Micropeeling as a cure for acne

Micropeeling can be performed at home by the patient and involves the application of low concentrations of peeling substances that trigger a sort of forced skin cleansing through the acceleration of desquamation. Micropeeling achieves two important curative results for acne: firstly, comedones or cysts are eliminated and, secondly, the obtained results can be maintained long-term as micropeeling does not cause skin damage and can be used for years.

Micropeeling agents and concentrations

It is important that the micropeeling agents within an anti-acne micropeeling product suitable for daily use are perfectly balanced so as to avoid irritation. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are naturally occurring acids that have synergistic and micropeeling properties in that they help the desquamation of the stratum corneum.

Micropeeling in practice

Apply Glicosal Lotionin the evening to areas affected by acne.The skin should be free of makeup and dry. To remove makeup and cleanse the skin, it is recommended to use a non-foaming cleanser, which helps maintain skin softness and prepare it for micropeeling Eudermic Cleansing Base). Con questo tipo di strucco la cute rimane morbida e pronta a ricevere la lozione Micropeeling.
Apply seven to ten drops of Glicosal Lotion onto a moistened cotton pad. Gently massage in circular motions over the entire face until the lotion has been absorbed and the pad is dry.

Avoid vigorously rubbing the pad against the skin, as the friction can cause skin redness. Do not wash the face or use any other products after applying Glicosal Lotion. The morning after, only wash the face with tap water and apply no other products, including moisturizers.
For make-up, use only mineral-based products, such as Sun Clay or cover-ups with polyglycerol and natural mineral pigments Argillina Skin Color which are both non-comedogenic and remain only on the skin’s surface. Foundation and other colored creams must not be applied as they can penetrate follicles, causing comedones and folliculitis.

Combined micropeeling: when micropeeling isn’t enough

In more severe cases of acne or where the skin is very seborrheic, micropeeling alone will likely not be enough to control acne. In such situations, combined micropeeling treatment can be adopted, which includes the addition of tretinoin lotion, a retinoic acid. The choice between following a simple or combined micropeeling treatment plan is up to the dermatologist who will base their decision on the type of acne, skin type and seasonality. Tretinoin lotion is not available ready-made and must be prepared by a pharmacist. To request the lotion, the following prescription, preferably signed by a doctor, can be presented to the pharmacy.

Prescription for tretinoin

Place and date: ___________________________

Name and surname: ___________________________

R/

Tretinoin 0.05 %

Propylene Glycol 40 %

Ethyl Alcohol (96%) 59,9 %

Alpha-Tocopherol 0.05%

To be prepared in a dark, 50ml bottle with a dropper cap.

S/ Apply once in the evening, rubbing well into the skin. The amount of product to use and the frequency with which to apply will be recommended by the dermatologist.

As with Glicosal Lotion, tretinoin contains micropeeling agents. However, to avoid the risk of retinoid dermatitis, tretinoin should be used only once or, at most, twice per week instead of Glicosal Lotion. In order to get the right dose of tretinoin, it is important to ask for a dropper cap when the lotion is being prepared. The number of drops is exactly the same as required for Glicosal Lotion, that is, seven to ten drops per application. Combined micropeeling, therefore, involves applying Glicosal Lotion for five to six nights per week, alongside tretinoin once or twice (on non-consecutive days) per week.

Micropeeling rules

While the micropeeling technique is very simple, some rules need to be followed to make it truly effective:

1. Do not use soaps or cleansing milk, but remove makeup and wash the face with Eudermic Cleansing Base, a non-foaming cleanser.
2. Do not use foundations as makeup.
3. For makeup, it is recommended to use mineral makeup such as Sun Clay, which does not penetrate the skin and therefore does not cause acne.
4. For those who wish to mask skin imperfections during the Micropeeling treatment, Argillina Skin Color can be applied. This foundation does not cause folliculitis or comedones as it is formulated with ingredients that cannot be absorbed by the skin.

During the treatment, remember to:

• Do not use moisturizing or emollient creams during the day.
• Do not have facials or other types of intense facial cleansing.
• Do not squeeze pimples or blackheads.
• Do not expose yourself to UV lamps or sunlight.
• Do not use other medications or vitamins.
• Do not follow specific diets.
• Do not use sunscreens, as they are loaded with chemical compounds. To protect the skin from UV rays, apply the mineral, light reflectant Sun Clay.

