“Horrifying and depressing experience!”
Green peel: NOT worth it
Pain: Worst possible
I received the green peel and yes, it was an uncomfortable process, but I didn't care. You see, the medical spa that I went to suggested the green based on my acne and hyperpigmentation. So I didn't care that the process would be uncomfortable--there's an old saying "suffer for beauty." My skin took on a five day process of peeling and then I followed up my green peel with a post peel. In about 10 days or less, my skin had a adverse reaction to this green peel. My skin broke out in bumps, my pimples have been bleeding. My mother thought I had the mumps or the chicken pox. I have ethnic skin and my hyperpigmentation has worsened as well as the acne. My forehead looks awful as well as the sides of my face. Unfortunately, I can't even cover my face with makeup, the makeup isn't strong enough to conceal the damage. I am worried because I have never had these kind of pimples before.
I DON'T recommend the green peel as it was and IS a depressing experience especially as a young woman. I wasted my money and my time. Furthermore, the spa that I went to does not offer refunds. I purchased three green peels and only had one--I will not get another one and so I have lost money on the other two green peels.
Nov 10, 2007Comments and replies (24)
unregistered guest
21 Jan 2008
I was wondering where Jcmbagirl in Schaumburg, Illinois had her green peel. I am also in Schaumburg and would like to get a peel. I don't want to go to the Medispa she went to since they won't refund her two unused peels. That policy sounds illegal. You should be able to get a refund if you aren't going to have more peels. I would insist on a refund!
unregistered guest
2 Apr 2008
Have you looked at the Obagi products? I've had great results on ethnic skin with melasma and hyperpigmentation. You may want to look at Oabgi web sites and see if you can get the pigment under control using these products. How long was the peel left on and do you know if the person applying it was actually licensed. Just because the spa is a medi spa doesn't mean that everyone doing treatments are licensed. I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience.
1 post
3 Jul 2008
Hi Was the Green Peel product from a Dr Christine Schrammek. I have heard stories of companies imitating her products and customers ending up in bad reactions such as yourself. Hope your face is all cleared up sweetie.Good Luck. :)
2 posts
20 Oct 2008
jcmbagirl...I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience. As an esthetician for 11 years I can tell you that many "med-spas" will do anything for just about anyone who will pay the money. It's shamefull. And when you have a horrible result or reaction they pull out the informed consent sheet you signed that details all the contraindications and possible adverse reactions. PLEASE take those claims seriously people! Be very gentle with your skin right now and be SURE to wear an SPF of 20 or higher with a zinc base..this will help prevent further scarring. To "pipsnum"...I can understand after your experiences how you might not trust estheticians but believe me, we ARE trained skin in skin care and know "how it works" but we do NOT diagnose. Client's self diagnosis' and self treatment is often the basis of most skin problems. Example...You think its oily because you have a few blackheads and then strip the living you know what out of it and cause all kinds of other issues. Most estheticians do this job because we absolutely love it and know how to tell a client NO when it's in their best interest. If I wouldn't put it on my skin I won't put it on a client's skin. Having said that, you as the client/patient also have a duty to do a bit of homework on your chosen doctor or esthetician and whatever they happen to offer you in the way of treatments or products. Peels, microderm, laser, etc., are not for everyone and there are contraindications and possible adverse reactions with all products and treatments...even over the counter products. FWIW...I am a huge advocate of oils and gentle cleansing...rosehip seed oil is amazing for the skin!!
7 posts
2 Nov 2008
I agree with kmk. It is also very important to do everything that is required of you during the treatments, so that you get the best out of it. I have heard of people not doing so and suffering the consequences. Also the therapist may have gone too hard on your skin, there are three different pressures that should be applied depending on the type of skin, people who have slight pigmentation should have light pressure to lift it but if heavy pressure is applied it can cause excessive pigmentation to occur. In isolated cases, which is what I am hearing a bit in these reveiws is that severe skin reaction can be caused by a massage that is carried out in an impropper way (too much pressure or too long a duration of the massage)or not in line with the texture of the skin. Unfortunately there are people out there that are abusing a very good and effective treatment and I bet my bottom dollar that they are not trained to do the procedure. Also everyone is different and it can work in different ways for different people as it works with your skins own natural regeneration processes. Before beginning a peeling treatment, a THOROUGH skin analysis and an INTENSIVE consulting session are necessary to determine whether the skin of the customer is SUITABLE for a GREEN PEEL herbal peeling treatment. Even though it is entirely made up of natural plant ingredients and wont hurt the eyes of a patient or hands of the therapist,does not mean it is suitable for everyone! Did they take before and after photo's? The same goes for chemical peels, laser resurfacing, microderm etc. Not everything natural is good for you and not everything synthetic is bad for you!! Another thing to remember, there are no guarantees in life except death and taxes. And it always pays to shop around.
7 posts
3 Nov 2008
Hi could you clear something for me? After the treatment did you say you had a post peel again? Or did you mean a post treatment facial?
7 posts
8 Feb 2009
Well said Kelly, A great therapist would know that when treating ethnic skin you need to use a certain deal of caution when it comes to peelings as the pigmentation can worsen. The actual proceidure the therapist performed in my opinion was not done properly. It is bad, lazy inexperienced therapists that unfortunately causes us very good therapist to be tarred and feathered with the same brush. Shame!
18 posts
13 Feb 2009
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience! I wish you all the best in getting some relief. I also wanted to ask, as skyndeep has, did you say that you got another peel a few days after the green peel? I would think that was an absolute no-no and would really mess up your skin. Best of luck to you!
2 posts
18 Feb 2009
Hi...I'm so sorry about your experience. When you have a reaction to a product you should stop using everything. One of my girlfriends reacted to dermalogica and broke out with acne and my threapist told her that she should not use any beauty product. She recomended to wash her face with dove soap three times a day and wear no makeup and no moisturiser. Normally beauty threapists jump at you to sell you a product, but she knows her skin really well and dosent lie to get the dollar out of you. She said that dove soap has the right PH levels for your skin and even the most sensitive skin types can use it. Dove soap also has moisturzing effect, so you dont go really tight and dry. You should use the soap untill your skin goes back to normal. My girlfriend tried what my threapist said and a couple of months later her skin started to go to normal. She then went back to my threapist to use the products they sell. My girlfriend has been happy since. I wish you the best, but please try DOVE SOAP it will really help. Dont listen to anybody trying to sell you a treatment or product untill your skin goes back to normal. Your skin will only get worse if you keep using products that make it angry. GOOD LUCK
8 posts
26 Feb 2009
Thanks for your response and I'm sure you mean well, but DOVE SOAP is not going to help with the hyperpigmentation.