20
Oct
What Is Chemical Peel
A chemical peel involves putting on a chemical solution to the skin and removing the top layers. The regenerated skin is smoother. You may need to redo the technique with a light or medium peel to achieve the desired results.
Eliminate wrinkles, damaged skin, and scars from the face are the significant reasons you will need to undergo a Chemical peel procedure. They can be performed on their own or in conjunction with other cosmetic treatments. Chemical peels are available in a variety of strengths, from moderate to severe.
Chemical peels that are deeper in-depth produce more dramatic results, but they also take longer to recover from.
They can help to improve the appearance of the skin. A chemical solution is administered to the skin in this procedure, causing it to “blister” and finally peel off. In most cases, the new skin is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.
The face, neck, and hands can all benefit from chemical peels, including:
- Reduce the appearance of tiny wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth.
- Sun damage and wrinkles caused by aging.
- Improving mild scars in appearance.
- Acne treatment for specific types of acne
- Pregnancy or birth control drugs can cause age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma).
- Enhance the appearance and feel of your skin
What Is Chemical Peel Procedure And Purpose?
A chemical peel is a type of skin resurfacing treatment. You can get a chemical peel is one of three depths, depending on the difficulties you’re trying to solve with the procedure:
The outer skin layer should be removed using a moderate (superficial) chemical peel (epidermis).
It can be used to address fine wrinkles, acne, uneven skin tone, and dryness. You might expect a little peel every two to five weeks.
What is chemical peel with a medium intensity. A medium chemical peel eliminates skin cells from the epidermis and sections of the top middle layer of your skin (dermis). It helps with wrinkles, acne scars, and uneven skin tone. You may need to repeat the operation to attain or maintain the intended effect.
A deep chemical peel eradicates considerably more skin cells. For deeper wrinkles, scars, or precancerous growths, your doctor may prescribe one. To receive the maximum effect, you won’t need to repeat the procedures. Chemical peels are unable to erase severe scars, wrinkles, or sagging skin.
The Following Are Some Of The Potential Adverse Effects Of A Chemical Peel:
Swelling, scabbing, and redness. Redness of the treated skin is a normal part of the healing process after a chemical peel. Redness may stay for a few months after a medium or deep chemical peel.
Scarring. A chemical peel can produce scarring on the bottom half of the face in rare cases. You can use antibiotics and steroid medicines to make these scars less noticeable.
Skin color changes. A chemical peel can make treated skin darker (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation) (hypopigmentation). Hyperpigmentation is more prevalent after a superficial peel, whereas hypopigmentation is more common after a complete peel. These issues are more common in persons of race, and they can be permanent in some cases.
Infection. A chemical peel can produce a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection, such as a cold sore outbreak caused by the herpes virus.
Damage to the heart, kidneys, and liver Carbolic acid (phenol) is used in a thorough chemical peel, which can induce heart muscle damage and irregular heartbeat. Phenol is also toxic to the liver and kidneys. A deep chemical peel is applied in 10- to 20-minute intervals to decrease phenol exposure.
A chemical peel is not appropriate for everyone. Your doctor may recommend you to avoid a chemical peel or certain types of chemical peels if your answer to the following question is YES:
- In the last six months, you have taken isotretinoin (Myorisan, Claravis, and other acne medications) orally in the last six months?
- Has a personal or family history of ridged areas caused by scar tissue overgrowth? (keloids)
- Are you pregnant?
- Have frequent or severe cold sore breakouts
How Do You Get Ready?
Choose a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon who is familiar with the skin and the operation. The outcome is dependent on the expertise of the individual performing the peel. A chemical peel can cause issues, like as infection and lasting scarring, if done incorrectly.
Your doctor will most likely undertake the following before doing a chemical peel on you:
- Examine your medical background. Prepare to answer questions regarding current and previous medical conditions, drugs you’re taking or have recently taken, and any cosmetic treatments you’ve undergone.
- Perform a physical examination. Your doctor would examine your skin and the region to be treated to determine which peel is best for you and how your physical characteristics, such as skin tone and thickness, may affect your outcomes.
- Talk about your expectations. Discuss your motivations, expectations, and potential dangers with your doctor. Make sure you know how many treatments you’ll need, how long it will take for you to recuperate, and what your outcomes will be.
You May Also Need To Do The Following Before Peeling:
- Take antiviral medication if infected with a virus. To help avoid a viral infection, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine before and after treatment.
- Apply a retinoid cream on your skin. To aid in healing, your doctor may consider using a retinoid cream such as tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A) for a few weeks prior to treatment.
- Use a bleaching chemical to remove the stains. To lessen the chance of side effects, your doctor may consider using a bleaching agent (hydroquinone), retinoid cream, or both either before or after the surgery.
- Sun exposure without protection should be avoided. Too much sun exposure prior to the operation can result in permanent pigmentation irregularities in the treated areas. Consult your doctor about sun protection and safe levels of exposure to the sun.
