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What Is It?
Chemical Peels reduce fine lines and wrinkles, lighten skin discolorations, reduce acne, and smooth the texture of the skin by removing its damaged outer layers. All are designed to accelerate the beautifying effects of your home skincare treatment. Your doctor may recommend a light / superficial peel or a deeper peel depending on your individual needs.
Chemical peeling uses a solution to improve and smooth the texture of the skin by removing its damaged outer layers. Superficial peels may be performed with alphahydroxy acids (AHA), salicylic acid, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Deep peels may be performed with trichloroacetic acid or phenol.
Alphahydroxy acids, such as glycolic, lactic or fruit acids are the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light peels. These types of peels can provide smoother, brighter-looking skin for people who can't spare the time to recover from a TCA or phenol peel. AHAs are used to treat fine wrinkling, areas of dryness, uneven skin pigmentation, and acne. AHAs may be applied weekly or at longer intervals to obtain the best results. These acids are also used as a part of daily skincare regimens to improve the texture of the skin.
Trichloroacetic acid is most commonly used for medium-depth peeling. Fine wrinkles, superficial blemishes and pigmentation, and mild scarring are also successfully treated. More than one TCA peel may be necessary to achieve the desired results. The recovery from a TCA peel is longer than from an AHA peel.
Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and produces a deep peel. It is effective for coarse facial wrinkles, areas of blotchy pigmentation due to prolonged sun damage, deeper scarring, and pre-cancerous growths. Phenol peels may cause hypopigmentation following treatment; the patient's skin pigmentation and ethnicity will be a determining factor if this treatment is appropriate.
The best candidates for chemical peels are those individuals with facial blemishes, wrinkles, uneven skin pigmentation and/or acne scarring. Following a consultation with our aesthetician a decision will be made regarding which peel is most appropriate for your skin type and condition. Short descriptions of some of the peels we offer are listed below:
- Amino Filaggrin Acid (AFA) Peel – AFA gels are potent antioxidants effective for topical rejuvenation of sun-damaged skin. AFAs increase moisture retention, promote exfoliation, and reduce uneven skin pigmentation. Increasing strengths (20-60) are applied with subsequent treatments. Experience an immediate and lasting improvement in the tone and texture of your skin.
- BioMedic MicroPeel® – A multi-step process to exfoliate and beatify the skin, this customized peel with no downtime uses physical and chemical means to increase cellular turnover and refine the epidermis. During the MicroPeel procedure removal of superficial debris will be performed by either dermaplaning or application of Pure Enzyme. An application of 20-50% AHA follows, and a CO2 cryogenic therapy mask completes the procedure.
- BioMedic MicroPeel Plus® – Specifically designed to treat active acne and acne-prone skin, 20-30% salicylic acid enhances exfoliation and has antibacterial properties to reduce breakouts and inflammation.
- BioMedic Pigment Peel Plus® – is a state if the art, low concentration, modified TCA peel formulation designed to penetrate deeper into the papillary dermis to treat the stubborn pigmentation and fine facial lines that epidermal peels are not always able to resolve. This peel destroys damaged skin layers and initiates significant rejuvenation for a smoother, brighter, more aesthetically pleasing appearance. For best results preparation of the skin for 2-6 weeks is recommended. Expect 5 – 7 days of “downtime” after this peel.
- Jessner Peel – A combination of 14% Lactic Acid, 14% Salicylic Acid, 14% Resorcinol in an ethanol base, the Jessner Peel is an excellent option for patients desiring moderate exfoliation.
- Modified Jessner Peel – A combination of 17% Lactic Acid, 17% Salicylic Acid, 8% Citric acid in an ethanol base, a Modified Jessner Peel will treat less sensitive more sun-damaged skin types.
- Obagi® Blue Peel – a combination of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and a nonionic base, designed to achieve consistent results and reduce post peel complications. Dramatic results can be obtained with the Blue Peel. Skin conditions as superficial as on the stratum corneum or as deep as the upper reticular dermis can be corrected with this peel. This peel is excellent for epidermal and dermal pigmentation problems, tightening skin and reversing skin laxity, and it produces a mild amount of skin leveling for the correction of some wrinkles and scars. The patient’s skin must be properly conditioned prior to the Blue Peel procedure. If repeated over a period of time, the Obagi Blue Peel can achieve the same result as a deeper chemical peel or a laser. Healing occurs usually in just 7-10 days.
- SkinMedica Vitalize A Peel – The ‘Precision Peel’ is a unique blend of retinoic acid, AHAs, Resorcinol, and other active ingredients, creating one of the safest and strongest superficial peels. Combine this peel with SkinMedica TNS Recovery Complex for maximum results.
If you would like to schedule a consult to discuss whether chemical peeling is right for you please call our office at 414-443-0033.
Care and Treatment:
- It is important to prepare the skin for 2-6 weeks prior to chemical peeling, in order to obtain optimal results. This will involve use of several skin care products, sunscreen, and sun avoidance.
- Superficial or "spot" peels may be performed in the office without anesthesia, and require no time off work. Medium-depth peels may or may not require intravenous sedation. Deep peels are performed under intravenous conscious sedation as an outpatient procedure.
- If conscious sedation is used during the peeling procedure, patients must have someone drive them home and stay with them for the first night.
- Bandages may be placed over the face following a deep peel, but generally no dressings are used and the treated area is left open to the air.
- Patients will be required to cleanse their face twice daily with mild soap and water. Gently blot the area dry. A thin layer of antibiotic ointment is used over the treated areas of deeper peels.
- Areas of weeping (clear, yellow drainage) may develop. It is important to avoid picking at any dry, scabbed, or open areas as this will lead to scarring and hyperpigmentation.
- The treated skin will begin to peel 4-7 days after the procedure. Continue to wash the areas as instructed.
- When peeling is complete, and the new skin is present, lubrication and massage techniques will be recommended. Concealing makeup may be applied once peeling is complete.
- Superficial peels can be reapplied every few weeks, and require no time off work. Deeper peels require a few days to 1-2 weeks off work.
- It is absolutely essential that patients avoid sun exposure after peeling procedures; the depth of the peel determines the length of time. Daily use of a sunscreen (SPF 30) is recommended.
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