Chemical Peel for Acne & Acne Scars

Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), including glycolic acid, are the mildest of the chemical peel formulas and produce light peels. These types of peels provide smoother, brighter-looking skin for people who can't spare the time to recover from more invasive treatments like carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, Active FX treatments, or deeper chemical peels, such as the TCA peel. Candidates for glycolic acid peels include individuals with:
 
    *Uneven pigmentation problems
    *Acne
    *Melasma
    *Enlarged facial pores/blackheads
    *Age spots
    *Areas of dryness
 
Glycolic acid is part of the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. Glycolic acid is often isolated from natural sources , such as sugarcane, and its unique properties make it ideal for a broad range of dermatologic applications. Glycolic acid is very useful as a chemical peel to improve the skin's appearance, from sun-related damage to uneven pigmentation and acne. 
 
When applied to the skin, glycolic acid reacts with the outer layer of skin (epidermal) cells, weakening the binding connections that hold the dead cells together. This allows the damaged outer skin layer to "peel" off to reveal the underlying new skin cells, thus giving your skin an even, improved texture.
 
After treatment, the skin may be slightly pink, resembling a mild sunburn. However, the skin quickly returns to its normal color, and most people do not take any time off from work or social activities when they have this peel performed. On some occasions, there is some minor flaking in a few localized areas, which is seen for a couple of days, normally not exceeding 2-3 days. The skin does not severely peel as compared to more invasive chemical peels (i.e. TCA, phenol) or laser resurfacing.