Fitzpatrick skin types glycolic acid

Unlike some other chemical peeling agents that pose a risk of hyper or hypojrigmentation to darker skin types, glycolic acid peels can be used on all Fitzpatrick skin types 1 through VI, male or female, teens to adults. The most sensitive skin types appear to tolerate glycolic acid peels in lower concentrations (20-35%) only. Patients with rosacea and atopic dermatitis and patients of Asian descent appear to fall into this category. 

In 2002, Grimes reported the efficacy of combination salicylic acid/TCA 10% peeling [1]. She treated patients with moderate to severe melasma with this combination regimen. In the series, nine patients were classified as Fitzpatrick skin type IV, eleven were skin type V, and seven were skin type VI. Many of the subjects included in the study had not responded to salicylic acid or glycolic acid peels. The concentration of salicylic acid was 20 and 30%, and the TCA concentration was 10%. A series of four peels was performed at 2-week intervals. Thirty percent of the patients experienced moderate improve-... 

The patient shown in Figure 8.22, a Caucasian with Fitzpatrick skin type III, was treated with a 1-minute Stone II peel followed by waterproof tape occlusion for 48 hours and 3-day blending resorcinol peel to neck. (The face was treated with Aquaphor ointment after tape removal, as was the neck after the 3rd day of five coats of resorcinol - one every 5 minutes for five coats on three consecutive days. The resorcinol is put on like glycolic acid, one even coat every 5 minutes for five coats and repeated 3 days in a row. On the 3rd day after the five coats of resorcinol have dried, either thymol iodide powder is applied to form a crust or Aquaphor ointment is applied throughout healing. Either occlusion method works well. 

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