Monday, December 21, 2009

Glycolic acid peel - help!!?

Hi


We bought a 35% glycolic acid solution coz they said it will help with strong exfoliation of skin. we tried it once on the face but it left some open sours and tiny bleeds - like the one;s u have when u scratch too hard.


does this mean were allergic to it were leaving it on too long??


the pack says 3 to 4 mins then wash - thats what we did...Glycolic acid peel - help!!?
I have used Glycolic Acid with various concentrations from 5%, 8%, 15% all the way up to 20%. That's not an allergic reaction you have there. It's simply because 35% is way too strong. Even 20% concentration of glycolic acid for the body already can burn your skin on contact, but a 35% concentration left on for 3-4 minutes can literally rip layers of your skin off immediately. Such a high concentration % is not recommended to be used on the face, where skin is more delicate than the rest of the body.





If you are using it for the purpose of exfoliation, try the 5% or 8% with a pH balance of between 3 to 4 instead. Any less % concentration----or with a lower or higher pH number than 3 or 4----it is not effective enough. Any higher % concentration, it can be too harsh. If you want a really strong exfoliation, 15% concentration is the MAX I would recommend for the face if you don't have sensitive skin.





Here's Cosmetic Cop, Paula Begoun's formulation of 8% Glycolic Acid:


http://shop.paulaschoice.com/product/eig鈥?/a>





For now, completely stop using the 35% and wait a few days for your skin to return to normal. Be super gentle in your daily washing routine and skip the toner, as using the cotton balls to rub your skin will only aggravate it further----even if it's a ';Gentle Toner.'; A good face wash should be able to take everything off in 1-step wash, eliminating the need for toners. Wear a sunscreen that's designed for sensitive skin, as your skin is super sun-sensitive right now, from the Glycolic Acid burn. Regardless of whether the sunscreen label says ';Sensitive Skin'; or not, just look at the ingredient label that excludes Avobenzone (aka Parsol) %26amp; Paraben (or any chemical name that are _____-paraben), as well as Para-Aminobenzoic Acid (aka PABA), all of which are skin irritants to sensitive skin or skin that is already burned (either from excessive sun exposure or applying harsh chemicals to the face). Instead, look for Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 9.1% (the higher the % of any active ingredient, the higher the SPF = more protection).





If your skin is just red and sore, treat it as you normally would with sunburn: apply Aloe Vera for pain relief. Apply it carefully on the face so that it doesn't come in contact with the tiny bleeds. However, I am concerned about the ';tiny bleeds'; that are too sensitive even for touch. So for now, skip the makeup application for a few days, too, as the chemicals in makeup formulations will irritate your skin even further. For those kind of bleeds, I would treat it as ';cuts'; and ';abrasions'; by applying an OTC Antibiotic Ointment With Pain Relief on those specific bleeding spots.





After a few days, your skin will start peeling off, but don't use any ';microbeads'; to roughly slough off the burnt skin, as that will HURT. Instead, use your fingernails to VEEEERY GENTLY, MANUALLY scratch the skin (use the same scratch pressure you would use on a newborn baby's skin) %26amp; peel off the skin piece by piece. You might need to repeat this ';manual peeling'; process a few times until all the dead skin is sloughed off. After everything is thoroughly sloughed off and your face will feel baby smooth, your face will still have a slight burn sensation. After you reach this stage, where the tiny bleeds are healed, too, it is safe to apply the Aloe Vera all over your face for pain relief.





Now if your condition doesn't improve within 7 days of daily application of Aloe Vera and Antibiotic Ointment Pain Relief, you should see a physician (as opposed to seeing a dermatologist directly, which medical insurances might not cover). If the physician gives you an official referral to see a dermatologist, then the insurance will have to pay for it per doc's order. That's how you must work around the loophole when certain services that are not covered by medical insurance companies. But still, the most cost efficient way to take care of this is to try the home remedy of Aloe Vera for the burn pain relief and the Antibiotic Ointment with Pain Relief for the tiny bleed spots....as doc visits charge $20-$30 copay now. If you still don't improve, then go see a Primary Care Physician for remedy. If she can't do much for you, then ask for a referral to see a specialist (= dermatologist).





So just give your face a rest for a few days to heal and you should get better. Best wishes. And take care.Glycolic acid peel - help!!?
Girlfriend, that is a really stong concentration! I would get into the dermatologist ASAP. You could end up with irregular pigmentation or even scars! Don't mess around with the skin on your face. It is the first thing that people will see when they meet you!


Best Bet - cool water rinses every 2-4 hours (or as needed) followed by applying some Aquaphor healing ointment until you get into the doc's office.

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