Micropeeling to Treat Acne

Yes to micropeeling, no to pharmaceuticals

Antibiotics, antiseptics, hormone treatments and products with retinoic acid are examples of some common treatments for acne in adults and teens. However, these ‘solutions’ can sometimes come with significant side effects. Long-term use of antibiotics, for example, can cause liver damage, antibiotic accumulation and can create bacterial strains that are resistant to the antibiotic. Moreover, excluding retinoic acid, the efficacy of these solutions isn’t guaranteed. This is because, while acne should be considered as a long-term skin condition, most of the available treatments only offer a brief, temporary remission of symptoms. The philosophy of acne treatment should, therefore, be focussed on effective, long-term products that do not cause unpleasant side effects. With this in mind, simple or combined micropeeling has been developed to treat teen and adult acne.

What is micropeeling?

Micropeeling is a low-concentration chemical peel in liquid-form. It can be applied directly to the affected areas of skin just before bed. Overnight, the skin begins to self-exfoliate, without causing any feelings of tightness for the user or visible flaking. After a few months of application, blackheads and microcysts will also fade. The micropeeling lotion (Glicosal Lotion) also has antiseptic properties, effectively treating pimples without the need for antibiotics.

Active ingredients

The safest and most effective peeling substances are salicylic acid and glycolic acid. Both are naturally derived, with the former being found in willow bark and the latter in green fruit. When combined, these two active ingredients enhance one another, meaning that they can produce results even when used at low concentrations. This means that micropeeling products, as the name suggests, desquamate and exfoliate without causing excessive irritation.

Which types of acne can be treated with micropeeling

Micropeeling works especially well for comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads) and microcystic acne (subcutaneous acne). It usually works well on most types of mild or moderate acne.

Severe acne

For severe acne, a combined micropeeling technique can be adopted, which involves applying retinoic acid (tretinoin), a derivative of vitamin A, to the skin. Retinoic acid stimulates the growth of healthy skin, while Glicosal micropeeling lotion increases exfoliation, further accelerating the healing process. Tretinoin is applied to the skin one evening a week instead of Glicosal, following the same number of drops and mode of application (outlined bellow). In more challenging cases, tretinoin solution can be used on two, non-consecutive evenings a week. Tretinoin solution is not currently commercially available but can be prepared by the pharmacist as explained in this article.

Make-up during micropeeling

Cleansing and removing makeup from the face should be done before applying micropeeling in the evening. It is recommended to use Eudermic Cleansing Base for this step. This product can cleanse and remove makeup like a regular cleanser or soap, but without drying the skin. This step is important because micropeeling tends to dry out the skin, so strong cleansers, cleansing milks, or micellar water should be avoided.

How to apply Glicosal Lotion

In the evening, remove make-up and cleanse the skin with Eudermic Cleansing Base. Dry well. Place 7-10 drops of Glicosal Lotion on a cotton pad. Gently rub the pad in a circular motion across the face, continuing until the pad is dry. This causes the gradual exfoliation of the skin which will release comedones, cysts and reduce inflammation.

Glicosal Lotion: results

Micropeeling begins to show results from about the second month of use. Sometimes, there is a worsening of symptoms during the first few weeks of using micropeeling treatments. This is because the elements blocking pores are brought to the surface and, before their elimination, they may become more evident. It is important to remember, though, that this worsening is only apparent, and should not be confused with a treatment failure; on the contrary, it is a sign that the treatment is working. After this period of adjustment, about 90% of patients begin to control acne and prevent breakouts.

What’s the difference between micropeeling and chemical peeling?

What’s the difference?

Chemical peels have been used to treat acne and are still available today. The skin is treated with strong acid, such as 70% glycolic acid which not only causes the elimination of blackheads, cysts and comedones, but also causes the detachment of skin. After a week, the skin reforms looking smooth and shiny, but after just a month, acne will reappear. Repeating chemical peeling regularly causes damage to the skin over time.

Advantages of micropeeling

In addition to being easy to do, there are at least three clear advantages of micropeeling:

1. Prevents the need of antibiotics, contraceptive pills and anti-acne drugs, the latter two of which can have significant side effects on adolescents and young women.
2. Easily adapted and personalized to suit an individual’s skin type, age and acne severity.
3. Affordable compared to many other treatments, costing roughly the same as many commercially available daily skincare and cosmetics products

Tips for using Glicosal Lotion

• Do not use traditional soaps or cleansing washes.
• Use Eudermic Cleansing Base for both washing and makeup removal.
• Replace foundation that can cause or aggravate acne with mineral powder makeup, such as Sun Clay. If trying to cover blemishes, use Argillina Skin Color which is free of fats and silicones.
• 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.
• Do not use other medications or vitamins.
• Do not follow specific diets.
• Instead of traditional suncream, use natural, mineral light reflectors for sun protection. Sun Clay can be applied to the skin with a pad or puff.
• It’s to be expected that the skin may become dry and flaky during the first few weeks of treatment. However, if this is accompanied by burning or redness, either reduce the amount of lotion used, or apply Glicosal Lotion on alternate days. If side effects persist, consult a dermatologist.
• If the skin feels too dry and tight, use a self-hydrating polymeric ointment like Extreme Emollient Ointment in the morning.

In conclusion: the micropeeling technique, whether simple or combined, helps the treatment of all types of acne without the use of drugs.

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