To study the effect of targeted nursing intervention in patients with facial acne vulgaris during the glycolic acid peels treatment period. Methods A total of 40 female patients with facial acne vulgaris admitted to Guangyuan First People's Hospital from October 2021 to August 2023 were selected and divided into control group and observation group according to the random number table method, with 20 patients in each group. The control group was given routine nursing, while the observation group was given targeted nursing intervention. The quality of life, skin detection index, nursing effect and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results The scores of each dimension of DLQI in the two groups after intervention were higher than those before intervention, and the scores of each dimension of DLQI in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). After intervention, the skin oil content, transcutaneous water loss and heme content of the two groups were lower than those before intervention, and the skin oil content, transcutaneous water loss and heme content of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The total effective rate of nursing in the observation group was 95.00%, which was higher than 70.00% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 10.00%, which was lower than 40.00% in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion During the glycolic acid peels treatment period, targeted nursing intervention can improve the nursing effect of female patients with facial acne vulgaris, effectively improve the skin state, reduce the incidence of adverse reactions, and improve the quality of life of patients.