Glycolic Acid Peel for Acne

What is Glycolic Acid

glycolic acid peel
Glycolic acid is part of the alpha hydroxy group of acids (AHA), derived from fruits and other foods (others in alpha hydroxic acid group are citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and lactic acid). Most glycolic acid comes from sugar cane. Of all the AHAs, glycolic acid has the smallest molecules, and therefore penetrates skin the most easily.

Glycolic acid peel works by loosening the glue-like substance that binds skin cells together, allowing the outer layers of skin to slough off. Following a glycolic peel treatment, skin may initially appear red and burned, but once the peeling process is complete, the patient’s face looks smoother, fresher, and more even in tone. Glycolic acid peel is used to reveal a more youthful complexion.

Glycolic peel treatments from a dermatologist usually begin at 20% and work up gradually to a concentration as high as 70%.

glycolic acid peeling before afterGlycolic Peeling Before and After

My Experience with Glycolic Peel

Just two months before marriage, I had a severe bout of acne which left scars due to the sunscreen I was using and I had no option, but to visit a dermatologist. The dermatologist I went to was a consulting physician at Apollo, Hyderabad, and he gave me two options, the first one was a long-drawn one and he said the scar healing process would be gradual and would take at least three months time to disappear. He gave me a second option of undergoing a glycolic peel if I want a quick-fix scar treatment since I was to be married soon. Since, I did not have much time left on hand, I chose to go for glycolic chemical peel. He told me I would have to take only a few sittings, maybe only two because my case was not that severe.
glycolic acid peel
Anyways, I went ahead with the treatment and went to the doctor’s clinic for a glycolic peel. The first thing he did to my face was cleaning it with SPIRIT(ethyl alcohol). That’s when the fear struck me and I wondered whether he was doing some kind of an operation on my face. After that, he explained to me the procedure saying that he would first use a higher concentration of glycolic acid and in the second or third sitting would lower the concentration. He took the glycolic acid on a cotton and applied it all over the face. Within a minute, I felt as if my face was on fire, there was severe burning sensation, and I wanted to kick myself for going in for the treatment. The doctor then waited for 15 minutes and observed my face for any overt reactions. Then, he sent me home with a high SPF sunscreen and do’s and don’ts of taking care of chemically peeled skin. He told me I could venture outside after 1 or 2 days with of course the sunscreen on (vicious circle!!!!).

The next morning, I noticed that my facial skin had started peeling from here and there and believe me it was really scary. The peeling continued for another two to three days and after the third day, what I saw was absolutely clear and flawless skin and I stayed indoors and maintained the texture and quality of the new skin. I was careful about using a mild face wash and a higher SPF sunscreen and re-applied every 3 to 4 hours for continued protection.

Needless to say, I did not return for a second sitting, mainly because I had clear skin from the first sitting itself and secondly, because I couldn’t see my face peeling like that.

In my opinion, glycolic peels should only be tried in severe acne or hyperpigmentation cases and you should be in such a position that you would be able to take care of the new and sensitive skin. If you have to spend a considerable time outdoors immediately after the peel, glycolic peel should be best avoided.

Price: I had paid Rs. 850 for one-time sitting of chemical peeling around 4 years ago, don’t know the current price.

Benefits of a Glycolic Peel

• Significantly reduces hyperpigmentation.
• Significantly reduces acne scars.
• Significantly reduces superficial premature wrinkles.
• Stimulates collagen and elastin.
• Normal activities can resume after treatment.

We shall have a look at some homemade skin peel recipes in my next article.

Also Read:
Neutrogena Oil – Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Cleanser Review
Clean & Clear Acne Clearing Moisturizer Review
Acne: Types, Causes and Cure
Proactiv Acne Solution Review
Rosacnil Gel for Acne and Skin Blemishes
Top 7 Skin Myths about Acne
Jovees Active Protein Youth Face Pack and 30+ Youth Face Cream- Review
Under Eye Dark Circles: Jovees 24 Carat Gold Eye Contour Gel

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137 thoughts on “Glycolic Acid Peel for Acne

    1. varshini ji………..that glycolic peel was about 4 years ago….i am back to square one now 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

  1. :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: What an experience!! I never knew about such treatments…. :thanks: for sharing it here Jomol!!

