Anti Aging Skin Tips

how much glycolic acid should i use?

i just turned 18 early december. i have been haing skin problems since i was 12. i first developed spots of my skin peeling and my doctor told me it was just a phase i'll grow out of it. then i started gettin bumps around my t-zone area badly. i would pick at them of couse because they were nerve wrecking. and then i started getting bumps on my back. and back to my face i started to discovered little hairs that would grow one by one along my jaw area, very thin. and i plucked them they would return for about 6-7weeks. now along my stomach area i grow hair and shave but bumps and dark spots appear as well as my bikini area. then i discovered keratosis pilaris because of pictures and discriptions matching with the hair all over my legs. and NO female should look like this!! i've tried proactive, acnefree, dr. miracles. drying lotions neutrogena, all that stuff and now i think the best thing is glycolic + lactic acid and lotions as well as soaps that exfoliate my skin. i am african american and, as you should know now i have dealt with the embarrassment the frustration n this condition for a while now. my question is how much GA should i use. i can take the pain from burning. i want this stuff gone and continue to fight this skin condition. nothing too expensive. if you could help me..i couldnt be anymore thankful

Public Comments

1. Its not acne, which is why treating it with acne meds are having very little beneficial effect, and are irritating it to boot. You might want to try Lachydrin - which is a 5% lactic acid lotion, or you could have a pharmacy order you a bottle of lachydrin 12 - which is a 12% OTC lotion. Another one that I have found that I like is the Eucerin Intense Smoothing (hm, I think thats the name, its the one with the turquoise cap anyhow) - that is a 5% lactic acid, and 10% urea lotion. Urea is another debriding agent to remove excess skin. Its a little greasier than the others, but in really dry weather I like it. As far as cleansing - you actually dont want to use scrubs and such - it will oddly enough make things worse, I know it seems counter intuitive considering that chemical exfoliating makes things better, but go figure...I use aveeno for babies or huggies for babies...something unscented with mild detergents. I think because of the acids the skin gets sensitive to perfumes and such. Oh - and as far as glycolic lotion proper - the only one that I know of that doesnt cost a bloomin' fortune is the Lubriderm with the dark pink cap - I called them and they wouldn't tell me the percentage of acid in it, so I figured "screw 'em, if they dont want to help me, I'm not giving them my money" - most of them are very expensive or hard to find. I dont have KP, but I do have skin issues that are very similar due to another medical problem. This is what has been working for me. Good Luck.