Ask Dr. Schultz
What is the truth behind exfoliation and thinning skin?
Can the daily use of glycolic acid 10% (aha) and retinol or having a peel in three months (only light peel) or having a Fraxel treatment cause thinning of skin in the long run? Or it is good for skin to prevent age spots and wrinkling? I am just concerned about the thinning of the skin.
Net thinning of the entire epidermis, of course, is not good. All of the modalities you mentioned cause a thinning of only the dead (undesirable) layer of the epidermis and a thickening of the live layers which actually causes a net thickening of the entire epidermis which is very desirable. Sleep well.