POSTED UNDER Chemical Peel REVIEWS
23 Year Old with Post-Accutane Sun Damage. Highland, CA
ORIGINAL POST
I took Accutane for a little over 5 years total...
$100
I took Accutane for a little over 5 years total and didn't protect my skin well from the sun (you're skin is VERY sensitive while on the medication) and as a result I have a lot of "freckles" from various sun exposures.
I finally got a chemical peel on 09/11/15 in hopes that it wold fade the sun spots and even out my skin tone. I know I will need to continue with more peels but this is the beginning.
I got it done at my dermatologist's medical office in town--he did a 30% glycolic acid peel on me for my first time. It was a good experience, although I am experiencing what appears to be burns or scabbing? Not sure if it's normal?
Will be posting daily pictures until finally healed!
Thanks for reading.
I finally got a chemical peel on 09/11/15 in hopes that it wold fade the sun spots and even out my skin tone. I know I will need to continue with more peels but this is the beginning.
I got it done at my dermatologist's medical office in town--he did a 30% glycolic acid peel on me for my first time. It was a good experience, although I am experiencing what appears to be burns or scabbing? Not sure if it's normal?
Will be posting daily pictures until finally healed!
Thanks for reading.
kimberly_ann's provider
Replies (9)
September 14, 2015
I hope you intend to wear SPF after your peel!
September 14, 2015
ABSOLUTELY.
I already wear daily SPF 28, I wonder if I can continue to use just that.
Not protecting myself was how I got myself in this position in the first place!
I already wear daily SPF 28, I wonder if I can continue to use just that.
Not protecting myself was how I got myself in this position in the first place!
September 14, 2015
Hello, so far your peel actually looks pretty good and the scabbing is relatively normal for some of the brown marks, but they should flake off within a few days to a week I believe. I noticed you said you were on Accutane for 5 years, was this a low dose version? And if so what dose were you on and was it helpful because I am thinking about going on accutane at a low dose for stubborn acne.
September 14, 2015
Thank you, that gives me some relief. A lot of the brown areas have flaked off. It seemed more like peeling due to dry skin and not the actual peel, lol. They said I wouldn't peel at all most likely due to the low concentration.
I was on Accutane for two rounds with a dermatologist supervising. Although after those 2 years, I took Accutane by myself without dermatologist supervision at approximately 20mg/daily. Then 20mg every other day. It worked just as it did when I took it through a physician, but I would absolutely not recommend it, as you can see.. I have a lot of accumulated sun damage from being on it. I even avoided the sun the last 2 years on it and still the damage was bad.
I was on Accutane for two rounds with a dermatologist supervising. Although after those 2 years, I took Accutane by myself without dermatologist supervision at approximately 20mg/daily. Then 20mg every other day. It worked just as it did when I took it through a physician, but I would absolutely not recommend it, as you can see.. I have a lot of accumulated sun damage from being on it. I even avoided the sun the last 2 years on it and still the damage was bad.
September 15, 2015
September 15, 2015
UPDATED FROM kimberly_ann
3 days post
Day 3 Updates (pictures)
Day 2: skin felt very tight and dry in the areas where it looked like I got a chemical burn (my nose & around my mouth) and after washing, they began to feel immensely dry and started to flake. Washed my face later that night and all of it came off.
Day 3: skin looking much better, red in the areas where flaking was occuring the prior day, but otherwise looking better. My nose is still kind of scabby as you can see in the day 3 pictures. I have begun to use Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion to help calm the peely areas.
I'm not seeing any improvements whatsoever, but I know that with as much damage as I have, and with as superficial as a peel that I had, I wont see any improvements except for maybe smoother skin. I also know that it will take more than just one measely peel to make a visible improvement. I'm trying to be realistic, just sucks having to take a week off and stay indoors and heal, all for nothing pretty much.
Day 3: skin looking much better, red in the areas where flaking was occuring the prior day, but otherwise looking better. My nose is still kind of scabby as you can see in the day 3 pictures. I have begun to use Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion to help calm the peely areas.