    1. Cali…..you ask me and i have done everything possible………you know my ginseng and sumangaly experience na……………..i have to taste cyanide….that is bakki

        1. :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: I earlier thought its something serious related to this process!!! 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 can’t stop laughing now!!!

            1. OMGGG!! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

            2. my god….. jomol… have u done like tat… he he he now answer… :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:
              Me too couldn control laughing

              1. Rachana :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: come I will teach you also :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

            3. Rati, I give you a challenge/task….if you tie tonight your husband like this, I will be nice to you for one whole month :jiggy1: :handshake2: :handshake2: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

                1. aha……….this I will to biwis only sanjeevji……. :shy: :shy: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: if i tell you….you will tie rati like this and call her sautan home to :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: :shutmouth: I won;t tell this to you……I will tell it to rati that too secretly when you are not around…..rati should also have a chance to bring home her boyfriend na :joker: :joker: :joker: :joker: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2:

        2. Sanjeevji…………yes, I have done this and i will teach rati how to tie her husband like this at night………………… :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash: :violinbash:

            1. Sanjeevji……….my husband is very understanding…..one look is enough…. :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: I don’t have to tie him up :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute:

  2. hi jomol,

    nice review,but i think its much more better if we go for home-made ones bcoz they are much more safer than all these chemical ones & another things chemical one may not suit to all,one of my friend has done this but after 5-6 months her skin condition was very bad,i always wanted to do this but after i seeing my friends condition i decided not 2 go for this ever,atleast in home-made peels we dont have fear of any side effects like these chemical ones,isn’t it jomol.
    anyway good review,it will help lot of members here,they may decide whether to go for this or not after knowing all the pros & cons.

    1. Bhavna, the dermatologist must decide whether chemical peeling suits for certain skin types or not and there are many chemical peels like salicylic acid+ one more acid etc.
      This should be never done in beauty parlour.

    2. Bhavana….well said…. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: I won’t go for it a second time myself because it is really scary and you would have to take care of the skin very much …………its all a tedious process….. :silly:

  3. hey jomol…. even i have taken this treatment but my doctor didnt go for more concentration though I had very bad scars, as he ws scared also,
    first time 10%
    second time 20%
    atlast 30% concentration so no peel off, but the skin ws flawless n radiant.
    But with scars my skin has some pits now I need to go for derma-roller treatment.
    Have to review here abut derma roller.

    1. rachana….oh….with me tho…he started with high concentration he said and i had a lot of peeling of skin and tht was very scary, but i did get clear skin afterwards :mean:

  4. Gosh! I din’t know this sort of treatment even existed! Must be a gr8 help for acne prone ppl..

    Btw, Did the pain continue for the 2 days when the skin was peeling as well?

    1. Zara nahin…..the burning and stining sensation is only for 1 hour maximum after the treatment…..from the next day the peeling of the skin starts which is not painful at all O:)

  5. My friend also got this peeling treatment done…its so scary when you see the skin coming off 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐

  6. very nice article Jomo………….never knew that such fast treatments are available
    :thanks: for sharing……and how long it kept ur skin acne free

  7. Nice article Jomol, very informative. Even, I went through this burning sitting of glycolic peeling. Thankfully, it was not done on my entire face but to the specific areas where I need it most. I must say, after the peeling came out.. I was in love with my baby soft skin. Worth gng thru the session. :yahoo: :yahoo:

        1. I want to go for this… but for my hands… as they are very much pigmented… Can anybody tell me, whr in Mumbai can dis b done…

    1. Yes Rids….it does work miraculously……….scars vanish….but I am never going in for a second treatment if I have bad scars again O:)

