Glycolic vs. Salicylic

murphanzo

I know we have a couple of estheticians on the board and I would like to know what would work better for me.  I have oily skin and it's clear of blemishes, except for my nose, I have blackheads pretty bad only there.  Which will work better for clearing it and evening my skin tone?


Thanks!!

fallbride1109

I found this--looks like most derms favor the salicylic, although only slightly.
http://www.realself.com/question/glycolic-acid-salicylic-acid-chemical-peel-acne

I get glycolic peels regularly and I love them.  Although I have never had problematic acne, I did have a period of painful cystic acne and the first glycolic I had cleared it up and it never returned.  With either treatment, you will most likely have better results if you have a series of them (although I see great results from just one).

jtoly

Will either remove old acne scars? I have three on my face that don't seem to be disappearing although they have gotten lighter in color.

LeiselEB

Salycilic acid might not remove scarring, but it is an exfoliant so it will remove dead skin and perhaps fade scarring. 

Clinique makes a tone corrector that I use to get rid of old acne scars and it's working well so far. The woman there told me that two bottles worth is generally what it takes for scars to totally go away, but I've been using it for 6 weeks and see results.

Benzoyl peroxide is good for acne but actually leads to more scarring in some cases.

Not too sure about glycolic - I've never had it work very well for me, but I've heard people swear by the peels.

matcha

Salicylic acid, also known as beta hydroxy acid (BHA), is an amazing multifunctional ingredient that treats acne in several ways. It not only has potent anti-inflammatory properties, but also exfoliates to remove built-up dead skin cells on the surface of the skin as well as inside the pore. Salicylic acid also has antibacterial properties.

Glycolic acid, also known as alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), doesn't sink into the skin like the Salicylic acid, and usually isn't prescribed to treat acne.

For spot treatments, use a benzoyl peroxid treatment. Benzoyl peroxide is considered the most effective over-the-counter choice for a topical antibacterial agent in the treatment of blemishes. It penetrates into the pore and kills acne-causing bacteria, preventing inflammation. 

I really highly suggest Paula's Choice against acne. It is the only thing that has worked for me, and I've tried everything from ProActive to Clique.

PS: The only thing that removes scarring is TIME. Chemical exfoliating, like salicylic acid, can help make it go away a bit faster by turning over new skin cells, but really you just need to give it time.