Weekly Glycolic Acid Chemical Peels - The How, continued
Application of the glycolic acid peel
It is important to follow the instructions that come with your product.
Different products with different formulations and different strengths have slightly different methods.
Make sure you set the timer and do not exceed the length of time that the glycolic acid product is on your skin. Glycolic acid chemical peels are quick, the time on the skin is usually from 1 to 3 minutes, so it is important to time.
Start out cautiously. Go less time rather than more time, at the beginning. As you do more peels your skin will become less sensitive. Then you can slowly increase the time and/or the strength of the glycolic acid.
Expect a little stinging and a prickly feel. However, if the stinging is bad and it starts to hurt quite a bit, immediately neutralize and wash off the glycolic acid. Do not leave on the full time.
Do not apply glycolic acid right up to the eyes. If it gets in your eyes it will attack them. If you do get glycolic acid in an eye, immediately rinse the eye with a large quantitiy of water.
Neutralization and removal of glycolic acid from the skin
Once your time is done, it is necessary to neutralize the acid and stop the peel.
Most peel kits will have a neutralization solution that when applied to the skin makes it less acid. Then the glycolic acid solution is washed off with lots of water and usually soap. You can very gently clean your face with a washcloth.
If your kit does not contain a neutralization solution was the skin with a large quantity of water.
Skin care after a glycolic acid peel
Use moisturizer
The partial removal of the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, means the removal of lots of keratin. One function of keratin is keeping skin hydrated and stopping loss of water. Therefore, after using glycolic acid it is important to moisturize the skin. Many kits come with a moisturizer to use after the peel.
Use sunscreen
The loss of the outer layer of the skin and the exposure of newer layers underneath make your skin more sensitive to the sun. To protect your newly exposed skin make sure you apply sun screen before getting any sun exposure.
Do not use any aggressive or drying products for at least several days
Do not use any harsh or drying skin cleansers or soaps. Avoid the use of astringents and products that contain alcohol.
Do not use any other exfoliation products including scrubs, microdermabrasion kits, any product that is irritating, and other chemical peeling agents such as salicylic acid.
If you carefully follow the guidelines for doing a glycolic acid chemical peel , after a few weeks you should have better looking skin, with a reduction in fine lines, a more even skin tone and less visible pigmentation due to the sun.
