Glycolic Acid Chemical Peel

Physician-supervised 70% glycolic acid and 30% citric acid fruit peel to resurface the skin, regulate sebum, reduce pigmentation and accelerate cell turnover. At DermaMedEst chemical peeling is recommended in a course of three sessions at three to four week intervals, performed between September and March to minimise photosensitivity risk. The peel is available for the face, back and décolletage, and can be targeted to isolated pigment spots or melasma patches. Post-peel SPF 50+ is required for at least four weeks.

Chemical peeling works by disrupting the adhesive bonds between keratinocytes in the outer layers of the skin. The glycolic acid used at DermaMedEst — at a 70% concentration blended with 30% citric acid — is one of the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid molecules, allowing it to penetrate the stratum corneum and reach the granular layer of the epidermis efficiently. The citric acid component acts synergistically, extending the effective acid contact and supporting the exfoliation cascade. Together these acids accelerate the natural desquamation process, removing a controlled depth of aged, pigment-laden or sebum-impacted cells and stimulating the underlying layers to produce fresh tissue. At DermaMedEst all peeling procedures are performed by clinic physicians. Before application the treating physician assesses skin type, Fitzpatrick phototype and the target condition — acne, sebum dysregulation or pigmentation — to calibrate application time and confirm the patient is in an appropriate window for treatment. Because high-concentration glycolic acid at this strength acts within seconds to minutes and the depth of effect depends on contact time, physician application and real-time monitoring are essential. The treatment is available September through March only. This seasonal restriction exists because glycolic acid significantly increases UV sensitivity: the fresh skin revealed after peeling is thinner than normal and burns rapidly in summer sun. Outside this window, patients risk post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that reverses the benefit of the peel. During the treatment course — typically three sessions spaced three to four weeks apart — patients are advised to apply SPF 50+ sunscreen daily and to avoid prolonged sun exposure throughout. After the final session SPF use should continue for at least four weeks as the skin barrier fully restores. For acne and sebum regulation the acid breaks down the comedonal plug blocking the follicle and reduces the hyperkeratinisation that perpetuates closed comedones. For pigmentation and melasma it accelerates the shedding of melanin-containing epidermal cells and, over repeated sessions, disperses hyperpigmented clusters more evenly. For back acne or large-area sebaceous hyperplasia, the half-back and full-back options extend the same controlled resurfacing to areas difficult to self-treat. In all cases healing is accompanied by mild flaking for two to four days as the treated cells shed; significant peeling or skin lifting is not expected at this peel depth.