First of all, the full meaning of AHA is Alpha Hydroxy Acid, while BHA simply stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid. The two are used on skins to remove dead cells so that the living cells can appear on the body. There are five different types of AHAs that can be used for skin exfoliation, which are glycolic, citric, tartaric, malic, and lactic acids.
The only kind of BHA that is used is salicylic acid. The main difference that makes AHA be different from BHA is their solubility. AHAs do not penetrate so deep into the skin, and they are soluble in water. The BHA, on the other hand, penetrates deep into the skin, and it is soluble in oil. The AHAs are more effective when used to remove dead skin cells that are caused by sun damage. Conversely, the BHA is more effective in clearing clogged pores, going deep into the skin so that they can be eradicated.