Glycolic Peel Q&A
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Redness and Crusting After Glycolic Peel
asked 3 years ago by tracey7795 in Wisconsin
Latest answer by Susan Van Dyke, MD
Question viewed 10,233 times
Tags: redness
I just received a glycolic facial peel yesterday for the first time ever. Today, I woke up and saw my chin area bright red, scabby-looking, dry, rough, kind of sore, even. It looks very nasty. I was told at the spa there would be no side effects the next day. Is this going to heal? Will I have lasting skin damage from this? How long do you think it will take to heal? Are there any products that I can use on it to help it heal, like an antibotic ointment? Any product I should avoid?
5 answers to Redness and Crusting After Glycolic Peel
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Glycolic peel side effects
First, make sure that you have your peels performed at a medical clinic with trained personnel to minimize side effects and optimize results. Glycolic peels are superficial, so there will not be any lasting damage. Usually takes 7-10 days to fully heal over. I would wear sun protection for a month after such an outcome/burn, keep the area moist with a topical antibiotic for the first week, and wash gently with a cleanser. No more peels, exfoliating, microdermabrasion for 3 months to give...
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Glycolic Peels require care.
It is true that most glycolic peels result in minimal peeling or discomfort. Glycolic peels, however, come in many strengths and levels of buffering which influence the penetration of the acid. It is also crucial that the peel be neutralized at the right time or a deeper peel can result. The condition of your skin before the peel (have you been using retin a or benzoyl peroxide) will impact on peel depth. Finally, the preparation of the skin just...
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Post-op recovery following chemical peel
Most of the time, post-op recovery from light glycolic acid peel should be minimal. Significant and prolonged irritation sometimes is contributed by usage of topical retinoid or exfoliants prior to chemical peel. To minimize irritation from 'lunchtime' chemical peels or microdermabrasion, back off your skincare routine other than sunscreen, moisturizer and gentle cleansers for 3-4 days prior to procedure.
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Redness and flaking from my Chemical Peel
Hi Tracey7795. We're not sure why the spa would have told you that there are no potential side effects as redness, flaking and irritation are common outcomes for Chemical peels. It could be that they left the acid peel on longer than they should have, which means the results were more pronounced.
Not to worry, use a gentle cleanser and a non-alcohol, non aloe moisturizer to calm the skin (we like Green Tea moisturizers for soothing effects). Do not pick at the flaky skin, just let it come...
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Glycolic Peels
Glycolic peels can result in some redness and flaking lasting 3-7 days. Depending on the strength used, the side effects will vary. In general, this is a superficial procedure with little risk of any long-term side effects. Use sunscreen with Zinc Oxide and a moisturizer until it heals. Please inform your doctor that you peeled before doing another so that they can adjust your treatments accordingly
Shawn Allen, MD
Boulder Dermatologist
Boulder Dermatologist