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Chemical peel Continued

  • Medium peels: for patients with moderate sun damage, wrinkles and a very uneven skin tone, a medium peel using trichloroacetic acids (TCAs) may be performed. The TCA solution can be varied according to the needs of the patient; at your consultation the surgeon will determine whether a light or deep TCA application is needed. The TCA solution is applied and left on for 15 minutes. You may feel a warm or burning sensation during the procedure. Multiple TCA treatments are sometimes required to produce the desired results.
  • Deep peels: using Phenol acid peels can produce dramatic results for deeply wrinkled and damaged skin. This is the strongest Chemical Peel available. Mild sedation is used for this peel. A full face Phenol peel will take up to 2 hours. These peels are also used to target smaller areas and such procedures take about 15 minutes. You may feel burning and stinging from the solution even after the procedure has been completed. This Chemical Peel is done only once and its results can last up to 20 years. This peel is not recommended for darker skin tones as it has a tendency to lighten skin.


    • Recovery and Results

    During a Chemical Peel you will feel some slight discomfort (with the Phenol peel this will be more pronounced). You can expect some post-operative redness and swelling. Recovery side effects and times vary for each peel type:
    • Light peel: within 1 day of the procedure you can be back to your normal routine. During recovery some redness, flaking of skin and swelling will occur, all of which will lessen with time.



    • Medium peel: it will take 7 to 10 days to resume normal activity after one of these peels. Expect swelling (it will diminish in 3-5 days) and redness. You may develop a brief rash of whiteheads. They should wash away, or you can see your surgeon to have them treated.
    • Deep peel: after the Phenol peel you will feel a moderate degree of discomfort. Your doctor will prescribe medication to help manage the pain. This procedure produces significant swelling to treated areas. If you undergo the full-face peel your eyes will swell shut temporarily. Your dermatologist will apply a waterproof covering to the treated area that will remain in place for a couple days. In approximately 10 days, new skin will develop. This skin will be quite red at first, but will become lighter and more natural over the next several weeks.


    Risks

    Chemical Peels rarely produce major complications. However, a few risks are possible: scarring, unsightly changes in skin tone, over lighting of the skin, darkening of the skin, and infection. Choose an experienced dermatologist who is certified by the American Board of Dermatology and follow his/her instructions carefully, and your Chemical Peel will produce beautiful results.

    By MS Kauffman           

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