Salicylic acid peels side effects

Grimes et al. [8] reported substantial efficacy and minimal side effects in 25 patients treated with 20 and 30% salicylic acid peels in darker racial-ethnic groups. Conditions treated included acne vulgaris, melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

Thirty-five Korean patients with facial acne were treated biweekly for 12 weeks with 30% salicylic acid peels [9]. Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions were significantly improved. In general, the peel was well tolerated with few side effects. 

Jessner s solution contains 14% resorcinol, 14% salicylic acid and 14% lactic acid. Jessner s solution has been used alone for superficial peeling, or in combination with TCA 35% to achieve a medium-depth peel. Increasing the number of coats applied to the treated area increases the depth and reaction induced by the Jessner s peel. These peels are well tolerated with minimal side effects in the author s practice. As with glycolic acid and salicylic acid peels, Jessner s peels are most commonly used as adjimctive therapy for moderate to severe facial dyschromias, acne, oily skin, texturally rough skin, fine wrinkles, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. 

Jessner s Solution has been used for over 100 years as a therapeutic agent to treat hyperkera-totic epidermal lesions [1]. This superficial peeling agent constitutes a mixture of salicylic acid, resorcinol, and lactic acid in 95% ethanol. Jessner s solution causes loss of corneocyte cohesion and induces intercellular and intracellular edema. Jessner s typically induces wounding to the level of the papillary dermis. Historically, resorcinol (a key component of Jessner s peels) was used in concentrations of 10-50% in the early twentieth century. High concentrations of resorcinol were associated with side effects such as allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact... 

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). 

Superficial chemical peels, including salicylic and glycolic acids, and Jessner s peels target the stratum corneum to the papillary dermis. These agents can be safely used to facilitate the resolution of PIH (Figs. 16.2,16.3,16.4 and 16.5). To assess for variability in response and limit further PIH, when possible, chemical peels should be initiated at the lower concentrations and titrated to higher concentrations if necessary to increase efficacy while minimizing side effects (see Darker Skin Section). 

BHA affects the arachidonic acid cascade, thereby exhibiting anti-inflammatory capabilities. This allows SA peels to be effective while inducing less irritation than AHA peels [9]. Salicylic acid (20-30%) peels used alone to treat melasma resulted in moderate to significant improvement with minimal side effects, after a total of five peels done every 2 weeks [46]. 

Microbes such as Pseudomonas and Serratia species produce salicylic acid, which induces a systemic resistance in plants against various pathogens. Salicylic acid-based peels are more efficient than a-HA-based peel in various skin conditions such as photodamage and acne. Salicylic acid is moderately strong and causes less skin irritation and other side effects compared to a- and /3-HAs. SA is a well-established compound used in acne care. A new trend in cosmetic field is combination of a-HA and SA for better... 

Side effects of salicylic add peeling are mild and transient. Symptoms such as rapad breathing, tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, abdominal cramps, and central nervous system disturbance characterize sahcylism, or salicylic add toxicity. While true salicyhsm is rare in its occurrence, it has been reported with 20% salicylic acid application to 50% of the body surface, and with usage of 40 and 50% salicylic acid paste preparations. The authors have peeled more than 1,000 patients with the current 20 and 30% marketed ethanol formulations and had never observed cases of salicylism. 

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