I have some moderate acne that I’m interested in getting a chemical peel for. Which is generally better for acne, a glycolic peel or salicylic acid?
Answer:
Glycolic and salicylic acid peels are superficial peels that can both be used to effectively treat acne. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid and is an effective peel for improving active acne by penetrating deeply into the oil glands and unclogging pores. Salicylic acid may also be less irritating then a glycolic acid peels for some people. Glycolic acid will help exfoliate the skin removing the top layer to unclog pores and improve skin texture and coloration. Sometimes one peel will work better for some people, so it’s unfair to say that one is better than the other. Often superficial chemical peels are not enough alone to control acne and other medications can be used to optimize your skin. To give any further recommendations, it would be helpful to evaluate your skin in one of our Greater Washington DC offices located in Chevy Chase, Maryland or Herndon, Virginia.
-Dr. Jessica Kulak