Each
and every day, men and women
alike will not only lose thousands
of dead skin cells, but also
regenerate new skin cells
from the lower layer of the
skin. Unfortunately, as you
age, this regeneration slows
down, causing the dead skin
cells to become very hard
to shed because the elastin
and collagen in your skin
becomes like an adhesive binding
these dead skin cells together.
When this happens, your complexion
will become dull, lusterless
and not as youthful looking
as it did when you were younger.
The
good news is that this dead
layer of skin can be removed,
thus helping to restore that
natural youthful glow as well
as supply a multitude of other
benefits for your skin. There
are a few different ways that
you can remove the dead skin
cells and have a brighter,
more youthful skin. Chemical
peels are probably the most
popular method of removing
the dead skin cells. Keep
in mind that, some states
do not require the person
applying the peels to have
a medical degree, however
many states will regulate
who can apply the peel depending
upon the depth of the chemical
peel. So, for example, a technician
may be authorized to apply
light or medium depth peels,
but only a plastic surgeon
would be able to perform a
deep chemical peel. The cost
of your chemical peel will
depend upon the depth of the
peel and who performs the
application.
AHA
(Alphahydroxy acid) Peel
Alphahydroxy
acids (AHA) peels, often called
"lunchtime peels,"
are used for helping with
fine lines or wrinkles, acne,
dry skin or uneven skin pigmentation.
These peels use lactic, glycolic
or fruit acids to achieve
the results you need and are
considered light depth peels,
so you do not have extensive
“down-time” as
you do with a TCA chemical
peel or a deeper peel. AHA
peels performed in a salon
can range in cost between
$75 and $150.
If
the alphahydroxy acid peel
is done in a doctor’s
office, the procedure takes
about 10 minutes. You can
apply the AHA peel on a weekly
basis to obtain the results
you are looking for. Some
physicians will recommend
that you mix an AHA such as
glycolic acid with a facial
wash or cream as a part of
your daily skin care regime.
The physician may also add
Retin-A, or some other type
of bleaching agent, to use
as part of your skin care
routine. AHA peels may cause
stinging, redness, irritation
and crusting of the skin.
As your skin adjusts to your
treatment regimen, this will
go away.
Because
the AHA peel is a light peel,
it will take longer to see
the results than if you were
to have a TCA Peel. The results
are significantly less with
an AHA peel than with a TCA
peel. However, after several
weeks of applying the peel,
you will notice a healthier
look to your skin and the
texture will be softer.
Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)
Peels, often called “freshening
peels”, are chemical
peels that have been used
for many years to remove the
buildup of dead skin cells.
TCA (Trichloroacetic acid)
Peels also help with age spots,
acne, wrinkles, poor lusterless
complexion, freckles, sun-damaged
and weathered looking skin,
shallow scars, pre-cancerous
skin growths and skin pigmentation.
Trichloroacetic
acid peels not only help to
remove the buildup of dead
skin cells but also promotes
the growth of new cells. As
your skin heals, new elastin
and collagen tissues are formed
and this will help tighten
the skin, leaving it brighter
and giving you a younger appearance.
A TCA peel should not be considered
a replacement for a facelift,
although many times a TCA
peel will be performed when
a facelift is done.
Trichloroacetic
acid peels can be performed
in a doctor’s office
and can range anywhere from
$350 and $3,000 in cost depending
upon who does the peel (technician
or surgeon), the strength
and span of the TCA chemical
peel. Trichloroacetic acid
peels are also available for
home use, which can save money
and travel time to a facility
to have the peel done.
Typically
there are three strengths
of TCA peels: low depth, medium
depth and deep. The strength
of the TCA peel can be adjusted
to match your individual needs.
For example, if you only have
fine lines, very faint wrinkles
or perhaps light brown skin
spots or freckles, then a
lower percentage of chemical
can be used to achieve the
results you want. The higher
the percentage of chemical
used, the deeper the peel
will be. Medium depth peels
can be done with several different
types of chemicals including:
glycolic acid, Sure Blue TCA,
Jessner's solution, salicylic
acid, as well as other chemicals.
Deep trichloroacetic acid
peels will improve any deeper
lines, wrinkles, darker age
spots or freckles and shallow
acne scars that you might
have.
Keep
in mind that, although fine
wrinkles will be improved
with a medium chemical peel,
you will see better results
with dynamic wrinkles if the
TCA Peel process is repeated.
Once can safely repeat the
medium chemical peel every
three to six months. The effects
of a medium chemical peel
may begin to disappear over
six months to a year, so it
is important that you keep
to a skin care regime that
includes micro peels.
Prior
to having the trichloroacetic
acid peel applied, your skin
will first need to be cleaned
thoroughly to remove any skin
oils. When the TCA peel is
first applied to the skin,
you may experience slight
burning or stinging for four
to five minutes. If you are
having the procedure done
in a surgeon’s office,
you may be offered pain medication
to relieve this discomfort,
but it really is not necessary.
Having a fan blowing on your
face after the TCA peel has
been applied can minimize
this discomfort greatly. Deeper
peels may extend this period
of discomfort. After five
or ten minutes the trichloroacetic
acid is rinsed off your face
with cool water. A normal
TCA peel takes approximately
15 minutes total.
In
the hours and days after the
trichloroacetic acid has been
applied to the skin, you will
experience a tightening and
peeling of the top layers
of the skin, not unlike a
sunburn. Redness and peeling
will last for anywhere between
one and two weeks, depending
upon the depth of TCA peel.
If you work outside of the
home, you may want to plan
to stay home from three to
seven days, again depending
upon the depth of the TCA
peel.
After the TCA peel procedure,
you will need to keep the
areas where the skin is peeling
soft and moistened. This can
be accomplished by applying
a moisturizing ointment such
as bacitracin several times
a day and rinsing the skin
to remove dead tissue between
applications of ointment.
Peeling or picking the dead
skin off may cause pain, bleeding
or possible scarring.
Trichloroacetic
acid peels are performed in
the tens of thousands each
year. While side effects or
complications such as infection,
scarring or discoloration
of skin can occur, this happens
very rarely. Most of these
complications can be controlled
with medication or other treatments.
Trichloroacetic
acid peels, while most commonly
used on the face, can also
be used where you have other
signs of aging and sun damage
like the neck, arms, hands
and chest. Once you have a
TCA-peel, it is important
to avoid sun exposure for
several months after treatment
to protect your newly formed
layers of skin that will develop.
Using a sunblock with SPF
30 or higher when going outdoors
is recommended. Better
Complexions
offers complete kits
for a TCA peel.
Obagi™
Blue Peel
The Obagi™ Blue Peel
is another form of trichloroacetic
acid medium depth peel. This
blue peel has a safety valve
built in that will help the
person applying the peel know
how deep the chemical has
penetrated into your skin.
Once the desired penetration
is achieved, then the chemicals
are removed.
With
a blue peel, expect your skin
to be blue for two or three
days. Your skin will begin
to peel and flake off between
four and six days, and peeling
should be complete within
seven to nine days. Your blue
peel can be repeated in six
months. Most blue peels done
in a physician’s office
by a trained technician will
cost between $350 to $500.
Phenol Deep
Chemical Peel
Phenol
is the strongest of the chemical
solutions that are used in
facial peels. If you have
deep facial wrinkles, sun
exposure damage, wrinkling
around the lips and chin area
or pre-cancerous growths,
your physician may recommend
this type of deep chemical
peel. Depending upon the strength
of the phenol peel, the results
of the peel can be dramatic
and noticed for many years.
The procedure for application
of a phenol deep chemical
peel will take between one
and two hours. The overall
downtime before returning
to work is usually two weeks.
Upon
arriving at the physician’s
office your face will be thoroughly
cleansed of all oils and dirt.
The phenol deep chemical peel
solution will then be applied
to your face. You will feel
a burning sensation, but since
the phenol acts as an anesthetic,
the discomfort should be minimal.
The phenol peel solution will
be washed off with water once
the desired results are achieved.
Your skin will immediately
begin to form a crust on your
face from the phenol chemical
peel. This crust is then covered
with a thick layer of petroleum
jelly to keep the crust softened
which will stay on your face
for one or two days.
It
is important that you wear
a sun block of SPF 30 or higher
after having a phenol deep
chemical peel. You will need
to use this sun block for
the rest of your life because
your new skin may lose its
ability to tan and the sun
can damage your skin. If you
have a history of heart problems,
this peel may not be advisable
to undergo. Unlike TCA Peels,
a Phenol peel is primarily
used on the face because there
is a higher risk of scarring
if it's applied to the neck
or other body areas.
