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Chemical Peels are a non-surgical alternative
to total facial skin refinement. For those who
suffer from fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin
tone and texture, brown spots, age spots, discoloration
from acne, sun damage and premature aging, a facial
peel might be right for you.
All skin peels involve the application of chemical
solutions to the facial skin. This solution will
sometimes cause a burning sensation when first
applied, but this solution acts as an anesthetic,
so the burning will only last momentarily. Once
the skin is properly numbed, a high-speed wheel
with a sandpaper-like brush is applied to the
skins surface causing abrasion. Each patient’s
facial peel will differ depending on skin tone
and the course of treatment needed in order to
maximize results. There are three different levels
of chemical peels that can be used; light, medium and deep.
Light Peels:
Light peels are the mildest form of chemical
peels. Like all peels, they work to burn off layers
of the skin, but light peels only burn the very
outer layers. Light peels use only the mildest
chemical solutions, mostly Alphahydroxy (AHA)
and Betahyrdoxy (Beta). These chemicals work best
to smooth wrinkles, reduce some acne scars, balance
uneven skin pigmentation, and improve overall
texture of sun-damaged skin.
The light peel does not penetrate into the deeper
layers of skin therefore it typically requires
repeated applications. Patients might feel a slight
burning sensation as soon as the chemicals are
applied to the skin, but it will vanish quickly.
Most procedures will last anywhere from 10 to
15 minutes. After the procedure, patients are
most often pain free and there is no recovery
down-time needed.
Medium Peels:
Medium peels are the next step up from light
peels. A stronger chemical solution containing
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used during this
treatment. A TCA solution is used with a medium
peel in order to reduce wrinkles and fine lines,
correct the effects of sun damage, and balance
pigmentation abnormalities. Medium peels differ
from light peels only in that they more deeply
penetrate into the layers of the skin.
Medium peels take about 15 minutes to complete.
Most medium peels only need to be performed once
and the results have been known to last about
a year. Medium peels do require some down-time
in order to recover from the effects. These peels
sometimes cause significant swelling which should
subside after the first week or so. Skin will
heal sufficiently after the first week and patients
should be able to resume normal daily activities
within 7 to 10 days after the surgery.
Medium peels do carry some risk of scarring if
the chemical solution is left on the skin too
long. There is also a risk of discoloration of
the skin if you are not an ideal candidate. Patients
with light brown to olive colored skin are ideal
candidates. Those with darker skin can still achieve
successful peels, but there is a higher risk of
pigmentation discoloration.
Deep Peels:
Deep Peels are the strongest and most intense
form of facial peels. Using a Phenol acid solution,
this procedure penetrates to the deepest layers
of the epidermis in order to treat patients with
heavy, coarse wrinkles, redness sometimes caused
by rosacea, acne scarring and even pre-cancerous
growths.
Most Phenol peels take anywhere between 1 to
2 hours for a full face treatment, but small area
peels can be done in about 10 to 15 minutes. Phenol
peels usually only have to be performed once in
order to produce dramatic and most times permanent
results.
Within 24 hours of the surgery, the face will
scab over in order to protect the newly uncovered
layer of skin. The scab will fall off within 7
to 10 days after the procedure. The newly uncovered
skin will be very red, but the color will fade
in the following weeks and months. Most patients
require at least two full weeks of down-time in
order to completely recover from the procedure.
Like all other chemical peels, there are risks that can
be associated with deep peels. There is a greater
risk of scarring if the chemical solution is left
on the skin for too long because deep peels require
the solution to be on longer than the other peel
types. When undergoing a deep peel, there is also
a risk of permanent change in skin color. As skin
ages, its color is somewhat influenced by the
elements. A peel will effectively be ridding the
body of the old skin and bringing about new skin.
The skin tones could end up being very different.
The Results:
Each chemical peel offers great results depending on what
the patient is hoping to achieve. Light peels
are milder, but have to be repeated several times.
For medium peels, one treatment should suffice
and results will last up to a year. Deep peels
create permanent results after one treatment,
although new wrinkles may eventually form.
Recent studies have shown that a series of chemical peels performed in short intervals could provide better
results than having just one individual procedure.
A series of light or medium peels could provide
the same results as one deeper peel, but the down-time
will be significantly less. Most surgeons will
choose what chemical solutions will provide the
best results, but it is always best to confer
with your doctor in order to make the best decision
possible.
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