KAVI Support

Thank you for your interest in KAVI. We do ship to Slovakia, and the process for you is quite simple. All you need to do is register an account with us and place an order online using a major credit card. Because shipping to Slovakia can be expensive, placing a larger order may be more practical, since the increased cost of product results in only a marginal increase in shipping costs.

Glycolic Serum 15 is a glycolic moisturizer. It is made with 15% glycolic acid and 45% hyaluronic acid. The glycolic acid component will help with cellular restoration and collagen synthesis, while the hyaluronic acid will help with dermal hydration. Please note that we buffer the pH of the glycolic acid in our serums to 3.8, too high to provide exfoliation at the rate you would achieve with our exfoliation masks, which have a pH of 2.1. The skin’s pH is typically 5.5, so Glycolic Serum 15 may still yield a mild sting when administered. When using in conjunction with SPF, it would be advisable to apply Glycolic Serum 15 first, wait 3 minutes for absorption, and then apply a layer of SPF on top.

It’s great to hear you’ve been enjoying using our products. Glycolic Serum 15 should be ok to use under the eyes, however for puffiness or dark circles, you should really look into Complex A, which is specifically designed for the region around the eyes. Other safe products to consider would be Complex C (for wrinkles) and Enhanced Retinol 0.30% (stronger than Complex C, but provides no moisturization).

KAVI Glycolic Acid 50 Unbuffered, available to physicians only, differs from KAVI Glycolic Acid 50 in pH level alone. The unbuffered preparation (pH=0.85) can completely keratolyze the epidermis (exposing the dermis) and requires a neutralization agent to remove from the skin. The buffered preparation (pH=2.1) is milder, safer to administer, and can be completely removed with a cold water rinse.

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend the use of our peels around the eye region. Skin in that area is thin and sensitive, and the risk for inflammation and/or irritation is too high. For the eye region, we make several products that would be more appropriate: Complex A – to treat dark circles and puffiness, and to hydrate the skin, Complex C – to treat existing wrinkles and relax muscles to prevent new wrinkle formation (stronger than Complex A), Enhanced Retinol 0.30% - to treat wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and maintain healthy pores (stronger than Complex C).

KAVI Glycolic Acid 60 is significantly stronger than products from Proactiv and Obagi. However, that doesn’t mean that Glycolic Acid 60 is the right product for you. All retail preparations of KAVI Glycolic Acid are buffered to a pH of 2.1, allowing them to be safely removed with a cold water rinse. Because of the lower acidity, these peels will exfoliate dead skin cells in smaller clusters without the peeling one may see from a moderate sunburn, for example. If your scarring is <1mm deep, then you may wish to consider Glycolic Acid 40 first for at least 4 weeks before moving on to a higher strength. If your target area is on the body, then Glycolic Acid 50 may be more suitable for initial use, given your prior experience with Retin-A and Obagi. While buffered KAVI peels are very good for discoloration and surface scarring, you may need to look into a stronger peel with your physician if your scarring is >1mm deep from the surface of your skin. Unbuffered preparations of KAVI Glycolic Acid are typically considered a surgical procedure and can peel the epidermis completely (exposing the dermis); they are available through your physician only. These peels require a neutralization agent and must be applied by a professional who will oversee both the administration of the peel and your recovery over the ensuing weeks.

KAVI Glycolic Acid is ready to use. We recommend you apply the mask once per week, and the same applies for KAVI Salicylic Acid. To use both, you may consider alternating between the two, using one on odd weeks and the other on even weeks. All instructions are included. We ship via USPS (United States Postal Service), and there may be a VAT fee. We ship everything under the category “commercial sample” or "merchandise".

Yes, it will be less effective. Since it is a liquid product, a gradual breakdown in the preservative system may also make the solution more susceptible to mold. We would recommend discarding it.

The best treatment available by KAVI for the treatment of KP would be a glycolic acid exfoliation mask. For the arms and thighs, where skin is generally thicker and more resilient, we would advise beginning with a stronger concentration, such as Glycolic Acid 50 or 60. For the treatment of blackheads on facial skin, a salicylic acid mask would be best, probably Salicylic Acid 8. You may additionally wish to use KAVI Toner once per evening to maintain results between weekly peels with Salicylic Acid 8. For light scarring, you would want to consider a glycolic acid mask, but one no stronger than 30% or 40% on the face. We do sell to many customers in the UK. Shipping costs are determined by weight, and typically are around $35 for 1 to 2 pounds. The online shopping cart system will calculate your shipping costs during checkout, so you may evaluate them before placing your order.

Our glycolic acid products have a shelf life of 1 year, so the contents of the bottle from 2005 have expired.

All KAVI Glycolic Acid is manufactured from a 70% solution with glycolic acid purity > 99%.

You don’t have to use the PPN on Glycolic Acid 40 (buffered), however it can help neutralize the acid immediately on reactive/sensitive skin. It’s a more professional method to have on hand than only using a cold water rinse for every skin type.

