Fitzpatrick skin types salicylic acid

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-... 

There is minimal published data on the use of combination peeling protocols in deeply pigmented skin (Fitzpatrick skin types IV-Vl). The author has reported the efficacy of combination peeling with salicylic acid 20 and 30% in combination with 10% TCA for recalcitrant melasma patients. This peeling regimen was well tolerated with minimal side effects in darker racial ethnic groups (see Salicylic acid/TCA peel section). 

In patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI, the use of salicylic acid as a very light chemical peeling agent seems to result in a much lower incidence of PIH Combination peels have replaced 50% TCA as the gold standard for medium-depth peels... 

Superficial salicylic acids have been shown to be safe and efficacious for treatment of PIH. In a study of five patients with Fitzpatrick s Skin Types V and VI with PIH, pretreatment for 2 weeks with hydroquinone 4% cream followed by a series of five 20-30% salicylic acid chemi-... 

In general, there are few conlraindicalions to salicylic acid chemical peeling. Salicylic acid peels are well tolerated in all skin types (Fitzpatrick s I through Vt) and all racial-ethnic groups. General contraindications... 

---