Should I Have a Glycolic Chemical Peel?

            Men and women around the country are looking to chemical peels to rejuvenate their skin.  The popularity of these peels – especially glycolic acid peels – may have you wondering if you are the best candidate for this kind of renewing procedure.

            The ideal client for a glycolic acid chemical peel is a man or woman who does not have time for the recovery that comes with a deeper peel or laser resurfacing, but still wants to remove fine lines and wrinkles. Men and women with skin types one, two or three experience the fewest complications or scarring from glycolic acid chemical peels.  These skin types are sensitive to the sun, and will react to a day spent outside with anything from burning easily to burning minimally.  These people can have either fair skin and light eyes or olive skin and dark hair.  People with light to dark brown skin will not see as much of a benefit from glycolic acid chemical peels. 

            These chemical peels rejuvenate the skin by allowing the client to shed old, sun-damaged surface skin cells.  Glycolic acid peels are the most common of the “light” alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) chemical peels, and are perfect for improving skin tone and texture, reducing pore size, eliminating acne scars, as well as improving fine lines, blotchiness and irregular pigmentation.

            After the chemical peel is applied and reaches the desired depth, it should be neutralized.  At this point, the glycolic acid will retain a glue-like hold to the dry and dead skin cells, effectively removing many of those cells when the peel is washed away.  The new skin will be healthier and look fresher than it previously did. 

             One of the biggest assets to having a glycolic acid chemical peel is what happens after the peel is neutralized.  Glycolic acid is responsible for stimulating new skin cell growth as well as the production of collagen and elastin.  Reduced collagen growth is one of the primary reasons our skin begins to show signs of aging, and a decrease in elastin will make the face take on a saggy appearance.  This means the chemical peel will not only help to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, it will also stimulate natural skin cell regeneration to discourage those problems from returning. 

            As the popularity of chemical peels continues to grow, it is natural for more people to wonder if they too should try this facial rejuvenation.  Glycolic acid chemical peels are the perfect place to start for anyone debating his or her first peel.  The results are easy to see, but the client does not have to plan for an extended recovery time that can come with medium and deep peels.  Glycolic acid even helps stimulate the skin’s natural regeneration process to give lasting benefits after the peel is complete.  All in all, glycolic acid chemical peels are one of the best ways to make the skin start glowing again!

TCA Peels for New Moms

            Motherhood comes with a number of small joys – your baby’s first smile, first steps and first word are only a few.  However, stretch marks are one part of motherhood every women hopes to avoid.

            Stretch marks are small streaks that are depressed into the skin.  They are most likely to appear later in the pregnancy as the stomach grows more quickly.  Some women will see these marks form on their buttocks, hips, breasts and thighs as well.  When stretch marks are first visible they can be pink, red, brown, purple or dark brown.  Often, the marks will fade over time, but rarely will they completely disappear.

            Not every pregnant woman will get stretch marks.  While it is difficult to predict each woman’s chance of seeing stretch marks form, the risk increases if other women in the family develop them.  Overall, the appearance of stretch marks depends on how much and how quickly the mother’s stomach expands.  Women are most likely to experience stretch marks if they gain weight rapidly, carry multiple children (i.e. twins or triplets), have a big baby or have excess amniotic fluid.

            While there is no real way to prevent stretch marks, women can take steps during their pregnancy to reduce their risk factors.  By gaining only 25 to 35 pounds, and gaining that weight slowly, women will be less likely to develop stretch marks.

            Many women try to use creams to prevent these marks before they happen. Most of these creams contain soluble collagen and elastin, which will not help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.  Since these marks occur on a deeper level than the creams reach, they will not be effective.  Instead, mothers need to heal complex structures in the skin, and heal them from within the body. 

            TCA chemical peels are one way to reduce the appearance of stretch marks after a woman has given birth.  TCA peels (the most recommended type of chemical peel available) will penetrate the skin deeper than alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) and can encourage the growth of collagen and elastin.  Since stretch marks occur at such a deep level of the skin, young mothers need a deeper reaching peel than a glycolic acid or other light chemical peel.  TCA peels will not only reduce the appearance of stretch marks, they will tighten the skin in the affected area.

            TCA chemical peels are far superior for giving deeper chemical peel results  then other strong chemical peels such as phenol – to remove stretch marks.  Phenol is the deepest chemical peel but it is also the most dangerous of all chemical peels.  While it will penetrate deep into the skin to remove damage, it can cause scarring and decrease the hemoglobin in the body’s red blood cells.  Phenol could, in fact, cause a more serious problem than the stretch marks.

