Glycolic Acid For Acne Scars

Glycolic acid peels are popular treatments done at Spas or dermatologists' offices; glycolic acid is clear and very liquid; it  can help to reduce active acne and to fade post-hyperpigmentation and scarring.

In the US, FDA suggests that AHA with concentration range from 50% to 70% should only be used by doctors.

Over the counter products with less than 10% acidity is considered 'safe' for consumers, 20%-30% should be used by trained cosmetologists. 

The reason glycolicacid for acne scars is so popular is that there is very little downtime, minimal irritation and blistering, but it is working by stimulating new skin cells to form, and increasing collagen production.

 It usually takes a long time before your skin is totally accustomed to 70% glycolic acid.
Generally the treatments  start  with a low percentage first, usually around 30% and gradually increase at 70%.
If you start with too high a percentage of glycolic acid for acne scars, you can really burn your skin and damage it.
During the peel, your turn red. You will probably be red for a couple hours after the peel or even for the rest of the day.

My experience:

My doctor  started with a 30% glycolic acid peel left on my skin for one minute and increased to 70% left on my skin for 5 minutes.

It took me about three months to gradually go from 30% to 70%,a very strong treatment!

During the peel process, the doctor basically clean your skin and then apply the peel solution with a makeup brush.

After the appropriate amount of time the doctor  remove the glycolic acid for acne scars solution with wet cotton pads. Then he put a cooling mask  or cold towel wrap on your face to reduce the inflammation. 

I had two forms of acne scars, the crater-like form and the pitted (ice-pick) form but not very deep.

Significant improvement occurred in both forms of scars. My scars are not be totally eradicated but I am very happy with the results.

My Conclusions:

- Glycolic acid peeling is an effective modality for the treatment of medium acne scars, but repetitive peels (at least six times) with 70% concentration are necessary to obtain evident improvement. 

- Glycolic acid for acne scars, in my experience,  is a safe and effective method but before allowing a dermatologist to administer this treatment, there are a few questions you should ask to make sure that you are in a professional, safe clinic.

Make sure that the dermatologist is a certified doctor. 

Ask if they are going to use a topical treatment after your peel to further the healing of your skin.

Ask about the experience of the doctor in applying these chemical peels.

- The benefits of glycolic acid for acne scars can vary from one patient to another. It may show significant changes for some patients(My experience) but not others.

- It takes time to see visible results, so patience is required.

- Raised scarring from acne can improve but not be totally eradicated.

Laser and surgery are options to consider for these. Deep acne scars, may require several procedures or a few different types of therapy for great results.

Remember: Deep facial acne scarring may not be relieved entirely, however, their appearance can be greatly improved.

Long-term daily use of low-strength glycolic products may also have some useful effects on scars and may be recommended for patients who cannot tolerate the peeling procedure. 

While visiting my dermatologist, he suggested I use NeoStrata  glycolic  products into my daily regime to maintain my results.

NeoStrata brand professional skin care products are recommended by Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons in over 42 countries and are the #1 recommended professional AHA skin care brand by physicians worldwide.

I uses the acid peel 30% once a week. 

I like this acid so much that I now also use a cream with glycolic acid on a daily basis, it just has a much lower acid content, and my skin looks great! I look younger and my skin just feels better than it has in years. It is smooth and soft. Also wrinkles and lines are diminished.(I am 35 years old).

FDA and dermatologists advise consumers who use AHA products to follow these precautions: 

•    Always protect your skin before going out during the day. Use a sunscreen product with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Wear a hat with a brim of at least 4 inches (about 10 centimeters). Cover up with lightweight, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.

•    Buy products with adequate label information: for example, a list of ingredients to see which AHA or other chemical acids are in the product; the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor, which can serve as the contact if a problem or question arises; and a statement about the product's AHA concentration and pH level. 

•    Buy only products that comply with the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel's 1997 recommendations--that is, products with an AHA concentration of 10 percent or less and a pH of 3.5 or greater.

•    Do a skin-sensitivity test on a patch of skin if you are a first-time user of any AHA product or are using a different brand or a product with a different concentration or pH than you are used to.

•    Stop using the product immediately if you experience adverse reactions. Signs of adverse reactions include stinging, redness, itching, burning, pain, and bleeding or change in sun sensitivity. Even mild irritation is a sign that the product is causing damage, FDA's Bailey says, despite what the manufacturer may indicate on the product label. "Cosmetics shouldn't sting or cause irritation," he says. 

If you have an adverse reaction, see a dermatologist. A dermatologist can tell you whether an adverse reaction is from the product or is an indication of an underlying disease, such as skin cancer. Dermatologists also can recommend appropriate skin-care products, and they will report your case, keeping your name confidential, to FDA's adverse reaction monitoring program. 

For more informations about glycolic acid for home use read here.

Periodically, I also use Zenmed scar kit  for some brown spots and also to improve light scars caused from my residual hormonal breakouts.

You can read about my Zenmed Regimen Here.

Click Here to return from"Glycolic Acid for Acne Scars" to "Acne Scar Removal "