Damage and recovery of skin barrier function after glycolic acid chemical peeling and crystal microdermabrasion.
BACKGROUND
Superficial chemical peeling and microdermabrasion have become increasingly popular methods for producing facial rejuvenation. However, there are few studies reporting the skin barrier function changes after these procedures.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate objectively the degree of damage visually and the time needed for the skin barrier function to recover after glycolic acid peeling and aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion using noninvasive bioengineering methods.


METHODS
Superficial chemical peeling using 30%, 50%, and 70% glycolic acid and aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion were used on the volar forearm of 13 healthy women. The skin response was measured by a visual observation and using an evaporimeter, corneometer, and colorimeter before and after peeling at set time intervals.


RESULTS
Both glycolic acid peeling and aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion induced significant damage to the skin barrier function immediately after the procedure, and the degree of damage was less severe after the aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion compared with glycolic acid peeling. The damaged skin barrier function had recovered within 24 hours after both procedures. The degree of erythema induction was less severe after the aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion compared with the glycolic acid peeling procedure. The degree of erythema induced after the glycolic acid peeling procedure was not proportional to the peeling solution concentration used. The erythema subsided within 1 day after the aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion procedure and within 4 days after the glycolic acid peeling procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the skin barrier function is damaged after the glycolic acid peeling and aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion procedure but recovers within 1 to 4 days. Therefore, repeating the superficial peeling procedure at 2-week intervals will allow sufficient time for the damaged skin to recover its barrier function.
Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Ji Youn
JY
Song
Hyun A
HA
Kang
Mi-Yeon
MY
Kim
Young Min
YM
Park
Hyung Ok
HO
Kim
D000328:Adult; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000009:adverse effects; D003869:Dermabrasion / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006016:Glycolates / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
D006016:Glycolates; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; C031149:glycolic acid