Seeing a GP After Glycolic Acid Barrier Damage (My Barrier Recovery Diary, Part 2)

BySeoul Skin Diary Editor
Flat ink illustration of a patient discussing irritated skin with a GP, beside a simple skincare routine.

This is part two of my barrier recovery diary. In part one I described how a 7% glycolic acid toner damaged my skin barrier. This part covers what happened when I finally saw a GP on October 9, and how my first week of the treatment plan has gone.

This is a personal account, not medical advice or a treatment plan. I’m not a doctor or a dermatologist, and nothing here replaces advice from your own doctor.

What the GP Said

The GP’s explanation was that the glycolic acid product was too acidic for my skin. The advice was to do as little as possible to my skin while it recovers. I was also told to do two things.

  • Apply Elidel (pimecrolimus) cream twice a day and watch how my skin progresses.
  • Change only one skincare product at a time.

I am recording this because it is what my GP told me about my own skin. I am not explaining what the cream is for or how it works, and a prescription cream should only be used as directed by your own doctor.

Elidel cream box and the prescription from my GP, with identifying details obscured.
The cream my GP prescribed.

My Routine Now

This is what I am doing in the first week.

  • Cleanser. I still use The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, and I dry my face thoroughly afterwards.
  • Elidel. A thin layer on the red areas only.
  • Moisturizer. A thin, even layer of Aestura Atobarrier MD cream over my whole face, on top of the Elidel.
  • Serums. All stopped.
  • Sunscreen. Stopped for now.

Why I Stopped Sunscreen

This was my own decision, not something my GP told me to do. I do not spend long periods outdoors, and my skin is irritated enough that I expect sunscreen to sting. So for now I protect myself from UV with a hat and sunglasses, and I stay in the shade as much as I can. That trade-off is specific to my situation and would not suit someone who spends a lot of time outside.

The First Week With the Cream

Soon after I started the cream I felt warmth, a sensation like cold ice stuck in my skin, and itching. I was told these sensations usually fade over one to two weeks. I am in week one, and it feels a little better now than when I first applied it. I have not noticed any visible change in my skin yet.

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