- Avoid certain cosmetic treatments and hair removal methods. Stop using hair removal methods like electrolysis or depilatories about a week before the peel. In the week leading up to your peel, avoid hair dyeing, permanent wave or hair straightening treatments, facial masks, and facial washes. Starting 24 hours before your peel, don’t shave the areas that will be treated.
- Make plans to get a ride home. Make arrangements for a ride home if you’ll be sedated throughout the surgery.
What You May Anticipate
Prior To The Operation
Chemical peels are typically performed in a doctor’s office or at an outpatient surgical facility. Your doctor would clean your face, protect your hair, and cover your eyes with ointment, gauze, tape, or goggles before the surgery.
A gentle chemical peel usually does not necessitate pain medication. They may provide you with a sedative and painkiller if you have a medium peel. A sedative, medication to numb the treatment area, and fluids injected through a vein may be used for a deep peel.
Throughout The Treatment
A gentle chemical peel consists of the following steps:
Your doctor will apply a chemical solution containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid to your skin with a brush, cotton ball, gauze, or sponge. The treated skin will begin to whiten.
While the chemical solution is on your skin, you may experience slight stinging.
To get rid of the chemical solution from the treated area, your doctor will administer a neutralizing solution or wash.
During a medium chemical peel, the following happens:
Your doctor will apply a chemical solution containing trichloroacetic acid, sometimes in combination with glycolic acid, to your skin with cotton-tipped applicator or gauze. The treated skin will begin to whiten.
Your doctor can apply cool compresses to the treated skin after a few minutes. To keep your skin cool, they can provide you with a hand-held fan. However, no neutralizing solution is required.
For up to 20 minutes, you may experience stinging and burning.
During a deep chemical peel, the following happens:
Your heart rate will be closely monitored when you get intravenous (IV) fluids.
Your doctor will apply carbolic acid (phenol) to your skin with a cotton-tipped applicator. The treated skin will begin turning white or gray.
To keep your exposure to phenol to a minimum, your doctor will perform the procedure in 15-minute increments. A full-facial surgery may take around 90 minutes.
Following The Procedure
Your skin will be red, tight, inflamed, or swollen after a chemical peel at any depth. Follow your doctor’s instructions for sun protection, washing, moisturizing, and applying protective ointments to your skin. Also, don’t pick, rubbing, or scratch your skin. It might take a few months for your skin color to return to normal for the full effects of the peel to be visible.
After a minor chemical peel, the skin will be red, dry, and somewhat irritated, though these effects may fade with each subsequent treatment. To calm the skin, your doctor may apply a protective ointment such as petroleum jelly. If you choose, you can typically apply makeup the next day.
After a gentle chemical peel, the treated areas require one to seven days to heal. It’s possible that your new skin will be lighter or darker than usual for a while.
The skin will redden and puffy after a medium chemical peel. You will feel a stinging sensation. To relieve the pain and avoid dryness, your doctor may apply a protective ointment such as petroleum jelly. You can use cosmetics to hide any redness after five to seven days.
For relief, apply ice packs. Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are two over-the-counter pain relievers that may help you feel better. Your doctor will most likely schedule a follow-up appointment soon following your treatment to monitor your progress.
Treated Skin Areas
The treated skin will build a crust and discolor or develop brown patches as the swelling goes down. Treated areas take seven to fourteen days to heal after a medium chemical peel. However, redness might remain for months.
You’ll have a lot of redness and swelling after a deep chemical peel. Burning and throbbing will also be present, and the swelling may cause your eyes to bulge shut.
Your doctor will then apply a surgical dressing to the area that he has treated. They may also recommend pain relievers. For around two weeks, bathe the afflicted skin and apply ointment several times a day.
After a deep chemical peel, treated areas will develop new skin in about two weeks; however, redness may remain for months. Skin treated might become darker or lighter than average, or it may lose its ability to tan.
While recovering from a chemical peel, you may want to stay at home. Following your treatment, you’ll most likely require multiple follow-up visits so that your doctor can check your progress.
You can mask any redness with cosmetics once new skin has wholly covered the treated region in about two weeks. Every day, apply sunscreen.
What Is Chemical Peel Result?
Skin texture and tone improve, and fine wrinkles reduced with a gentle chemical peel.
The effects are mild at first, but they get better with time. The skin will be considerably smoother after a medium chemical peel. The look and feel of treated regions will dramatically improve after a deep chemical peel. The outcomes might not be permanent. Age and new sun damage can cause new wrinkles and skin color changes over time.
The fresh skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun after any peel. Consult your doctor about how long you should keep your skin protected from the sun.
Chemical Peel Is Beneficial
So the answer to What is Chemical Peel is that chemical peels can help to minimize skin damage and make the skin appear more youthful and pristine. Depending on a person’s problems and skin type, a dermatologist will propose the best chemical peel.
All skin types can benefit from superficial peels. However, every kind of chemical peel necessitates some healing time and may result in side effects such as redness, skin peeling, and sun sensitivity.
Chemical peels are made up of milder versions of the agents found in commercial products. They are less expensive than expert peels, but the results take longer to appear.