During the treatment, the skin becomes dry and flaky to allow for acne removal. If burning or redness appear, suspend the Micropeeling for a few days, and once the skin returns to normal, the treatment can be resumed using fewer drops or performing the Micropeeling on alternate evenings.
In the summer months, since sunscreen cannot be used, the Mineral Photoreflective Sun Clay is applied.
When the skin becomes too dry and tight, and moisturizers/emollients cannot be used, a thin layer of Extreme Emollient Ointment can be applied in the morning. It does not penetrate the skin and is therefore non-comedogenic. This ointment can also be used as a base for Mineral Makeup. If using Argillina Skin Color, which also has moisturizing properties, it is not necessary to use Extreme Emollient Ointment as a makeup primer.

From micropeeling to photodynamic therapy

Simple or combination micropeeling treatment is a very effective treatment for most forms of acne. However, another equally effective treatment, photodynamic therapy (PDT), is also now available.
Photodynamic therapy involves applying an aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-based cream to the area of acne. The cream penetrates inside the inflamed acne follicles. Following exposure to LED light at a specifically-calibrated intensity and wavelength, the substance will have transformed into the Protoporphyrin IX compound after just two hours. This light activation causes the immediate release of oxygen radicals which sterilize the follicle and, in the days after treatment, make inflammation disappear.
Additionally, there is an intense exfoliating effect (photo peeling effect), which results in many blackheads and microcysts being eliminated within a week.
Photodynamic therapy is, therefore, very efficient in eliminating inflammation and, because it does not involve pharmaceuticals, it is harmless and can be performed without limitation. However, it requires much more time and money than micropeeling, with each session lasting for around three hours at varyingly high costs.

Why photodynamic therapy doesn’t replace micropeeling

Ideally, micropeeling remains the treatment of choice, with photodynamic therapy only introduced in combination with micropeeling in cases of inflammatory acne. Photodynamic therapy could also be considered when the patient wants to accelerate treatment of a sudden worsening of acne, which can often be brought on by stress.
From Micropeeling to PDT: a comprehensive treatment plan without drugs
The introduction of first micropeeling and, later, photodynamic therapy radically changed the way in which both teenage and adult acne could be treated.
With these methods, clear results are achieved without resorting to the use of any drugs, which is a serious advantage especially as acne involves teenagers or women of childbearing age. Treating acne without the use of additional drugs is a great achievement, but requires consistency in treatment and trust in the dermatologist. This is particularly important, as acne is not an acute disease but a chronic one with moments of improvement and worsening that follow each other, often without apparent cause.

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Photodynamic therapy in acne treatment

To accelerate healing, eliminate inflammation, reduce scarring, and to counteract periods of worsening acne, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modern solution. PDT does not require drugs, but instead uses photodynamic agents and red light treatment to flare the acne follicle (furuncle). An ointment containing a substance called 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is applied to the area to be treated. This substance is picked up by the inflamed acne follicles and transformed into a photoactive product, that is, one capable of reacting with light (Protoporphyrin IX).
After applying the ointment containing 5-ALA, the area to be treated is covered with special bandages.
After about two hours, the area is exposed to visible red light of wavelength around 630 nm for 10 to 20 minutes.
During light treatment, a sensation similar to sunburn may be felt. This feeling will be stronger the more intense the acne is. Although uncomfortable, these sensations of perceived heat are usually well tolerated, and in cases of intolerance, water spray can be applied.
After treatment, the skin appears red and should be dressed with a special healing ointment without bandaging.
Over the next week, the acne furuncles in the treated area will dry out and flake off. During this period, apply PEG Ointment twice a day without bandaging, wash with an appropriate washing base, and do not expose the area to strong sunlight or UV lamps.
After one week has passed, micropeeling treatment can be resumed as prescribed by a dermatologist.
As long as there is no damage to the structures of the skin, there is no limit to the number of photodynamic treatment sessions a patient can undertake.

See how micropeeling works: