Monday, October 22, 2012

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands. They can be used to:
  • Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
  • Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
  • Improve the appearance of mild scars
  • Treat certain types of acne
  • Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills
  • Improve the look and feel of skin
Areas of sun damage may improve after chemical peeling.
After a chemical peel, skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so wear sunscreen every day. It should say "broad-spectrum" on the label, meaning it protects against the sun's UVA and UVB rays.

Who Is a Good Candidate For a Chemical Peel?

Generally, anyone is a good candidate for chemical peels. We offer 4 different types of chemical peels, so that we can tailor the peel to your skin type (colour) and condition.
We can treat mild acne & scarring, pigmentation, fine lines, uneventexture, and any other undisireable skin complexion.
Skin sagging, bulges, and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels. They may need other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as laser resurfacing, or dermal fillers/Botox.

Before You Get a Chemical Peel

Tell your skin consultant if you have any history of scarring, reoccurring cold sores, or on photosensitive medication.
Before you get a chemical peel, your consultant may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin by using other medications, such as Retinol or glycolic acid.
Work with your consultant to determine the depth of your peel. This decision depends upon the condition of your skin and your goals for treatment, and how much peeling you can handle.

How Chemical Peels Are Done

The professional who does your peel will first clean your skin thoroughly. Then she will apply one or more chemical solutions -- such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid(TCA), salicylic acid, or lactic acid -- to small areas of your skin. This creates a controlled wound, letting new skin take its place.
During a chemical peel, most people feel a tingling to burning sensation that lasts about 1-3 minutes. Once the peel is removed you shouldnt have any tingling or burning. You may experience a warmth when touching the skin, but nothing more. Applying cool compresses can take away the sensation.

What To Expect After the Chemical Peel

Depending upon the type of chemical peel, a reaction similar to sunburn occurs following the procedure. Peeling usually involves redness followed by scaling that ends within three to seven days. Mild peels may not have any peeling and can be repeated at 2 week intervals until you get the look you're after. Medium depth peels will have peeling for 3-7 days and can be done 2-4 week invervals.

After treatment, you'll need to avoid the sun for a few weeks since your new skin will be fragile. Treat your new fresh skin as baby skin. Do not let it get too much sun!!

Possible Complications

Some skin types are more likely to develop a temporary or permanent color change in the skin after a chemical peel. Sun exposure after a chemical peel or on photosensitive medications will make you more prone to this.
For people with a history of cold sore outbreaks, there is a small risk of reactivating cold sores. Your doctor can prescribe medication to prevent or treat

Ask us about our DermaCeutic chemical peel line! 519-837-1897

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