Chemical Peel

What is Chemical peel treatment ?

The Chemical peel treatment will help improve the appearance of the skin. Here, a chemical solution is applied to the skin of the patient. The skin will start blistering and then peel off completely.

The newly regenerated skin is typically smooth and less wrinkled compared to the old one. This treatment is usually performed on the face, hand and neck regions.

Benefits

Chemical Peel Treatments are usually preferred for the following reasons:

• Reduction of the fine lines present under the eyes and around the mouth
• Treatment of the wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
• Improvement in the appearance of mild scars
• Treatment of certain kinds of acne
• Reduction of the dark patches caused by pregnancy or birth control pills
• Reduction of age spots and freckles
• A better aesthetics and feel of the skin

Who needs this?

Chemical Peel treatment has had better results for patients with fair skin and light hair. Darker-skinned patients might also have good results depending on the condition and the treatment given.

This treatment might not get the right response from patients with skin sags, bulges, and severe wrinkles.

It is highly recommended that a skin specialist is always consulted before performing this procedure.

Chemical Peel Procedure

Pre-Peeling Procedure

The doctor will ask the patient for the following details before performing the procedure:

• Previous history of scarring, cold sores that came back
• Facial X-rays of the patient, if available.

The doctor might do the following:

• Tell the patient to avoid taking certain medications
• Patient’s skin will be prepared by applying medications like Retin-A, Renova or glycolic acid.
• Prescribe antibiotics or antiviral medications.
• Estimate the depth of the chemical peel to be applied, depending on the skin conditions of the patient and the goals of the treatment.

Actual Procedure

The doctor will perform the chemical skin peeling treatment as an outpatient procedure in the doctor’s office itself without an overnight stay.

The doctor will first clean the patient’s skin thoroughly and then apply one or more of the chemical solutions, like Glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid, to a small region of the skin. This is done to create a controlled wound to allow new skin to take its place.

The patient might feel a burning sensation while the procedure is being performed. This might last for 5 to 10 minutes, which will be followed by a stinging sensation. This stinging can be eased by putting cool compresses on the skin. If it is a deeper chemical peel, the doctor might recommend pain medication both during and after the procedure.

Post-Procedure

In some cases, the patients might experience a sunburn-like reaction after a chemical peel Treatment procedure. This usually depends on the type of chemical peel used.

The procedure usually leaves behind redness followed by scaling that might last for 3-7 days. In cases of mild chemical peels, the procedure needs to be repeated at 1 to 4 week intervals till the right look is attained. In the case of medium-depth chemical peels, the procedure needs to be repeated in 6-12 months, if necessary.

The doctor might bandage the treated skin for several days. The patient is advised to avoid direct sunlight for several months after the skin peeling treatment procedure as the new skin is delicate.

Authored By: Dr. Priya J Talageri