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Permalink Reply by Jodi on May 13, 2013 at 5:14pm

I've only used CosMedix which are self neutralizing.  Ones that need to be neutralized make me nervous, as  I don't have experience. I'd love to see what others think as well. 

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Permalink Reply by coldsalineplexus on May 13, 2013 at 7:47pm

The choice between "self neutralizing" and "needs to be neutralized" can be made by the manufacturer or the esthetician.  Typically the manufacturers will either be conservative (larger companies - liability concerns) or aggressive (smaller companies whose marketing claims depend on stronger treatments).  That is why you can see the same exact peel marketed by one company as self-neutralizing, and by another company as needing neutralization.  It's not that the peels have magic self-stopping ingredients in them.  For this reason, many estheticians I know develop their own personal comfort zones of how they will treat each peel, depending on its acids, percentage, pH, and what type of base it's in.  Mine are as follows: 

Personally, I consider any glycolic to need to be neutralized, even if the mfg says it can be self-neutralized.

I consider liquid lactic acid up to 20% to be self neutralizing, but gels or >20% concentrations need to be neutralized.

I consider any salicylic blend (up to and including Jessner's) to be self-neutralized.

TCA I don't perform often, but would consider self-neutralizing.

Hope that helps!

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Permalink Reply by Cindy on May 16, 2013 at 5:01pm

Do you know if an acid doesn't say that it needs to be neutralized that that means it really doesn't need to be?

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