I'm not seeing any improvements whatsoever, but I know that with as much damage as I have, and with as superficial as a peel that I had, I wont see any improvements except for maybe smoother skin. I also know that it will take more than just one measely peel to make a visible improvement. I'm trying to be realistic, just sucks having to take a week off and stay indoors and heal, all for nothing pretty much.
Replies (4)
September 15, 2015
Why did you have to take a week off? Was your peel considered 'light' or 'medium'?
September 16, 2015
My peel was a light peel if you read the original post, but I took actually 2 weeks off from work (& school is currently out of session for 2 weeks) because I'm an EMT for a large ambulance company, with the hours I work during the day, I am exposed to harsh sunlight unless I'm in the ER or nightfall starts. I don't want to even remotely risk hyperpigmentation from sunlight exposure (hispanic/caucasian)!!
Excessive it feels, but I don't want to undo what was done, or worse, make it worse.
Excessive it feels, but I don't want to undo what was done, or worse, make it worse.
September 16, 2015
Makes sense...also don't forget sunglasses with wide arms (no aviators!!!)
UPDATED FROM kimberly_ann
5 days post
Day 5 Updates (pictures)
Day 5: My skin is looking and feeling so much better. Not that it was a particularly intense recovery or anything.
There are some parts of my face that still feel rough in the shower and I want more than anything to exfoliate but I think I should wait at least another week, just to be safe!! My nose still has some red splotches but other than that it is no longer scabby or rough. I have still been applying the "healing cream" they gave me.
So, still, again, I do not notice any real difference in my skin. I have been breaking out some more recently, must have either been due to the peel itself or the thick, heavy healing cream they gave me to use. I swear that stuff clogs my pores bad!
I think my next update will be in a week or so, because now the changes are minimal.
There are some parts of my face that still feel rough in the shower and I want more than anything to exfoliate but I think I should wait at least another week, just to be safe!! My nose still has some red splotches but other than that it is no longer scabby or rough. I have still been applying the "healing cream" they gave me.
So, still, again, I do not notice any real difference in my skin. I have been breaking out some more recently, must have either been due to the peel itself or the thick, heavy healing cream they gave me to use. I swear that stuff clogs my pores bad!
I think my next update will be in a week or so, because now the changes are minimal.
Replies (3)
September 17, 2015
Hello, I'm doing an at home Glycolic peel from MUAC. The results do take quite awhile. I think people get their hopes up thinking 1-2 peels will give them instant results, I know I thought that myself. But realistically... it can take up to 7-8 weeks and it may get worse before it gets better. And heavy creams... yes, bad for pores. Try something natural/organic and lite such as Argan oil.
I'm on my 4th peel and doing a 30%, but thinking about going up to a 50% if I don't start seeing some better results. (my skin does feel much smoother, but that's it so far) But I will at least give it 2mths as suggested. I am also trying to reduce freckles and improve overall skin tone. Have you heard of MUAC? Opened a new world for me.... :) I was paying a lot of money at the salon for things I can do at home with the same exact products.
Good Luck. :)
I'm on my 4th peel and doing a 30%, but thinking about going up to a 50% if I don't start seeing some better results. (my skin does feel much smoother, but that's it so far) But I will at least give it 2mths as suggested. I am also trying to reduce freckles and improve overall skin tone. Have you heard of MUAC? Opened a new world for me.... :) I was paying a lot of money at the salon for things I can do at home with the same exact products.
Good Luck. :)
October 19, 2015
I keep seeing the name MUAC all over but I am afraid to do a chem peel on my own! 7-8 weeks to see the overall results? I'm beginning to feel a little discouraged, if anything my skin seems to have not changed at all or has gotten worse... I understand the whole "not getting better" because I only had just one peel... but I feel like my freckles actually darkened a tad :( have you had experience with this? Thanks!
February 27, 2016
Hey dear... I jst want to knw dat ur freckles become more darker or not? ???
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us and I'm looking forward to your updates. There are some side effects associated with the chemical peel. This Q&A is quite helpful. Will you have more peels?