Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin. In this treatment, a solution is applied to the skin, which causes it to peel off. The new, regenerated skin is usually smoother and less pigmented than the old skin. The new skin also is temporarily more sensitive to the sun.
What Conditions Do a Chemical Peel Treat?

• Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
  Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors
• Improve the appearance of mild superficial scarring
• Treat certain types of acne
• Reduce age spots, freckles and dark patches due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills (melasma)
• Improve the look and feel of skin that is dull in texture and color

However, sags, bulges and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels. They may require other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as lase resurfacing, or soft tisse filler (collagen or fat). A dermatologist can help determine the most appropriate type of treatment for each individual case.

• There are various types of chemical peel solutions used for different skin problems. Glycolic acid peels are derived from sugar cane. They are commonly performed for pigmentation and oil control. Salicylic acid peels tend to be used for antiinflammatory benefits in acne prone skin. They also help with superficial exfoliation of comedones (black and white heads). Tricholoacetic acid peels are generally used for deep exfoliation of pigment. Milder peel solutions like lactic acid, mandelic acid and arginine are used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures like laser therapies, botox and fillers to enhance their effects.

• A chemical peel can be performed in a doctor’s office or in a surgery center as an outpatient procedure.

• The skin is thoroughly cleansed with an agent that removes excess oils and the eyes and hair are protected. One or more chemical solutions, such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid (phenol), are applied to small areas on the skin. These applications produce a controlled wound, enabling new, regenerated skin to appear.

• Prior to the chemical peel, your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin with topical preconditioning medications such as Retin-A or glycolic acid. After the chemical peel, it’s important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.

• If you have been prescribed oral antibiotics or an oral antiviral medicine, you should begin taking those as directed. Typically, the oral antibiotics are prescribed depending on the depth of the chemical peel.

• Remember to ask your doctor if you need to have someone drive you home.

• During the procedure, most patients experience a warm to somewhat hot sensation that lasts about five to ten minutes, followed by a stinging sensation. Cool compresses may be applied to help alleviate this stinging. A deeper peel may require pain medication during or after the procedure.

• Depending upon the type of chemical peel, peeling usually involves redness, followed by scaling that ends within three to seven days. Most peels may be repeated at one to four-week intervals until the desired clinical effect is achieved.

• You will work with your dermatologist to determine the depth of your peel. This joint decision can vary, depending upon the condition of your skin and the objectives of treatment.

• It is important to avoid over-exposure to the sun after a chemical peel since the new skin is fragile and more susceptible to complications. The dermatologist will prescribe the proper follow-up care to reduce the tendency to develop abnormal skin color after peeling.

• In certain skin types, there is a risk of developing a temporary or permanent color change in the skin. Taking birth control pills, subsequent pregnancy or family history of brownish discoloration on the face may increase the possibility of developing abnormal pigmentation.

• There is a small risk of reactivation of cold sores in patients with a history of herpes outbreaks. This problem is treated with medication as prescribed by the dermatologist. Your dermatologist may also choose to give you medication before or immediately after the peel in order to prevent a herpes outbreak.

• Prior to treatment, it is important for a patient to inform the dermatologist of any past history of keloids (scar tissue overgrowth created at the site of a skin injury) or unusual scarring tendencies, as well as any history of x-rays treatments to the face or recurring cold sores.