Pure oils vs ointment post TCA peels?

Question

Is it possible to use grape seed oil or jojoba oil on the face immediately post TCA peel instead of Aquaphor/vaseline/thick ointments to help protect the skin? My skin is extremely oily and acne prone and I always end up with breakouts during and after the healing process which I attribute to these occlusive ingredients. I know jojoba and grapeseed are pretty low on the comedogenic scale and looking to avoid clogged pores while trying to heal.

Monika Kiripolsky, MD · Answer

Hi Jen,

I completely understand why you are wanting to find a way around the Vaseline/aquaphor step, but, absolutely not!

Post-peel/laser induction of acne in acne-prone skin is common and should most definitely be avoided. . . However, using grape seed or jojoba oil is not the solution.

This is an area where you need to find a board-certified dermatologist who has extensive experience in treating acne prone skin with cosmetic procedures because we can do things like start a short course of accutane soon after the procedure to prevent nodulocystic acne from occurring. Because of how the government regulates accutane, starting the enrollment process oftentimes needs to be done a month in advance.

I actually see a few cases of this a month . . . Patients who have gotten treatments elsewhere to improve their acne scarring, only to develop inflammatory acne in the treatment areas after the peel/laser. This ultimately results in scarring that is even worse. So, choose your doctor wisely for this (I have quite a few patients out of town patients do initial consults over zoom & then fly in for the actual procedure).

We can definitely do these treatments in your acne-prone skin and get significant improvement. . . It just takes a bit more planning (& lots of experience).

Hope this helps!
Dr. Monika Kiripolsky

Pure oils vs ointment post TCA peels?

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Pure oils vs ointment post TCA peels?

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Everything you need to know about TCA Peel

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.