Chemical peels can improve the skin’s appearance. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the thoroughly cleansed skin, which makes it blister and eventually peel off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.
Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands in order to:
• Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
• Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
• Improve the appearance of mild scars
• Treat certain types of acne
• Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills
• Improve the skin texture
After a chemical peel, skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so wear “broad-spectrum” sunscreen every day. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Generally, fair-skinned and light-haired patients are better candidates for chemical peels. If you have darker skin, you may be more likely to have an uneven skin tone after the procedure.
Before you get a chemical peel, you may need to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin by using other medications, such as Retin-A, Renova, or glycolic acid. You may need to get antibiotics or antiviral drugs.
During a chemical peel, most people feel a stinging and burning sensation that lasts about five to ten minutes. Putting cool compresses on the skin may ease that stinging. You may need pain medication during or after a deeper peel.
Depending upon the type of chemical peel, a reaction similar to sunburn occurs following the procedure. Peeling usually involves redness followed by scaling that ends within three to seven days.
Mild peels may be repeated at one to four-week intervals until you get the look you’re after. Medium-depth and deep peeling may result in swelling as well as blisters that may break, crust, turn brown, and peel off over a period of seven to 14 days. Medium-depth peels may be repeated in six to 12 months, if necessary.
Some skin types, taking birth control pills, subsequent pregnancy, or a family history of brownish discoloration on the face are more likely to develop a temporary or permanent color change in the skin after a chemical peel. For people with a history of herpes outbreaks, there is a small risk of reactivating cold sores.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Spa Shizen at 661-799-1720.