Melasma and Exfoliation with Glycolic Acid GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion

George R. Woodbury Jr. M.D.
2 days ago
5 min read

by Memphis Dermatologist George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (12/19/2025)

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Melasma with a Memphis Dermatology patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury gets ready to talk with a patient about Melasma and Rosacea

The Dermatologists at Big River Silk Skincare are excited to announce GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion and GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion for a New You for 2026, with Refined Shea Butter married with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) Glycolic Acid, to help your skin in exfoliation, for a New You for 2026. And exfoliating is especially helpful for people with a skin condition called Melasma as well as premature sun damage, Rosacea, and Acne.

Patient with facial melasma due to either a hormone imbalance of excess exposure to UV light — Middle-aged female with Melasma on her cheeks

So what is Melasma? It’s deposition of an excess amount of the skin’s natural pigment, Melanin, sometimes triggered by excessive sun exposure, or by a hormone imbalance, or certain skin conditions. If you’re experiencing changes in your skin’s pigment, you may wish to start by seeking the advice of a Board-certified Dermatologist, a type of Medical Doctor or M.D. who specializes in the skin. Sometimes certain lab tests such as bloodwork or even allergy patch testing are helpful in ferreting out the cause of Melasma.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing use of Retin A Cream with a patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Melasma with a young female patient

Dermatologists like myself have long used prescription medications like Tretinoin Cream and Gel and over-the-counter chemicals called Alpha Hydroxy Acids to help our patients with Melasma. Careful sun protection – with regular use of Broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 50 or higher – are essential. Chemical peels and laser therapy are often helpful, too.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff

As a Memphis Dermatologist since 1993, I have spent a fair amount of my career helping patients with Melasma and conditions like Acne and Rosacea to work with Exfoliating Moisturizer to promote a young look, using the benefits of Alpha Hydroxy Acid.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury in his role as President of Big River Silk Skincare Inc. — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Glycolic Acid-containing GlycoShea Hand&Body Cream

So starting in 2016 I decided to develop products containing Glycolic Acid, particularly GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion, through a company of which I am President, Big River Silk Skincare Inc.

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion can be used as a once or twice a day Exfoliating Moisturizer — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is a Glycolic Acid-containing Refined Shea Butter emulsion well-suited as an Exfoliating Moisturizer for people with Melasma and Rosacea

The GlycoShea Lotions blend the skin-moisturizing properties of Refined Shea Butter, a natural product from an African tree, with the skin-smoothing antiwrinkle cream effects of Glycolic Acid, GlycoShea’s anti-wrinkle ingredient. We blend these components into what’s called emulsions, using some of the purest natural water in the United States, from the Memphis Sands.

AmberSoy Soap Gel is available in No Fragrance Added and also Mint and Lemon — AmberSoy Soap Gel can be used as a soft glycerine cleanser by people with Melasma and Acne and Rosacea

The GlycoShea Lotions work well with use of Big River Silk Skincare’s AmberSoy Soap Gel as a skin cleanser. AmberSoy is a soft glycerine cleanser designed by Dermatologists and it can act as a Best Acne Wash. AmberSoy Soap Gel can be used as a deep cleanser in the morning, then GlycoShea Lotion can then be applied afterwards as an exfoliating moisturizer. Big River Silk Skincare also manufactures GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Oil as alternate versions of this product for people with drier skin.

Couple washing their faces with AmberSoy Soap Gel as a Best Acne Wash — Couple washing their faces to promote good skin hygiene

Ambersoy is a particularly effective cleanser for people with complexion issues including acne and cysts because it can be used as a face or body mask, perhaps 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off. It’s most suitable for people with oily skin or combination skin, for a particularly deep clean. Best of all, Big River’s AmberSoy has no propylene glycol, no sulfates, no dyes, nor parabens. Available in No Fragrance Added. 1 oz: $14.95/2 oz: $22.95/8 oz: $74.95.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury talking with a young male patient about Acne and Melasma and Glycolic Acid — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury talks with a young male patient about Melasma and Acne

For more significant issues with Acne, Cysts, or Hidradenitis Suppurativa, consider getting a check-up with a Board-certified Dermatologist. Prescription treatments often include Retin A Cream or Gel (Tretinoin) or Azelex Gel. Sometimes oral antibiotics or even Accutane (isotretinoin) prove helpful. My own Memphis Dermatology practice has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018, since 1993, or you can find a “Best Dermatologist Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology website, AAD.org, then plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion/Standard Strength: 1 oz: $45.95/2 oz; $68.95;8 oz; $229.95

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion/Standard Strength contains an Alpha Hydroxy Acid to allow it to work as a Wrinkle Lotion and Best Under Eyes Cream — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion/Standard Strength is a Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Moisturizer

GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion/Standard Strength: 1 oz: $22.95/2 oz: $34.95/8 oz: $114.95.

GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion/Standard Strength contains Glycolic Acid and Refined Shea Butter — GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion/Standard Strength acts as an Exfoliant for people with Sun Damage and Dark Spot Treatment

For quicker results, with a higher concentration of Glycolic Acid, Big River Silk Skincare also offers:

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion/High Strength: 1 oz: $49.95/2 oz; $83.95;8 oz; $279.95

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion/High Strength combined Glycolic Acid with Refined Shea Butter in the form of an emulsion — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion/High Strength has a richer content of Glycolic Acid to help with quicker skin Exfoliation

GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion/High Strength: 1 oz: $34.95/2 oz: $52.95/8 oz: $174.95.

GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion/High Strength has a higher strength of Glycolic Aid combined with Refined Shea Butter and it is helpful for Exfoliating Moisturizer for Actinic Keratosis — GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion/High Strength has a higher strength of Glycolic Aid for quicker results in Exfoliation and dark spot correction

AmberSoy Soap Gel is available in No Fragrance Added, in Mint, and in Lemon:

1 oz: $14.95; 2 oz: $22.95; 8 oz: $75.95.

AmberSoy Soap Gel can be used as a cleanser by people with combination skin and oily skin — AmberSoy Soap Gel is a soft glycerine cleanser that can be used as a Best Acne Wash and as a cleanser

All of Big River Silk Skincare’s products are available for pick-up on site at our company headquarters, at 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, or they can ordered by calling 1-901-753-0168, or ordered at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com. Free USPS shipping for orders above $70.00 ($100.00 for Canadian orders); otherwise USPS shipping and handling is $7.50.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury explains GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream which contains Glycolic Acid and Refined Shea Butter — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury explains GlycoShea Facial&Neck Cream

Remember that I serve both as Big River Silk Skincare’s President and also as a Board-certified Memphis Dermatologist, with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 (1-901-753-0168; https://www.Rheumderm.com/dermatology). So some of Big River Silk Skincare’s new skincare concepts arose from my own observations after working with the thousands of Memphis Dermatology patients I’ve treated over the last 30 years.