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Is glycolic acid ok for darker skin? (Photos)

SweetDecemberMar 10, 2017
I have some blemishes I would desperately like to reduce. They are not so much from acne as they are from [ingrown] hairs, tweezing. The main place is on my chest..above/between breasts and my neck, although I do also have some hyperpigmentation in my face from prior acne that I could also address. My question is, would it be ok and/or advisable for me to use a 40% glycolic acid on these two areas?

Answers (1)

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Dr. Jeff Angobaldo, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 475 Reviews
Answered on Dec 28, 2018
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Sameer Bashey, MD

In darker skin types- chemical peels have to be performed very carefully and with someone with experience treating non-Caucasian skin. I usually start off with very low concentrations of Glycolic acid peels on darker skin tones (30%) and then slowly work my way up to stronger peels (70%),...

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Karthik Ram, MRCS, DNB

Hi thanks for your query.It is quiet normal to have mild discoloration ,which will slough off once it heals.Do use only very mild face wash .moisturiser and a broad spectrum sunscreen .However if it still persists do consult your provider and get it addressed immediately .

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Amy Y. Paul, DO, FAAD

It appears you have used a fairly aggressive strength of peel at home.  I would recommend having the skin evaluated by a dermatologist in a few months to see if there is residual pigment or scarring and see if you can achieve improvement with some topicals or microneedling.  You will...

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