Chemical Peels - Chemical Peels

Chemical peels

Laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and chemical peels are three most common procedures for reduction of serious acne scar. Revision of facial scars is one of the indications for use of chemical treatments . This chemical revision methods employs a variety of caustic chemicals for removal of several layers of skin selectively. The peeling solutions are "painted on," area-by-area of face, to ensure that the entire face is treated. After the skin heals, discoloration, wrinkles and other surface irregularities are often eliminated.

Types

Peels are divided into three types: superficial, medium-depth, and deep. The type of a chemical treatment depends on the strength of the chemical used, and on how deeply it penetrates. Superficial peels are used for fine wrinkles, sun damage, acne, rosacea and superficial scar of face and neck areas. The medium-depth peel is used for more obvious wrinkles and sun damage, as well as for precancerous lesions like actinic keratoses and removal of severe acne scars. A deep peel is used for the most severe wrinkling, sun damage and scarring. Among Phenol chemical peels, trichloroacetic acid (TCA peels) and alphahydroxy acids (glycolic peels) could be referenced.

Preparation

Removal of damaged skin begins several weeks before the actual chemical procedure. To promote turnover of skin cells, patients use a mild glycolic acid lotion or cream in the morning, and the acne cream tretinoin in the evening. They also use hydroquinone face cream, a bleaching product that helps prevent later discoloration. To prevent reappearance of a herpes simplex virus infection, antiviral medicine is started a few days before the procedure and continues until the skin has healed.

Application

The physician cleanses the patient's face using alcohol or another cleanser. Some degree of pain accompanies all types of chemical treatments. For a superficial peel, use of a hand held fan to cool the face during the procedure is often sufficient. For medium-depth peels which may be applied to a skin with severe acne scar, the patient may take a sedative or aspirin. During the chemical procedure, cold compresses and a hand-held fan can also reduce facial pain. A deep chemical peel on face and neck can be extremely painful. Some physicians prefer general anesthesia, but local anesthetics combined with intravenous sedatives are frequently sufficient to control pain.

Post Operation

Within a day or so following a chemical treatment, the skin will turn faint pink or brown. Over the next few days, dead skin starts to fall off from the face. Patients will be instructed to wash their skin frequently with a mild cleanser and cool water, then apply an ointment to the skin to keep it moist. After a medium-depth chemical peel, the skin treated for acne caused lesions, turns deep red or brown, and crusts may form. Care is similar to that following a superficial treatment. Redness may persist for a week or more. Following a deep peel skin will turn brown and crusty. There may also be swelling and some oozing of fluid. Frequent washing and ointments are favored over dressings. The face and neck areas typically heals in about two weeks, but redness may persist. Deep acne scars do not benefit from chemical peels as much.

Glycolic Acid. This is the shallowest resurfacing procedure, which is performed by estheticians or plastic surgeons who use 40-70% glycolic acid or Jessner Peels over a series of treatments. This produces a very mild peel which is an excellent starting point for those uncertain about deeper chemical peels. One of indication of chemical peels is for a skin affected by severe acne forms such as cystic acne. Recovery could be as short as 24-48 hours.

TCA chemical peels(Trichloroacetic Acid) offers a medium depth chemical peel of varying degree depending on the concentration used. Generally a 20-35% solution is used. This chemcial revision is a much stronger resurfacing than glycolic acid and is capable of producing marked improvement in problem areas on the skin. The usual result is a more natural skin colour and texture with softening (but not removal) of deep wrinkles.

Recovery Time

The TCA chemical peel requires 5-10 days recovery time during which the face gets darker, feels tight, cracks and become scaly (similar to a very heavy sunburn). A fresh layer of skin is left with no scab, bandages or bleeding. The peeling stage is not painful, but you will generally want to stay out of circulation, because of the appearance, until most of the facial skin has chemically peeled.

Cost of Peels
Cost of a treatment of chemical peel varies between $800 to $1200 depending on the size of the affected area. Time for recovery may vary between 2-4 weeks