Glycolic Acid Facial Peels
Glycolic acid is one of the alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s), a group of naturally occurring substances often referred to as “fruit acids” because they are found in various fruits and other foods. When applied on a regular basis, these compounds promote smoother and healthier looking skin by evening skin tones and exfoliating surface cells to reveal fresh skin.
The Peel
Glycolic acid peels are gentle superficial peels that are extremely well tolerated. The addition of these peels to a glycolic acid home use regimen enhances the above effects by accelerating the removal of the dry thickened outer layer of skin, and possibly by stimulating collagen production. In general, a series of six peels at two-week intervals is recommended and intermittently thereafter for maintenance. With each peel, increasing concentrations of glycolic acid are applied.
Please inform your doctor if you have a history of Herpes simplex (cold sores or fever blisters) as you should be treated, before your peels, with an oral medication to prevent any recurrences which may be induced by the procedure.
Expectations
- Evening of pigmentation irregularities
- Improved skin tone
- Enhanced skin clarity and smoothness
- Improvement in the appearance of fine lines
Treatment Plan
Because the addition of prescription tretinoin cream (Renova or Retin-A cream) may lead to a further reduction of uneven pigmentation as well as a decrease in fine wrinkles, your physician may recommend its use prior to beginning glycolic peels.
- If Tretinoin cream is recommended, begin using it four weeks prior to initiating your peels. At night apply a pea- sized amount of cream to the forehead, cheeks, chin and under the eyes. Do not apply it to the eyelids. In the morning wash and apply a moisturizer of your choice.
- Two weeks prior to initiating your peels begin daily morning use of the Neostrata (AHA) glycolic acid product recommended by your physician. This product will help prepare your skin for your peels. It should replace your previous moisturizer.
- One week prior to initiating your peels stop using the tretinoin cream. Also stop using masks, depilatories and abrasive scrubs, and avoid waxing and electrolysis. All of these may increase the reactivity of your skin to glycolic acid and result in excessive irritation. Continue your morning application of the recommended AHA product, and add an additional application of it at night.
- On the day of each peel please come to the office with the area to be treated fully cleansed. If possible, women should not use makeup and men should not shave or use aftershave preparations.
Post Treatment
After each peel, you may experience some degree of redness, stinging, tightness, flaking or crusting. These usually are not excessive and resolve by the next day. On rare occasions it might take up to several days for the appearance of your skin to completely return to normal. Makeup may be worn immediately after your treatment if there is no significant inflammation.
To help reduce inflammation, avoid exercise that might induce potentially irritating sweating for 24 hours and apply Neostrata Post Peel Nutricream the night of your peel, and twice daily for the next 2 days. On the third post treatment day, if inflammation has subsided, you may re-initiate your full maintenance regimen of all the home products described above.
Avoid direct sun exposure and use of any abrasive peels products for the first few days after each peel. Always apply a sunscreen before sun exposure.
Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns.
Costs
Insurance does not cover Glycolic Acid Peels as they are undertaken for cosmetic reasons. The patient is therefore responsible for the cost of the treatment. Costs will be quoted prior to treatment.