What is a Glycolic Acid Peel?

Glycolic acid peels have become an increasingly popular treatment in the beauty and skincare industry, and for good reason. This type of chemical peel is among the mildest and most popular treatment for improving skin tone and texture. This is largely because glycolic acid is considered to be a natural substance. This alpha hydroxy acid is derived from sugar cane and can be found in a variety of different fruits.

AHAs used for dermatological treatment can deliver profoundly positive results when it comes to improving the look and feel of a patient’s skin. Glycolic acid is often employed to treat skin conditions such as keratosis pilaris, actinic keratosis and seborrheic keratosis.

Glycolic acid peels are also used to:

• Diminish the appearance of fine lines around the mouth and eyes
• Improve the appearance of wrinkles caused by aging and sun damage
• Fade hyperpigmentation issues, freckles and other dark patches
• Soften the appearance of mild scars
• Treat certain types of acne
• Smooth and soften skin texture

A glycolic acid peel works by penetrating the skin and targeting the epidermis, causing it to shed. Essentially, this process is stimulating cell turnover and accelerating cellular renewal rates, which sloughs off outer layers of dead skin to reveal a fresh layer of newer, younger skin below. This type of peel can be combined with other skin rejuvenation treatments like microdermabrasion to boost cell turnover.

How Does a Glycolic Acid Peel Work?

A glycolic acid peel is specially formulated for your unique skin type and specific goals. Peels can be formulated with a higher percentage of glycolic acid and other ingredients to penetrate deeper layers of skin and maximize the regeneration of new skin cells. During a glycolic acid peel treatment, a high concentration of the substance can be applied on the skin and then neutralized with the use of a secondary chemical at the conclusion of the treatment. This helps to remove all layers of damaged skin, leaving behind only fresh, new skin.  Skin cells will begin to rebuild and reconstruct the deeper layers of skin to create a tighter and smoother skin texture, along with a brighter and more radiant complexion.

Who Can Benefit from a Glycolic Acid Peel?

There are a number of reasons why our Austin glycolic acid peel clients seek this skin rejuvenation treatment, ranging from skin discoloration to a bland and dry complexion.  It is important that you consult with your physician to determine if you have any skin sensitivities that may prevent you from receiving the treatment, especially if you suffer from eczema, allergies, rosacea or autoimmune diseases.  With that being said, glycolic acid peels can be used for a variety of treatment purposes, including:

• Smoothing the texture of the skin
• Lightening pigmentation irregularities
• Smoothing acne scars
• Minimizing the size of your pores
• Softening lines from sun damage
• Deeper texture related changes after continuous use

What to Expect After the Treatment

Unlike some cosmetic procedures, there is little to no downtime associated with a glycolic acid peel. Of course, the recovery time after any chemical peel will depend on what type of peel was done and how deep it was. Glycolic peels are generally not considered to be deep peels. Your skin may feel puffy or dry and flake afterward, but a glycolic peel is not as intense as other chemical peeling treatments such as TCA peels. Any redness or other side effects can be easily concealed with makeup.

Schedule an Appointment at Personique On The Spot

If you are interested in glycolic acid peels in Austin, please contact Personique On The Spot today to schedule an appointment. Simply call (512) 201-4800 or fill out the consultation request form above.