I'm 40-something and have had issues with hormonal acne over the years. I even had a course of Accutane in my 30s. Unfortunately, the effects were temporary, and my skin has returned to being oily and acne prone. I have scattered cystic acne and purchased this hoping it would help reduce or eliminate the problem.
Being a chronically bad patient who does her own thing rather than following directions, I exfoliated with a Buff-Puff type face sponge less than 24 hours before using the peel. Not having the piece of gauze recommended for application, I used a cosmetic wedge sponge to apply the peel. I did apply the product in the order recommended, leaving nose area for last.
Oh boy the burn. I'm no delicate person who breaks out in a rash from using soap or anything, so I was surprised that this gel is strong stuff. I maybe lasted a minute before having to rinse with cool water. It keeps burning while you're rinsing and for a while afterward. My skin is immediately less oily. It feels a bit hot for a while. Even with oily skin you will probably want to use an oil-free moisturizer as recommended.
A couple days later, there was some peeling in the smile lines near my nose. It probably would have been worse if I hadn't applied it last to this area.
And being the bad patient I didn't wait the recommended two weeks before applying again.
A few sessions later, my skin was noticeably clearer. I had a visit with my dermatologist and brought the bottle with me. When I showed it to her, she said it's similar to what they use in the office, just much gentler. She said it's a good thing to continue to use, but that I might require an oral antibiotic to knock the cystic acne out (since cystic acne starts deep in the skin and is often unreachable and unaffected by topical solutions). She also advised me, due to the redness and peeling near my nose, to reduce usage to every two weeks as the product recommends (more is not always better).
In subsequent applications, I have noted that the burning is not as severe and doesn't last as long. Just be prepared near a faucet and a clean towel. Also, be very careful not to get this in your eyes. With the way it burns on the skin, I would think it would be extremely painful if accidentally splashed in an eye.
I'll keep using this product. A little goes a long way, so you'll have many applications before you can use up this bottle. It's economical and effective at reducing my more superficial breakouts and oiliness. Just realize you might need something in addition to this if you're having issues with cystic acne. Get more detail about BHA+ Gel Peel, 30ml (Professional).
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