            Chemical peels are one of the best ways to reduce – and even remove – the appearance of the stretch marks that can follow pregnancy.  Not only does a TCA chemical peel penetrate the skin to the appropriate level, it has fewer side effects than deeper phenol chemical peels.  Young mothers have enough to worry about with their new little one – shouldn’t stretch marks be a concern that’s easily crossed off the list?

Is A Glycolic Chemical Skin Peel Right For Your Skin?

Is a Glycolic peel or light chemical peel (rather then the stronger TCA chemical peel) one of the many non-abrasive skin treatments used to improve and rejuvenate the appearance of the skin right for your skin? These peels produce dramatic results on the top most layers of the skin and works by diminishing acne scars to bestow a flawless complexion appearance. Before you render any Glycolic peel treatments or any chemical peel treatments for that matter, it is vital to understand the effects of the solution for better or worse!

“What are Glycolic Skin Peels?” Well, to answer your question, they are a form of Alpha hydroxy acid found naturally in sugar canes and is the main ingredient that constitute most glycolic chemical acid peels as well as many scar and light peel treatments. The three types of Glycolic peel treatments available on the market today are light, medium and deep cleansers and determining which one to use, will solely depend on many factors including skin type and how deep the layers of your skin in which you are targeting to treat with your chemical peel.

The hype centered on Glycolic peels and its miracles has given rise to literally thousands of manufacturers and their unique promises, but it’s your skin that’s on the line and it’s only you who can decide and facilitate the right chemical peel treatment.  Reading consumer reviews on the right treatments is a great way to stay informed about the pros and cons of a product, but keep in mind that what may be non-favorable to some, might just be in your best interest!

Glycolic peels when applied gently over your face reduce pigmentation and help refresh and improve the overall texture of your skin. These remedies are easy to use and can be done in the comfort of your own home or on the go.  The procedure for applying a Glycolic acid peel is rather seamless, fast and simple, making them one of the best home care treatments for skin enrichment. The initial step of a Glycolic peel treatment would ask that you cleanse and dry your face thoroughly, in order to get rid of the excess oils and grease that may be present at any given time on the top layers of your skin.

The total time for using a BetterComplexions Glycolic chemical peel will vary, but in most instances is no more than just a few moments. This process stimulates the skin to create a tingly yet stinging sensation and can be neutralized, if the product becomes intolerable using a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 8 ounces of water but just splashing cold water on your skin for a few minutes will also return your skin to it’s own pH balance. If the burning sensation is still going on you can cool the skin with ice cubes until it subsides which is usually only about 30-40 minutes. Depending on the results and demand, the Glycolic peel treatment can be repeated every 3-4 weeks, but is vital to care for the skin in the meantime, as it is all the more sensitive. Aftercare will include a moisturizing lotion and a very good sunscreen 30 minutes before heading out into the sunlight as the skin becomes very sun sensitive for about 6 months after a Glycolic peel and even TCA peels will also cause the same reaction. Make-up and skin care products should be refrained from, while undergoing the healing time until your skin has completely finished peeling.

Apart from being an excellent acne repellant, Glycolic peels boast a tone of unique benefits to include exfoliating of skin, eliminating blemishes and increasing the skins overall collagen level. Here are some facts about Glycolic skin peels that will surely help you to decide if this is the right treatment for you. To start off with the misconceptions, many consumers feel that these procedures only work miracles on the facial area, but to clarify although the skin on the face is sensitive than the rest of your body, Glycolic skin peels may very well be used on the arms, legs, neck and chest.

Again, to reiterate, it is you who needs to determine if the peel is favorable to your skin type and it is best to clarify if you follow the easy to use instructions closely most every person can be a good candidate for chemical peels whether your wanting to do a Glycolic peel or a TCA Peel and in home chemical peels have become extremely popular today as the cost which was initially in the hundreds of dollar range but that cost has come down sharply by doing the procedure yourself at home and receiving the same great results as you would with a professional.

How Safe are Glycolic Acid Chemical Peels?

            Glycolic acid chemical peels are part of the light peel family.  These chemical peels contain the smallest amount of chemical concentration.  Nevertheless, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons does hold that all chemical peels carry some risk.  However, the skin is exposed to a lower chemical concentration with glycolic acid peels, making the chances of a negative reaction lower.

