You had a glycolic acid burn - there is usually no scarring and it will take time for this to heal.

Don Mehrabi, MD answers: Hyperpigmentation after Glycolic Peel

I had my 4th Glycolic Peel (30%) done a month and a half ago, and while the first 3 treatments were great, this one left my skin damaged. What should I do? It first crusted, especially my chin and neck, then when the crusting peeled off after a week, I was left with very red skin that broke out.

Even after the redness and breakouts went away (this took another 2 weeks) my skin became dark (about 4 or 5 shades darker than my normal medium-fair tone), it looks like a thousand fine lines/wrinkles have appeared on my face (I'm only 25 years old) and my chin has tiny bumps all over which just aren't going away. The cosmetic clinic I went to is telling me to give it more time, but I just don't trust them anymore. What should I do?


Don Mehrabi, MD
2 months ago
By Don Mehrabi, MD - Beverly Hills Dermatologist

 Thank you for your question.

It does sound like you either had a deeper peel effect or a slight glycolic acid burn; both are normal with glycolic peels and can happen with anyone at any time (yours was the 4th time). Dry skin is usually the cause, and although this happened to you, don't worry. The darkness will take time to resolve and you can do two other things: 1. Wear sunscreen and avoid the sun, and 2. Get a hydroquinone or Triluma prescription to bleach the dark areas.

With time, no matter what it looks like now, it will heal. They always do.

Hope this helps!

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More answers to “Hyperpigmentation after Glycolic Peel”

A: Glycolic Peels

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
13 days ago
By Raffy Karamanoukian, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Glycolic peels are performed as a mechanism for chemical exfoliation. In patients with olive skin or hormonally sensitive melasma, patients may develop pigmentation as a result of postprocedural inflammation. 

In cases of hyperpigmentation, early therapy with hydroquinone and retinoids may improve results.

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