  8. for a long time navpreet…..actually, its like a re-birth for your skin….if you take good care of it after the peel, you will continue to have good screen…..but internally tho if you continue with the same lifestyle….acne is bound to come back and start scarring on a clean canvas :zombiekiller:

    1. hmmmmmmmmmm……………………
      I have just went through something similar….but it was not for acne
      will post an article soon bout my exp

  9. hi all,

    I have been a silent spectator of IMBB! Its real fun here in this blog!
    And even i underwent this treatment last november.But for me the acne was due to side burns waxing for my wedding!
    I took this treatment in chennai for Rs2500/=.I also had the same post reactions as told by Jomol ji.But now its a acne free skin for me.The money i paid was worth it.

  10. Jomol that’s fantastic procedure.. so many people suffer from acne but don’t exactly know what to do about it… Thankiiess for sharing.. I am a little lost today.. 😛 😛

  11. Nice article Jomol!! but I must add chemical peelings have to be done with a lot of care or one can end up scarring the skin for ever.The concentration must increase gradually…I dont know how in your case the Doc took the reverse route!! 😯 😯 😯
    Nevertheless Instead of these one time peeling treatments , I prefer the gradual working glycolic acid peel pads that you get in the chemist shops….U can buy after consultation with the Dermo.They are much safer…
    :laugh: :laugh:

    1. Thanks Anupam :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: yeah thankfully the doctor did a high concentration for me, otherwise, i would have to go the peeling again and again :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

  12. yeah rachana,that’s true dermatologist will 2 decide by seeing ur skin condition,but now u know how the doctors have become all money minded,for they sake of money they can worsen ur skin like anything,so according to my views u sud always search for the best doctor then start ur treatment but if it suits u only.

  13. jomolllaaayyyy….hehee….have done peels too….helped me immensely and one must do it at a reputed dermatalogist…the cost is lower too…i paid some 750 per sitting …my only prob was i have to go out and i think that might have not given the exact result compared to staying home for couple of days…..but no complains…no peeling for me…and a less scarred skin 🙂 :silly:

  14. Hi Jomol,
    Very nice n informative article, though i don’t require this. but it wd surely be helpful for others.

    Hi Navpreet,
    U reminded me of my MFC days, i was called NAV (Net Asset Value) by all my batchmates.

  15. Jomol, I like reading your reviews and comments… Ur my super favourite one here :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle: :aajanachle:

        1. Sanjeevji…………………upar se main fekeoongi pucca…..but chana nahin….granite ke pattar….woh bhi aapke aur Cali ke sar par :ghost2: :ghost2: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :duel: :duel: :duel: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

    1. Thank you Maria…………you made my day………………thank you so much :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:

  16. Hehehee current gone here…so hot…grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…me posting comment fast fast thinking net will go..but yipppe yaayyyyyyyyy i got that usb kuchi thing….what is it called…whatever…okay …so anywayss…me was out whole day….got sick cos of the heat…and yucky restroom in Total Mall, Koramangala….the cleaning lady there was mopping the floor and she mopped the toilet also with it….I saw it and was going to throw up and the poor Total SA though I am sick and came to help me…It was so yuck….cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

    1. :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:

    2. radhika.. wht is usb kuchii??? :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

    3. okay Rads….you saw the mopping thing….but you saw it…why describe it to us….wait…I need to throw up too…………..err……wait, I will tell you one of my famous poop stories :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop: :poop:

  17. Then I went to Koramangala….the BDA complex there has Gurjari and Mrignayanee…sorry abt the butchered spellings…so I got this bright yellow block print material…like lamas wear naaa that bright yellow…..:D 😀 😀 Me verrrrrrrrrrry happy with it….then me went downstairs….Daily Bread…bought Almond Mocha Chocolate Trufle pastry….yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy….only thing na hubby didnt get me ice cream…BR was right next to Daily Bread but he no get me ice cream….still there is always tomorrow and the day after to eat naaa……so me not complaining too much…:P 😛

