Facial acid therapy is one of the treatment and care methods in the field of skin.. In this method, the dermatologist uses a variety of weak chemical acids to improve the quality of the skin and treat problems such as spots, pimples, dullness, superficial wrinkles and open pores. It has.

What is acid therapy?

Acidotherapy is actually a kind of controlled chemical exfoliation.... During it, the dermatologist uses alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), beta hydroxy acids (BHA) or polyhydroxy acids (PHA) with the aim of removing dead cells from the surface of the skin, growing new cells and improving the texture and color of the skin.

Below you can see the photo before and after facial acid treatment:

Contrary to popular belief, acid therapy is not just a simple beauty technique.. but depending on how it is done, the ingredients used, the person's skin conditions and the treatment goals, it can also have a medical aspect.... Acid therapy should be performed under the supervision of a dermatologist...

If you do not know your skin type and are not sure about the benefits of acid therapy for your facial skin, you can use the possibility of consulting a dermatologist online

You can see the common acids in acid therapy in the table below:

What are the stages of facial acid treatment?

The stages of acid therapy can be different according to its purpose... In the standard and scientific acid therapy that is performed in the dermatologist's office, we have the following stages:

Initial examination and expert advice

At this stage, the dermatologist determines your skin type (oily, dry, mixed, sensitive) and evaluates skin problems such as blemishes, pimples, open pores, or darkness.. Medical and drug history is also checked... You must answer questions similar to the following questions:

• Do you use retinol or tretinoin (retinoid/retin-A)?
• Have you taken or are you taking oral anti-acne medications such as isotretinoin (Roaccutane)?
• Do you use topical antibiotics such as clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide?
• Do you have a history of herpes, allergies and sensitivities?
• What is your goal of acid therapy?

You should also get answers to the following questions from your doctor:

• What type of acid is best for my skin and why?
• How many sessions do I need to get results?
• Does acid therapy interfere with my current skin products?
• Is it possible for my skin to get worse after acid treatment? For example, will it boil or will the spots become bolder?
• What are the normal symptoms after acid treatment and worrying symptoms?
• What is the appropriate interval between sessions and can I do another treatment such as laser at the same time?
• Is this treatment method reversible or permanent?
• What foods, medications, or activities should I limit or stop before and after acid therapy?
• Can I do acid therapy during menstruation, pregnancy or breastfeeding?
• Does acid therapy help lighten dark circles around the eyes, smile lines or pimples?
• What are the cares after acid treatment?

Skin preparation

At this stage, the doctor cleans the skin with oil-free cleansers to remove any dirt, cream, sunscreen, or makeup.

If necessary, special toners are also used to adjust the pH of the skin.... Sometimes the doctor uses alcohol or medical acetone for complete degreasing so that the penetration of the acid is more uniform.... Also, the doctor covers the area around the eyes, nostrils and lips with Vaseline or protective ointments to prevent direct contact with the acid.

Use of acid

The doctor applies the acid evenly to the skin using a pad, brush or special tools such as a syringe. Timing is very important in this step and usually takes between 2 and 10 minutes depending on the type of acid and your skin's tolerance level. This conditions the skin to prevent severe irritation.

Acid neutralization

In the acid neutralization step, the doctor applies a neutralizing solution to the skin to completely deactivate the acid and end the exfoliation process in a controlled manner.... This step is specific to acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid that must be neutralized to prevent excessive skin irritation and damage.

On the other hand, some acids like salicylic acid are neutralized by themselves.. that is, after some time they become inactive naturally and do not need a neutralizing solution.. In these cases, the doctor usually cleans the skin with lukewarm water or wet cotton to remove the excess acid from the skin.. Facial acid neutralization is not painful, but the skin is red and inflamed.

Washing and final cleaning

Cleansing the skin is to completely remove acids, neutralizers or natural skin secretions and prepare the skin for the repair phase.

The doctor usually uses lukewarm sterile water or washing serum (normal salt) for this purpose, which not only has a gentle cleansing effect, but also soothes and cools the skin.

Using restorative products

At this stage, the doctor usually uses a restorative cream containing allantoin or bisabolol extract on the skin.. These compounds are effective in tissue regeneration, reducing redness, itching or burning and create a gentle protective layer for the skin... (hyaluronic acid) to restore skin moisture and prevent dehydration in the early hours.

In the next step, the dermatologist applies a layer of physical sunscreen with a high SPF, which usually contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide..

How is the care after facial acid treatment?

The most important care measures after acid treatment are:

Serious sun protection

From the moment you leave the clinic, your skin is very vulnerable to the sun.
Whether it's winter or summer, even if you're at home or sitting by the window, UVA and UVB rays can damage the skin and cause spots or darkening... That's why you should do the following:

• daily use of physical sunscreen such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide with SPF of at least 30 and broad spectrum
• Renew sunscreen every 2-3 hours, even at home
• Using a brimmed hat or sunglasses when leaving the house
• Avoid sunbathing, solar panels, or being near direct heat sources such as heaters, saunas, or gas stoves

Continuous and accurate moisturizer

Acid therapy increases the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the skin.... This can cause dryness, stretching, flaking and even irritation... That's why you should:

• Use fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and non-comedogenic moisturizers.
• compounds such as hyaluronic acid, ceramide and allantoin can be useful for the skin at this stage.
• Use moisturizer 2-3 times a day, even if you don't feel dry skin.

Avoid skin irritation

For the first three to five days, the skin should not come into contact with irritating substances, movements or products... Things you should not do:

• Using physical scrub or chemical peeling
• Using products containing retinol, concentrated vitamin C or non-standard niacinamide
• Epilation, threading or use of skin cleaning devices
• touching, scratching or picking at the skin; Especially if scaling has occurred.

