Quick Skin Fixes: Rough Texture
GLYCOLIC PEELS
According to Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann, extended sun exposure can lead to dry, leathery patches because it impairs the skin's barrier, "making it hard for it to hold onto water." A skin-sloughing glycolic peel is an intense, doctor's-office version of an alpha-hydroxy-acid lotion. Patients can get up to six treatments spaced several weeks apart, with the percentage of acid increased slightly each time to encourage more exfoliation. Incidentally, the word peel is a misnomer: Your skin may flake a bit, but chances are you won't notice the dead cells shedding; you'll just look brighter.
COST
About $125 per peel.
WHAT OUR STAFFERS SAY
"The peel felt like a cold liquid at first and then immediately began to sting. I have sensitive skin, so I only lasted two or three minutes before the nurse took it off with cool water. Next, she applied liquid nitrogen to stop the burning and then moisturizer. I went back to work afterward, and no one said anything; it just looked like I had gotten a bit too much sun. I went for my second peel three weeks later. Everyone says my skin looks brighter and less damaged and rough, and I feel like I don't look so tired all the time."
AT-HOME HELP
A glycolic lotion (Peter Thomas Roth glycolic acid 10 percent moisturizer, $45, Sephora), a scrub (Dermalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant, $48, Ulta Beauty), and a rich cream (Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Moisture Network night cream, $59, Macy's).