    Oh current came back…so me take questions from all of you now….Priya, Cali….:P 😛

    Jomol – Oh btw..nice article…me very scared of peels…me tried salicylics at Kaya..but that also I don’t do now 😐

        1. yellloowww!! I lovee yeloowww!! I wore yelloow sandals today :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: I go check check.. bt why are you shopping on friday? :spank: :spank: Koi kaam dhaam nahin bacha hai? :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

            1. I have kaaaaaaaaaaaaam :(( :(( Hubby decided he is overworked (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and has taken long off till goodness knows when…I am severely depressed…these ppl get paid so much money and get offs also….it’s just not fair…I hate everyone and anyone who has a nice job :reallypissed: :reallypissed: :reallypissed: :reallypissed: :reallypissed: :reallypissed: anywaysssssssssss…so now I have to ensure I go roaming every day and ruin his vacation :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

    1. I’ve been to Daily bread with hubby, when we had to run around BDA complex to get documents done!! 😛 Nice chicken tikka sandwiches they make..and I had some chocolate cake too there, which I don’t remember what was it called!!! :-/

        1. :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: why r u and hubby going around on Friday…dont u guys WORK…… :duel: :duel: :duel: :duel: :duel: and i want to see the materiall….. :duel: :duel: :duel: :duel:

        2. No..hubby ate… 😛 I just had a bite!! :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: But yeah..I had one fullllllllllllllllll piece of some chocolate cake!! 😀 😀 😀

            1. lol..I eat non-veg Rads occasionally right from childhood, just egg and chicken..I just don’t support torturing animals!! :wilt: and leaving them to wither in pain and agony!! :(( the way these animal testing companies do.

              In between some years, I even began vegan but then I had major low BP and haemoglobin problem, when mom started feeding me eggs back..so now I eat 1 egg daily!! 😛 😛 Somehow it has taken care of my regular chakkars and blackouts!! 😐 😐 😐 😐

                1. They test on animals!! :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: I bought stuffs from maybelline too!! :(( :(( No money for Chanel and MAC!!! 😐 😐 😐 .. and I didn’t like anything that Revlon counter had!! What else is left that is not tested on animals??? :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/ :-/

                    1. I tho am a very happy nonvegeterian………….and I use leather goodies also…..and mink blankets and vaccinations also ………me tho not animal friendly at all……….I also eat ducks…… :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2: :secret2:

    2. Getting past Baskin Robbins and not tasting it is like a cardinal sin rads……at least you could have gone there and asked bhaiya….yeh taste kara do….or didi yeh de do….in hyd, they give free tastings………..shamples to taste before buying…….in small small spoons….me besharam……i just buy one and taste everything else O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) O:) O:)

  18. Hi everybody….missed u all…Rati,Cali,Jomol,Rads,Nupur,Pooja n all IMMBians…
    I m back from Kolkata after spending a long break… :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
    It was so fun :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: being with ur near n dear ones…

    Jomol very informative article :yes: :yes: :yes: …
    is this treatment useful for pimples also ???

    1. Thanks Rupa………….we missed you too :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

      yes, Rupa, severe cases of acne, but if the problem is hormonal, hormones should be first corrected….otherwise acne will bounce back :zombiekiller: :zombiekiller:

  19. Hiiii Rupa…u ate and ate and ate…I just know it 😛 😛 😛

    Priya – is regular block print…but like :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: this combinatino…yellow with red print…heheheee is extremely bright :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: was on sale…so me bought for myself and mom (maybe mom..maybe me only) so two different prints but same :yelo: combination…totally around 7 m I paid 375…me verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

    1. wowowwww…i go to BDA and quietly slip without checking Mrugna….i am sure if i enter i will keep buying….now getttt stitched…stitch patialaaaaa…..it will look super :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

