Chemicals
have been used to peel the skin of the face for many centuries. The
peel leaves the underlying skin looking fresher, younger, and healthier.
Chemical peels remove the superficial layers of the skin and will often
improve blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation. Different
peeling agents are available and the peels are frequently performed
in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as a facelift.
Chemical peels are often performed in the office. The lighter the peel,
the quicker patients return to their normal work and routines.
Alphahydroxy acids (AHA) such as Glycolic Acid produce the mildest and lightest peels. These "lunch time" peels are often performed in our office and patients can typically be in and out of the office in 15-20 minutes. They can be used to treat fine wrinkles, areas of dryness, or uneven pigmentation and even acne. An alphahydroxy acid is a good component of a daily skin care regimen and is usually applied in the evening before bedtime.
Trichloroacetic acid is a medium depth peel that impacts on fine surface wrinkles and superficial blemishes and pigment problems. These peels can also be done in the office and involve a bit longer recovery time as there is more peeling.
Phenol is the strongest of the peeling agents. It can ultimately lead to the greatest improvement but at the expense of the longest down time following the peel. Phenol is also the most prone to lightening the skin in a permanent fashion. Scarring may result if it is applied to areas other than the face.
Preparation before the peel typically involves a good skin care program which we will design for you here in our office. Once a peel has been performed, maintenance peels on a regular basis help maintain the skin looking youthful and healthy.
Sun avoidance and a good sunblock is important after chemical peeling. Once again, the deeper the peel the longer it will take for all the redness and skin peeling to resolve