Chemical Peels - Your Secret Weapon Against Aging Skin

Chemical Peel treatments produce dramatic & long lasting skin improvement.

Questions about Chemical Peels? Chemical Peel FAQ's

Chemical peel treatments use a chemical solution to improve and smooth the texture of skin by removing its damaged outer layers. Chemical peels produce controlled injury to the skin that promotes the growth of new skin with an improved appearance. Chemical peels are helpful for persons with facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation.

Selecting the Chemical Peel Treatment that is right for you...

The different chemical solutions produce different degrees of injury to the skin. There are two layers of the skin; the outer layer is called the epidermis and the inner layer, the dermis. Superficial peels, such as glycolic acid, produce very superficial injury confined to the epidermis. Superficial peels can help improve conditions such as acne and dyschromia. Deeper chemical peel treatments produce injury within the dermis and can reverse moderate-to-severe sun damage and wrinkles. In general, the deeper peels offer the most dramatic results but require longer recovery periods and carry a higher risk of complications.

Superficial Chemical Peels - (AHA & BHA Chemical Peels)

The most superficial chemical peel treatments are alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) such as glycolic and lactic acid. These peels normally have minimal side effects. The two major side effects of alpha hydroxy acids are irritation and sun sensitivity, with symptoms that are manifested as redness, burning, itching, pain. However, these problems normally subside within a few hours to a few days, depending on the individual's skin condition and healing process. Beta Hydroxy acids (BHA), such as salicylic acid, are used to control the oil secretion of the skin making it an ideal treatment for acne prone skin.

Benefits of a superficial chemical peel:

• Smoothes rough, dry skin
• Improves texture of sun-damaged skin
• Aids in control of acne
• Can be mixed with bleaching agent to correct pigment problems
• Can be used as TCA pre-treatment

Medium Chemical Peels (TCA Chemical Peel)

If a patient has more noticeable wrinkles or dispersed areas of irregular pigmentation, and mild acne scarring, physicians may use an intermediate or medium depth peel to penetrate beyond the outermost layer of the skin. These medium chemical peels are usually made from trichloroacetic acid (TCA). TCA chemical peels produce more obvious results although side effects may be more prominent than AHAs. Side effects are similar to mild chemical peels, and include redness, burning, itching, and hypo-pigmentation. These effects linger for a longer period than AHA treatment, usually within from a few days to a couple of weeks. However, the effects are usually temporary.

Benefits of a TCA chemical peel:

• Removes superficial blemishes
• Corrects pigment problems
• Can be used on the face, neck or other body areas
• Treatment takes only 10-15 minutes
• Preferred for darker-skinned patients
• Peel depth can be adjusted
• Repeat treatment may be needed to maintain results
• Healing is usually quick, much quicker than with a phenol peel

Preparing For Your Chemical Peel

Prior to the chemical peel, you may be asked to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin with topical preconditioning medications such as Retin-A, Renova, or glycolic acid. After the chemical peel, it's important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater which also contains ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which act as a physical barrier as well. If you have been prescribed oral antibiotics or an oral antiviral medicine, you should begin taking those as directed. Typically, the oral antibiotics are prescribed depending on the depth of the chemical peel.

You will work with an Elizabeth Roche M.D. Med Spa physician to determine the depth of your chemical peel. This decision can vary, depending upon the condition of your skin and what you wish the treatment to achieve.

What Should You Expect During the Procedure

During the chemical peel procedure, most patients experience a warm to somewhat hot sensation that lasts about five to ten minutes, followed by a stinging sensation. Cool compresses may be applied to help alleviate this stinging. A deeper peel may require pain medication during or after the procedure.

What to Expect After the Chemical Peel Treatment

Depending upon the type and depth of chemical peel, a reaction ranging from a slight flushing to a sunburn may occur following the procedure. Peeling may involve redness, followed by scaling that ends within three to seven days. Medium and deep peels may result in swelling, and possibly the presence of water blisters that may break, crust, turn brown and peel off over a period of seven to 14 days.

It is important to avoid over-exposure to the sun after a chemical peel since the new skin is fragile and more susceptible to complications. Sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as well as a high SPF is recommended. Wearing a visor or a hat is another way to help avoid sun exposure.

Get the Facts about Chemical Peels

Of course, we'll be glad to answer your Chemical Peel questions personally, so don't hesitate to call The Elizabeth Roche Med Spa in New Jersey at 201-505-1020.