      1. :-* seeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this is why I love Blore…we all think alike…I was also thinking same same same thing….me stitch bright yellow patialas…..will be awesome na…somehow I feel brighter and more atrocious the colour..the better the patialas will be :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: My tailor tho hates stitching them with cotton…I dont understand his logic…he is like it’s cotton…I am like huh??? He tho wants that chiffony material…is synthetic..I hate! Do you know any nice place to stitch these…I also think this guy steals kapda…:((

        1. aare but patiala will only come out nice when its cotton…..chiffon will look so sad ….stitch stitch…it will lookkkkk reeally nice…. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

            1. Priya…..even I want good tailors….my usual tailor who stitches the perfect dresses is acting like he is the chairman of the plannnig commission…..I want to find a good tailor in hyderabad….somebody please help me 😥 😥 😥 😥 😥

        2. yeah Rads…..I want to so badly show my tailor his place, but what to do, he is the only who stitches my dresses proper proper….all others mess up…….. :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali:

    2. and you didn’t even tell me……you my personal shopper na rads :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali:

  20. @Rati :thanks: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
    @Oye Rads..u r absolutely right i jst ate n slept all the time…n why did the ur profile pic.. :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: (the earlier was so much better than this)
    @Cali:i saw ur pics..u r looking glowy glowy… :-* :-* :-*

  21. Me keep changing now…cos me learning to take photies with my camera na 😀 😀 😀 😀 so loads of faltooo pics which can only be cropped and used for profile pics :toothygrin:

    1. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: no more camera stories Ms. Rads….or cake stories….or food stories :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali:

  22. great article Jomol…..*touchwood* I have never faced acne problem….if I do I will surely remember glycolic peels :yes: :yes:

    1. Jinal………..only in severe acne cases darling….yeah you have very good skin :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: and you are winning contests left, right, and center :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali: :hunterwali:

  23. Jomol, I always wondered what this Glycolic peel was, the Kaya people suggest this often 😕
    Nice article, waiting for the next article :yes:

  24. Uzma……….thanksssssssss……but uzma….glycolic peels should be done only by medical professionals….its an acid basically….it might cause severe burning if not used properly O:)

  25. Grt one Jomoll My aunt did this after her pregnancy pigmentation. I was also going to try for my acne scars but she advised me not to …
    but the pics are tempting me… 🙁

    1. Beee……….but you have such a good and clear skin…..why would you want to undergo peeling :spank: :spank: :spank:

  26. as usual awesome article jomol!! :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: :jaiho: i got soo involved whilst reading! hehehe… skin was on fire wasthe scariest part..!! peeling skin i coud bear to see but burning skin! 😯 😯 😯

    1. Thank you Neha…….. :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: even I was scared when the tingling and burning happned, i could only sit back and face it, but then, end result was good only :woot: :woot: :woot:

  27. touchwood me too never had any problem of acne…… :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
    ya once i had, but due to over eating of butter 😛 😛 😛
    but before and after that no acne’s for me… O:)

    1. you look pretty soni……………….your hair is glowing kya……..it looks perfectly conditioned :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove:

  28. Ginni……….. :inlove: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: jo means sweetheart and mol is daughter/child…..that means i am your sweetheart child :woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

  29. This sounds so scary.. Now I understand what treatment my friend underwent at Kaya for acne. Thanks for the post Jomol di 🙂

  30. jomoll ur son ish shoooooo qweet!! i love seeing ur avatar pic..!! i feel like picking him up and giving him soo many kishies… :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* i luurrvee babies’ toothless smiles!! its one of the wonderfullest things in the world!!!

  31. Hey Jomol,

    I’m from Hyderabad too. Can you tell me which doctor you consulted in Apollo? I want to get this done too..please reply!

  32. Hi jomol ! I know this is a lil late posting on your post but I’m interested to know the percentage of peel you had at apollo !! And do let us know the name of the doctor ! It would help some of us here in Hyderabad ! 🙂

  33. Jamol, even i am from Hyderabad. Can you please let me know from which doctor you had done the peel and the branch of the Apollo hospital.

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