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Glycolic Peels Causing More Sun Damage (Brown Spots)?

vitaCgirlOct 22, 2010
I started getting glycolic peels 9 months ago. I get a peel every 4 weeks and have gradually worked up to 50% glycolic acid. I use Neutrogena sunscreen spf 60 everyday on my face and neck. I have very fair skin and also use vitamin c serum during the day and retinol at night. I now have small brown spots developing on my forehead. It looks like sun damage to me. I am very distressed by this as peels are suppose to help with sun damage. What is happening? Should I stop getting the peels?

Answers (2)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
Dr. Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Dr. Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Answered on May 11, 2012
Answer
Dr. Brent Spencer, MD
Dr. Brent Spencer, MD
Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology
Answered on Oct 27, 2010
Answer

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Matthew Richardson, MD

Different strengths of peel will determine how quickly you recover and how soon after you can do another session.  On average it takes one week to recover from a mild peel, and one to two weeks to recover from a deeper peel.  We typically recommend a series of four to six peels every four we...

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Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Most of these are safe. They tend to work on the keratin layer which is exfoliated with the Glycolic acid peel. Therefore you may not experience the same degree of tanning as you do on normal skin. However, your skin may be more sensitive to the numerous additives in the sunless tanner. I would...

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Harold J. Kaplan, MD

It's possible that either one or both of the treatments you had caused a darkening of the skin. This darkening is called hyperpigmentation and is a healing response to trauma. It may be that the chemical peel was too strong or that the wax you used was too harsh for your skin. What you need to...

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