea ANti Blemish stick
Neutrogena Moisture Oil Free Formula, SPF 15
Brenda 35ed
Make up

Evening:
Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Neostrata Ultra Smoothing Lotion

Has anyone used AHA long term and seen great effects?

Ok end of week 3. I've been using my lotion in the mornings now, under my sunscreen and makeup and so far have avoided sunburn, although its only the start of spring I live in basically a desert

Still have the blackheads, stubborn little things. Still have the closed comedones/whiteheads on forehead although they are gradually disappearing. I have two smooth patches on both sides with a sprinkling of bumps in the middle (and then the bridge of my nose is clear with the bottom covered in blackheads, grrrr....)
Still have them down the sides of my face but when I run my hands over the skin it feels quiet smooth not at all bumpy. Red marks have improved a tiny bit more but definitely still there. I've taken photos each week but my camera is crap and they look kinda blurry and the same and don't capture the skin coloured bumps. Once they show a difference, Ill post a few.

Ive got a few small pimples on my chin and around my mouth, maybe 5 of them. Not really a big deal considering I've dealt with the big ones in the past but I was thinking of stopping using AHA in the mornings and instead use a salicylic toner or something with BP. I've used both before without dramatic effects but maybe the combo with AHA would work. I'm hesitant to use bp since when i tried the regime i had this massive breakout down one side of which i still have the red (well now pinkish) marks today, over a year ago.

Anyway still got 9 weeks to go until i reach the 3 month mark.

Nearly the end of week 4 and im pretty happy with how its going. My face is so smooth and soft to touch! Not ready to chuck out my makeup just yet but the red marks have faded another couple of degrees. Still getting a few pimples on my chin but they aren't the deep painful ones so i can handle them for now. Im happiest most with my forehead - its not 100% yet but the whiteheads are definitely slowly disappearing . I don't worry about standing in direct sunlight so much now.

I decided not to add salicylic acid or bp. I think bp is more trouble then its worth with the ruined towels and bleached hair and I read 'acne for dummies' (you can read it online thru googlebooks) which said otc salicylic acid is not particularly effective. I think i'll stick with tea tree for now since im a uni student with no regular work atm, cant really afford too many products, particularly if they don't work.

Ive been reading the blackhead board and i think my blackheads are acuatally sebaceous filaments apparently theres not much you can do about them.

Another week gone! Its getting so close to the end of the year.

I LOVE this stuff!! Im so glad I decided to give it a go. I was looking at some pictures of my skin i took back in April during a breakout and it struck me how much better it looks now. Especially just in the last few weeks - i can now actually count the no of whiteheads of my forehead now(like 5!) and the redness as gone down so much my skin almost nearly normal. The breakout on my chin has gone too! Blackheads are still there but im still getting tiny pimples on my nose so im hoping they are still purging if it wasn't for them, id actually consider going without makeup.

Im going to buy a multivitamin with omega3 tomorrow, for different health reasons. I probably wont be having enough for it to make a difference but I thought id mention it since i found another thread with a guy who got fantastic results with omega3 and AHA. One more week and Im half way there!

Early this week cos Im going to be busy (not that anyone is really interested anyway, lol)

Ok, had a couple of new pimples on my chin that went away quietly with some tea tree oil. Its weird how Im just getting them there, but Im not complaining. Better then the sides of my face imo.

Pores are still massive, ick. Blackheads still there.

Red marks are still fading.

Skin feels lovely to touch sooo smooth and soft. Still have a couple of whiteheads on the forehead but nothing like they used to be.

Have to be careful about sun now; its warming up! Time to buy a hat I think.