glycolic question

[hippy-chick]

Hi skin geeks,
I had a new client come to me for a glycolic facial, she told me that she has them often and was keen to book in for her facial.

anyhow, when I was doing her consulation, she said that she uses MD glycolic skincare range daily (she thought it was 20%) and had been using it continually for 2 years. She had also been exfoliating daily! She had recently seen her GP and had been advised to cease daily exfoliation.

I did her facial for her but her skin looked in crisis, it looked like it didn't know what to do with itself. She was about 30 and said her teenage acne had come back.

I suggested that she gave her skin a break and stopped using glycolic daily, and as she liked MD formulations to invest in a non glycolic range by them and maybe alternate it so that its not being used daily. She really didn't seem keen so thought this compromise might help.

any suggestions on how you would have dealt with this situation?

 

[Zo Zo]

If she has acne, she really needs to get a prescription such as Roaccutane. It does sound like she is treating her skin very harshly, i.e. glycolic and exfoliation daily. But seriously, if you had been using the same skincare for 2 years and your skin looked 'in crisis' you would surely change your products / routine!

I have a horrible feeling she is going to be a bit of a nightmare for you. She obviously can't leave her skin alone; she is unlikely to listen to advice.

I have a client who has terrible skin, she has been coming to me for facials for about 4 years. She buys products from somewhere else, i.e she self prescribes, and it has become a bit of a joke. I say to her, 'are you still using xxx.' she says 'yes', I say, 'it's not really working for you is it...' and she seems oblivious!

 

[essentia]

After a thorough consultation I would change her skincare regime completely. It sounds like the acid mantle of her skin has become seriously impaired. I certainly would not have performed a further glycolic peel!. She says her acne has returned but what did you think? It may well have done but it may be rosacea or acne induced by incorrect product usage?

I would have performed a very gentle facial with hydrating products and totally left the AHA's alone. I do not understand why you recommended her to use MD range even if they have a non glycolic one. Do you not have a suitable product line to cope with her agressed skin? You must be in a position to offer her an alternative to help her. (I do not mean this in a negative way but I was surprised at this ). I would also have contacted her after a 2 week period to see how her skin was settling down with her new products. A programme of restoration treaments would also be beneficial.

 

[Nicki-Marie]

I also wonder if shes been using MD correctly. I know I had a few 'eager beavers' using these products where they would use a corrector as a moisturiser and totally skip the moisturiser! Definately sounds like shes stripped her acid mantle.

Ive been on roaccutane and from what i gather from my clients on it and having it myself, that they only offer it as a last resort to problem skin. Its very toxic.

Be interesting to know what happens with this clients skin x

 

[weezie]

Hey Ann have you though about putting her on the GLA range to repair her skin? This will help the skins protection by repairing the acid mantle and soothing her skin. I have done this with a few of my clients who have damaged and sensitised their skin with too harsh treatments in an attempt to clear up acne or for those who had rosacea which they had mistaken for acne. After the skin is soothed by a course of homecare products assesment of where to go next with their skincare routeen is much easier.

The linoleic acid is anti-inflammatory, acne reductive and moisture retentive so it is the perfect choice.

 

[hippy-chick]

After a thorough consultation I would change her skincare regime completely. It sounds like the acid mantle of her skin has become seriously impaired. I certainly would not have performed a further glycolic peel!. She says her acne has returned but what did you think? It may well have done but it may be rosacea or acne induced by incorrect product usage?

I would have performed a very gentle facial with hydrating products and totally left the AHA's alone. I do not understand why you recommended her to use MD range even if they have a non glycolic one. Do you not have a suitable product line to cope with her agressed skin? You must be in a position to offer her an alternative to help her. (I do not mean this in a negative way but I was surprised at this ). I would also have contacted her after a 2 week period to see how her skin was settling down with her new products. A programme of restoration treaments would also be beneficial.

She said at the beginning that she loved MD formulation and she also loved her glycolic, so suggesting she sought out a non-glycolic formulation with her beloved MD was my way of getting her to change without it being too drastic for her. she did seem to be obsessed by her skincare range therefore me then trying to sell her my product range would have (to me) been like a hard sell.

I don't think I will see her again, she already told me all the other local salons she had been to and it was because she had salon wish vouchers to use was the only reason, I believe, that she came to me.