[Research] A couple of studies using ALA 5% twice-daily (rather than once 2/week like The Ordinary recommends)

Beauty Tips For Body Care
(That should just say 2/week, the 'once' is a mistake)Came across this:​"In one study published by the British Journal of Dermatology, 33 middle-aged women were treated twice daily for 12 weeks—half the face with a 5% ALA cream, the other half with a control cream. Skin quality improved significantly—by about 50%--in terms of smoothness and wrinkle reduction." https://www.truthinaging.com/review/what-is-it-alpha-lipoic-acid - study referred to is https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14616378​And a similar one with 20 subjects: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27873449​Obviously these are small studies but they're both using 5% twice a day rather than twice a week. Some people find TO's 5% ALA sensitising and would have no interest in using it more often. But some people don't find it irritating at all and wonder why they're asked to use it so infrequently. I'm wondering if, like AHAs or retinol, it's okay to use it more often if your skin can handle it? And people should start out infrequently and then adjust as they figure out the effects?​It's possible that TO's is 'stronger' than the cream because it's in a propanediol base (a penetration enhancer).​I don't really have a conclusion here - I just found it interesting. If anyone can weigh in on why the huge discrepancy between TO's instructions and these studies, I'd be keen to hear it.​(And obviously: be careful, don't stop following the instructions on your skincare just because of a random redditor)
Girls Blog 2015
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