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Facial peeling involves the removal of the skin's top layer by applying a chemical caustic solution to unevenly pigmented, sun damaged or finely wrinkled skin, to improve the texture and diminish imperfections in the skin. Facial peels can be divided into the following categories and vary according to ingredients and strength and are discussed on this page:
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Please note that we are not involved in any way with cosmetic surgery, or any procedures like facial peels, but are manufacturers of skin care products, but include these information pages on our website for the interest of our visitors, since it also deals with looking good in the broadest context. |
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Since various professions in different countries call the same procedure by different names, it is strongly suggested that you make sure of what type of treatment you will receive and the technique, as well as the chemicals used.
In some countries chemical peels are applied by beauty salons but we at Dermaxime, do not believe that this should be done without medical supervision, and would recommend that clients / patients rather make use of a dermatologist / plastic surgeon that either attends to facial peeling him or herself or employs a trained technician to apply these peels under his / her supervision.
- Light facial peels (also referred to as Micro peels)
- Superficial peels normally make use of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) such as glycolic lactic or fruit acid. The procedure of these peels is not really painful and no recovery time is really required as a 20% to 40% solution of glycolic acid is normally used.
- The AHA is applied with a sponge, cotton pad or brush and will leave your skin looking fresher, healthier and with a radiant glow. This must be maintained with a proper skincare regimen, and a good skincare range.
- A light facial peel will however not improve dynamic wrinkles or skin tone in general and if you have a very fair and sensitive skin it may be red for a day or two.
- Medium facial peels (also known as TCA peels)
- Tricloro acetic acid or TCA peels are often used to eliminate fine wrinkles, improve superficial pigmentation and to promote skin smoothness. They have the added benefit that they can be used on the face and neck - whereas phenol peels can only be used on the face.
- Medium peels can be repeated every six months and can be performed on people with dark or olive-skin, although the risk of uneven discoloration does exist.
- This type of chemical facial peel however offers no improvement to deep dynamic wrinkles and a pre-treatment skincare regimen will make the treatment more effective. Your dermatologist or plastic surgeon will probably recommend a skincare regimen involving Retin-A or AHA products to allow the treatment to penetrate more deeply.
- Medium facial peels can be painful when performed but pain medication can make this tolerable. The TCA solution is applied to the skin, and when the required peeling is achieved the solution is neutralized with iced saline.
- After the treatment your skin will be covered with a petroleum jelly and you will be able to wash your face twice daily with a gentle soap. After a couple of days your skin will darken, become stiff - look like leather - and then begin to peel and flake.
- This process takes about 7 - 10 days but you may want to stay out of public eye for two weeks after the treatment.
- After having a facial peel, a good skincare regimen must be followed and a good range of skincare products used to maintain the results obtained through the procedure.
- Deep facial peeling (Phenol peel)
- This is the deepest chemical peel that is reserved for those with deep wrinkles from sun exposure and to treat severe wrinkling around the lips and chin area as well as skin pigmentation marks.
- The Phenol is applied to the skin and the timing depends on the size of the area being treated. After it has been applied, it is neutralized with water and although the peeling solution acts as a local anesthetic as well, a burning sensation is felt. For this reason the surgeon may prescribe some form of pain medication before the treatment begins.
- After the application has been finalized, the skin starts to form a crust, and is covered with a thick layer of petroleum jelly or can alternatively be covered by a mask made of strips of tape. After several days the crust, which will ooze, will start to turn dark and stiff and then begin to flake, which will leave new pink fresh skin underneath.
- Patients do experience discomfort afterwards but it is controlled effectively with pain medication and swelling normally disappears after 10 days.
- The effects can be dramatic but there are complications and side effects that may include scarring, abnormal pigmentation, bleaching of treated skin and activation of dormant cold sore infections.
- Afterwards a sun block or sunscreen with a SPF factor of 15 or higher needs to be used at all times, as irregular tanning is common and skin pores may also appear larger.
- Phenol peels can only be used on the face but not the neck or other body parts and are not advised for use on darker or olive-skinned people as it has the disadvantage that it can permanently change the skin pallor to very light.
- Dermabrasion
- The resurfacing of the skin can be achieved with a variety of methods, dermabrasion being one of them.
- Dermabrasion is performed by using a small, rapidly spinning wheel with a surface like fine graded sandpaper. Although it can be used all over the face, it is mostly employed on specific areas such as acne scars or deep wrinkles and lines, such as deep nasolabial lines (smiling lines).
- It is also a popular method to treat the vertical lines that you often find around the mouth that cause "lipstick bleed".
- There is no pre-treatment preparation required, but several treatments may be necessary to achieve the desired effect since each dermabrasion would result in about a 20 - 40% improvement of the area treated.
- Redness and swelling is normal after dermabrasion and a sun block or sunscreen preparation must be used afterwards to minimize the risk of irregular tanning.
- Laser resurfacing (CO2 and Erbium)
- Laser resurfacing of the skin has become very popular to help improve wrinkles and acne scars. It differs greatly from peels, since it doesn't peel the skin, but simply vaporizes the top layer.
- Fine lines and wrinkles can be removed and deeper dynamic wrinkles can improve with this treatment. The one plus point of using a CO2 laser is that it will also improve the skin's tightness.
- The N-Lite laser does not vaporize the skin as does CO2, but instead works by stimulating the production of collagen.
- Although the CO2 and Erbium lasers do not peel the skin, it still causes a burn, and for that reason your skin will react to it in a suitable fashion, which will include oozing and weeping and with this in mind be prepared not to be in public eye for at least two weeks after laser treatment.
- And although laser is touted as the miracle of modern skincare, it is not the panacea that it is sometimes made out to be, since it still involves recovery time in the case of CO2 and erbium lasers and both these lasers may in actual fact worsen existing spider veins.
- Before CO2 and erbium laser, the skin also needs preparation with a product such as Retin-A or AHA preparations and after the initial redness fades. About two weeks after the treatment your skin may still have a sun burnt redness present for some weeks or months afterwards.
- CO2 lasers should not be used on dark or olive-skinned people because of the risk of permanent pigment changes, and if erbium laser is used on such skins, a test area should be done before the treatment.
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