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Chemical Peel

About Chemical Peeling

Your skin is a living organ, made up of millions of cells. Everyday, thousands of cells die, fall off, and are replaced by new cells from below. This is a slow and haphazard process that does not allow your skin to shed dark spots, sun damage, or a dull, lifeless complexion.

The purpose of a facial peel is to cause the even, controlled shedding of several layers of damaged cells, so you are left with a new fresh layer of skin, with a more even texture and color.

Many types of facial peels have been performed in this country during the past 20 to 30 years.

During a chemical peel, a solution is applied to various areas of the skin. These applications produce separation and eventual peeling of layers of skin, enabling new, regenerated skin to appear. During this procedure, most patients experience a warm to somewhat hot sensation which lasts about 5-10 minutes, followed by a stinging sensation.

What Does It Do?

Chemical peeling is often used to treat fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth. Wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors can often be reduced or even eliminated with this procedure. However, sags, bulges and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to peeling and may require other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures.

Mild scarring and certain types of acne can be treated with chemical peels. In addition, pigmentation of the skin in the form of sun spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles, blotchiness due to taking birth control pills, and skin that is dull in texture and colour may be improved with chemical peeling. Areas of sun-damaged skin, spots of precancerous keratoses and scaling patches may improve after chemical peeling. Following treatment, new lesions or patches are less likely to appear.

The procedure can be performed on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms and legs. Superficial, medium, or deep chemical peels may be used to improve damaged skin.

Different Types of Chemical Peels

During your consultation, you will want to explain the level of skin improvement you hope to achieve. We will then review your medical history and examine your skin type and pigmentation to determine if you are a good candidate for a chemical peel. We can help determine the most appropriate type of treatment for each individual case. We, at The Institute of Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, perform three types of chemical peels including:

1. Kojic Acid Peels
   This peel is a natural product used in the treatment of pigmentation problems of the skin, by inhabiting the production of brown pigment. Kojic acid is used to improve brown-spotting of the skin (hyperpigmentation). Kojic acid is performed by providing the patient with a series of peels, done at four week intervals. During that time, the pigmented areas slowly become lighter, leaving the skin tone much more even. Following the peel, expect to be slightly pink for usually about two hours. The skin will feel dry and tight for a couple of days, with a minor amount of flaking. You are able to wear makeup during this time. There is no "down time" period.
2. Jessner’s Peels
   Jessner's peeling is a chemical treatment designed to remove superficial layers of skin. It is used to help dry out active acne, to reduce shallow wrinkling and scarring, and to lighten hyperpigmented, dark patches on the skin. As you continue with light peel treatments, they will be spaced at 2-to 4-week intervals. The solution is applied to your skin with gauze, cotton applicators, or a small brush. Because the solution is a combination of mild acids, some stinging usually occurs during application. After the solution is applied, your face may have white areas called frosting and usually fades within 15 to 30 minutes. Your face may appear slightly redder than usual for some time after the treatment. Your skin will probably become very dry, and some small cracks may develop. You may apply makeup as usual. In general, the peeled area will appear mildly or moderately sunburned.
3. TCA Peels
   The main ingredient in this peel is trichloroacetic acid (TCA) which creates a peel that offers less risk of scarring and pigmentation changes than the phenol chemical peel. It can make marked improvements in blotchy pigmentation, freckling, sun damage, fine wrinkles, and some types of acne scars. It consists of the application of one or several layers of medication to your skin to create a controlled chemical burn. There is normally a few minutes of stinging and burning after the medication is applied. This usually stops within 2 or 3 minutes, and there is no more discomfort during the rest of the time you are peeling, although most people experience itching during the healing process. During the next several days, your skin turns darker, feels tight, then cracks and peels off, leaving you with a new fresh layer of skin. There are no scabs, bleeding, or bandages. During healing, you should have no pain. Most people look strange during peeling, but if you don't mind your appearance, you are able to go out and even go to work. However, you will not be able to be in the sun or do anything that would cause you to perspire heavily.

   The average peel takes 5 or 6 days to complete. Deeper peels, for heavily sun-damaged and wrinkled skin, may take 8 or 10 days. You may have some swelling during the first 2 or 3 days after your peel, particularly if it is a medium or deep peel.

Post Treatment

Depending upon the type of peel, a reaction similar to a mild to severe sunburn occurs following a chemical peel. Superficial peeling usually involves redness, followed by scaling that ends within 3-5 days. Medium-depth and deep peeling can sometimes result in swelling and blisters that may break, crust, turn brown, and peel off over a period of 7-14 days.

It is important to avoid overexposure to the sun immediately after a chemical peel since the new skin is fragile and more susceptible to injury.

Risks After Chemical Peeling

In certain skin types, there is a risk of developing a temporary or permanent colour change in the skin. Taking birth control pills, pregnancy, or a family history of brownish discoloration on the face may increase the possibility of developing abnormal pigmentation.

Although low, there is a risk of scarring after chemical peels. If scarring does occur, it can usually be treated with good results. There is also a small incidence of the reactivation of cold sores or Herpes Simplex infection in patients with a history of fever blisters.