Glycolic acid will provide improvements to skin texture almost immediately, typically after one to two peels. Improvements to skin tone (e.g., pigmentation variance) may require additional applications, in some cases up to 8 peels or more (applied once per week). Since you are asking about hydroquinone, you may be seeking accelerated results for the latter. While we would have to defer you to your physician on the use of hydroquinone, we would advise you to thoroughly investigate its side effects as a number of reports have been published in recent years citing concerns over the safety of its use as a skin lightening agent.

Our salicylic peels are used primarily as part of a pore maintenance program in the treatment of acne. We make four different strengths, from 8% to 35%. KAVI Salicylic Acid 25 is the strongest formulation that is available to non-professionals, however we recommend first-time use of salicylic acid peels to be limited to the 8% and 15% strengths. Choosing between an 8% an 15% strength is determined by the sensitivity of the target area on which the peel is to be applied. Typically, if the target area is on the body, skin will be thicker, more resilient, and able to tolerate a higher strength, such as Salicylic Acid 15. For scarring that is recessed >1mm from the surface of the skin, a deeper glycolic acid peel may be required through your physician. Unbuffered glycolic acid peels can keratolyze and help reshape large sections of skin damaged by severe acne.

A hiatus from Retin-A both in the week prior *and* during the initial two weeks of treatment with a KAVI mask would be a good idea for two reasons: (1) You can monitor the mask’s effects in isolation, and (2) You can reduce the chance for irritation from concurrent use of both Retin-A and a glycolic and/or salicylic mask. While there isn’t a certainty that you will experience irritation from concurrent use, some skin types may be overwhelmed and could react.

Retin-A can be very effective against hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, and clogged pores. KAVI Enhanced Retinol 0.30%, also a retinoid, is very similar to tretinoin (Retin-A), but does not require a prescription. For stronger treatment, glycolic and salicylic acid peels can help. Glycolic acid, better for wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, can be applied once per week on odd weeks, while salicylic acid, better for large pores and blackheads, can be applied once per week on even weeks. If you have no prior experience with glycolic acid or salicylic acid masks, we would recommend you begin with Glycolic Acid 30 and Salicylic Acid 8. After eight consecutive weeks of treatment, if your skin has not maintained any inflammation or irritation for a period longer than 60 minutes after the post-peel rinse, you can safely evaluate our stronger masks (if needed).

While water is certainly better for perioral dermatitis than a traditional soap, KAVI cleansers may in fact provide you with an effective treatment instead of a mere assurance that symptoms will not be aggravated. The sulfur-based cleansers to consider would be DermaWash, Aqua KAVI, and Coral KAVI, listed in order of increasing strength. DermaWash is a liquid-based cleanser ideally suited for sensitive, allergic skin. Coral KAVI is our strongest sulfur cleansing bar, best for oily, acne-prone skin. Though there is no guarantee our cleansers can replace antibiotic treatment for you, it would be a worthwhile exploration. Please let us know your results if you trial one of the above cleansers.

Applying extra virgin olive oil to the skin will not improve your acne scarring, and we wouldn't recommend the practice for general-purpose moisturization. The routine you've described (cleanse, tone, moisturize, protect, powder) is a good one to evaluate. If it proves effective for you, stick with it. On your question about administering microdermabrasion between glycolic acid peels, be sure to not stress your skin. In many cases, "less is more". If you tax your skin with too much treatment, it will react unfavorably. Inflammation, dryness, and a rash of small whiteheads are common symptoms of overtreated skin.

The guidelines you've referenced sound very similar to those drafted by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel in a 1997 publication (the CIR is not affiliated with the FDA nor any other government agency). Their guidelines have been used by manufacturers to establish a demarcation line between a consumer-based cosmetic and a professional peel. In their report, the CIRP states that if a product contains greater than 30% glycolic acid in solution at a pH lower than 3.0, it is only safe for use as a peel and is not to be left on the skin indefinitely. They also recommend that peels only be administered by professionals with the appropriate training. All of KAVI's peels are intended for professional use, however only our unbuffered glycolic acid peels are restricted to physicians' offices.

Janet, please see http://www.kaviskin.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=189 for a response to your question.

If a particular strength is applied with little to no inflammation on facial skin, it should be ok to use on the neck. For your first peel on any new target area, it would be best to keep the application duration to a minimum (one to two minutes, and preferably preceded with a spot test) to safely evaluate the peel's compatibility with skin on that region of the body.

If they are non-comedogenic and do not contain any ingredients that can inflame or irritate your skin, they should be ok to use.

We would recommend our toner (also made with salicylic acid).

The majority of peeling will take place at the time the glycolic acid mask is applied. Cellular debris will continue to slough off for a two to three day period following the peel, however you should not notice any visible flaking on your skin. In the days following removal of the mask, any peeling that resembles what you might experience after a mild sunburn is an indication that the peel strength applied is too strong for your skin type.

The efficacy of glycolic acid on stretch marks depends on two things: the severity of the stretch marks and the peel's acidity. Superficial marks (no wrinkling or folding of the skin) can be lifted with retail preparations of our peels (i.e., pH=2.1). More severe marks may require professional KAVI peels that may be administered by a physician only. Such peels have much higher acidities (between 1.2 and 0.6) and are capable of completely keratolyzing the epidermis should your physician deem it appropriate.