Using restorative and anti-inflammatory cream

The doctor usually prescribes a restorative cream to reduce inflammation, redness and help regenerate the epidermis layer. The best restorative ingredients are:

• Allantoin
• Bisabolol
• Dexpanthenol (Panthenol)
• Zinc oxide (zinc oxide) to soothe irritated spots

Be patient

Don't expect the skin to be smooth, shiny and uniform immediately after the acid treatment... It may take a few days for the skin to peel, turn red or even boil a little... This is a natural process and a sign of skin repair.

What are the side effects of facial acid therapy?

The side effects of facial acid therapy differ according to the type of acid, the depth of exfoliation, skin type, and care before and after the treatment. The common and temporary side effects of acid therapy are:

• Redness and inflammation of the skin
• Dryness and exfoliation
• Slight burning or itching
• Temporary darkening of the skin

Rare but important side effects include the following:

• Dark spots: If you don't take care such as using sunscreen or the skin becomes severely inflamed, the appearance of dark spots is not far from expected.. This case is mostly seen in green and dark skin.
• Abnormal lightening of an area of ​​the skin: In rare cases, especially in strong peels, there is a possibility of lightening of a part of the skin compared to other parts.... This condition is usually temporary, but in some cases it becomes permanent.
• New pimples or acne
• sores, blisters or infections
• Allergic reaction or severe sensitivity to chemicals

What are the benefits of facial acid therapy?

The main benefits of facial acid treatment are:

• Exfoliation of dead and dull cells
• reducing dark spots and pimples
• Fat control and reduction of subcutaneous pimples
• Improving skin texture and reducing open pores
Stimulation of collagen production and skin rejuvenation
• Increasing the effectiveness of care products
• gradual relief of scars and uneven skin surface

How effective is acid treatment for stains?

Acid therapy accelerates the process of cell renewal due to the controlled exfoliation of the skin and can gradually fade and lighten surface and medium spots. Of course, this treatment is more suitable for spots caused by surface darkness, and its results are usually achieved after a few sessions and with special care.

For deeper or more resistant stains, acid treatment alone may not be enough.... For this reason, doctors include other methods such as laser therapy, microneedling or special anti-stain creams in the treatment process.

What type of skin is acid therapy suitable for?

Acid therapy can be used for all skin types:

• Oily and acne-prone skin: This skin is the best candidate for acids such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid. These acids clean the pores and control excess oil.
• Combination skin: This type of skin needs the local and gentle use of acids such as lactic acid and mandelic acid so that the dry parts of the skin are not irritated.
• Dry and sensitive skin: For this type of skin, the doctor uses a small percentage of mild acids such as lactic or mandelic acid to prevent inflammation or damage.
• Dark skin: Dark skins are more sensitive to post-inflammatory blemishes, which is why dermatologists use mild acids.

Know more: To get familiar with the complementary method of facial acid therapy and its effect on skin rejuvenation, we suggest you also read the RF Fractional article.

What age is acid therapy suitable for?

Usually from the age of 18 years and above, when the skin is faced with problems such as pimples, spots or darkness, acid therapy can be used... People between 40 and 50 years old can benefit from this technique for rejuvenation, reducing fine lines and improving skin texture... For people over 60, acid therapy is done more cautiously and is usually combined with other methods such as microneedling or laser.

For whom is acid therapy forbidden?

If you have the following conditions, acid therapy is not recommended for you, or at least you should postpone it for a while:

• You have active herpes or skin infections such as psoriasis, eczema, inflammatory dermatitis.
• You suffer from severe inflammatory acne or extensive purulent pimples.
• You take certain medicines such as isotretinoin.
• You have very thin or weak skin that is probably damaged.
• You have immune system diseases such as lupus or are being treated with immunosuppressive drugs.
• You suffer from uncontrolled diabetes.

It should be noted that doctors do not recommend acid therapy for children during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Is acid treatment effective for boils?

One of the most effective and well-known methods in the treatment of pimples and acne is acid therapy... but everything depends on the type of skin, acne, acid, its percentage and the number of sessions... For example, acids such as salicylic acid penetrate deep into the pores of the skin due to being dissolved in fat.... For this reason, they eliminate excess fat, dead cells, and pollution that cause pimples.

Which type of acne is best treated with acid therapy?

You can use acid therapy to treat the following pimples:

• Black head and white head seeds
• Superficial and subcutaneous boils
• Acne-prone skin with high oil

Severe inflammatory and cystic blindness may require specialized drug treatment and acid therapy alone is not enough.

What does the actual experience of users before and after acid therapy show?

Looking at the experience of a number of users before and after acid treatment, the following points can be pointed out:

Is acid treatment effective for open skin pores?

Open skin pores are often caused by excess oil and accumulation of dead cells, and acid therapy can be effective in treating it... For example, AHA acids such as glycolic acid remove dead cells from the skin surface and prevent pores from clogging.

You can see the key differences between acid therapy and facial skin in the table below:

Is acid treatment safe at home?

Acid therapy can be done at home.... Currently, many brands produce acid-containing serums and products that you can use in your daily routine.... Hyaluronic acid products are considered the best acid products for acid therapy at home.

Facial acid therapy in several lines

Acid therapy is a specialized method for chemical exfoliation of the skin, which helps to reduce blemishes, pimples, superficial wrinkles and open pores with the help of different acids such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic. Unlike conventional facials that focus more on cleaning the surface, acid therapy has a deep function and can significantly improve the structure of the skin.

If you are looking for a safe and specialized way to perform acid therapy, you can visit the GCORP LLC website and consult with the best specialist doctors, including online dermatologists... Also, GCORP LLC has provided you with the opportunity to make an appointment with your desired specialist through the online skin and hair appointment system. Visiting doctor.

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Source: healthline | versedskin | Clinically