            Patients can do their part to reduce the possible side effects.  The absolute #1 thing is or should I say not do is…“do not pick at the peeling skin” as this is almost always the number 1 reason for scaring the skin.  

            Since glycolic acid chemical peels are only superficial peels, they have an outstanding safety rating.  Light peels are much safer and come with fewer possible side effects than deeper peels, such as phenol peels.  Phenol chemical peels have the strongest solution and produce the deepest possible peel.  They have been known to cause skin discoloration, strip skin of its ability to tan, cause uneven pigmentation and even remove freckles.  Recovery from these chemical peels can take months.  Phenol chemical peels carry added risk for women with a history of heart disease.  For several reasons Phenol peels are not recommended for anyone as they are simply to dangerous. In comparison to deep peels, getting a glycolic peel is an easy choice!

             There is a debate about the risk factors of a glycolic acid peel for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.  The additional hormones present in a pregnant woman’s body can cause dark spots on her skin.  Often the spots will disappear after the baby is born, but some can persist. There are currently no links between glycolic acid peels and birth defects, but glycolic acid has never been tested on pregnant women.  Some doctors believe a baby can absorb a small amount of the chemical if the mother-to-be has a peel while pregnant, and most advise to stay away from chemical peels and avoid any potential problems.

            Glycolic chemical peels for women who are breastfeeding their baby is an even more hotly debated topic.  Doctors at Johns Hopkins University advise these women avoid chemical peels until they have finished breastfeeding.  Meanwhile, other doctors believe the peels are safe because glycolic acid is made from sugar cane, which is a natural ingredient.  Since this topic is still so widely debated, women who are breastfeeding a baby should check with their doctors before having a chemical peel.

            All chemical peels come with certain risks and side effects, however glycolic acid peels offer some of the lowest risks of all facial peels.  When first considering a chemical peel, patients can feel uneasy.  If this is the case, a glycolic chemical peel is the perfect place to start!   

What are Glycolic Chemical Peels?

            Like TCA chemical peels, glycolic acid chemical peels have unique characteristics and offer specific benefits.  While TCA peels are considered medium peels, glycolic acid peels are part of the light peel family. Light chemical peels are usually made from alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), which include glycolic, lactic, salicyclic and fruit acids. 

            Glycolic chemical peels are made from sugar cane and are the most popular light chemical peel agent.  Glycolic acid promotes collagen growth, which makes the perfect ingredient for a facial peel. Collagen is lost from aging and sun exposure, and this lost collagen is the leading reason for lines and wrinkles.  That means, a glycolic acid peel not only removes unwanted blemishes from the face, it also keeps those blemishes away! 

These peels are best for treating fine lines, superficial wrinkles, dry areas of the face, acne scarring and uneven pigmentation.  The best candidates for glycolic acid chemical peels are women who want the benefits of a facial peel without a prolonged recovery period.  Light chemical peels are usually recommended to women with fair skin and light hair.  For best results, these women should be non-smokers but it is not mandatory. 

Glycolic acid chemical peels do have side effects.  Most patients will experience redness, mild stinging and crusting of the skin.  Women prone to acne may have a breakout.  Usually, these side effects will subside within the first 48 hours after the peel is applied.  The effects of glycolic acid chemical peels will not last as long as TCA peels, so the recovery time is greatly reduced.  To make glycolic acid peels more effective, they can be combined with dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing or additional glycolic acid peels.  Patients must be cautious about repeated peels, as they can cause permanent scarring.  Generally, the frequency of peels is determined by the chemical strength of the previous one. 

Like TCA chemical peels, the patient’s skin should be cleansed before the peel is applied.  When the solution is put on the skin, the patient may feel a slight tingly or stinging sensation.  After the solution is in place for the appropriate amount of time, it is removed and an ointment is applied to keep the skin moist.  

Glycolic acid peels are most often applied to the face, but can be applied elsewhere on the body.  Body peels usually have a stronger chemical composition than light and medium facial peels, but are milder than deep facial peels.  Body peels target certain areas or problems, and are used to even out pigmentation, improve skin texture or remove stretch marks. 

Glycolic acid peels, and other light peels, are the best way to make small skin improvements. Women who are feeling unsure about having a chemical peel may want to start with a glycolic acid peel, as they are less intense but will still produce results.  With the proper application, chemical peels are a great way for women to keep their youthful appearance.