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Chemical
Peels
There are three common variations of chemical peels performed by the
Manhattan, New York Board Certified Dermatologist. The chemical peels
are classified as:
Superficial Chemical Peel
Medium Chemical Peel
Deep Chemical Peel
These
chemical peel classifications refer to the depth of the skin penetration
caused by the exfoliating agent. Superficial chemical peels treat the outer
layer of the skin called the epidermis and mildly stimulate collagen
formation in the uppermost part of the dermis.
Commonly used chemical peeling agents are Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and
Beta Hydroxy acids. They provide significant benefits by helping smooth
rough, dry skin, improve the texture of sun-damaged skin, and even-out skin
tone. Treatment recovery is rapid usually consisting of minor flaking and
mild redness for several days. A series of four to six treatments are
generally required to obtain the best results.
Results of an AHA chemical peel are temporary and periodic treatments are
recommended to maintain the results.
AHAs are often referred to as fruit acids. They include glycolic acid (from
sugar cane), lactic acid (from sour milk), citric acid (from citrus fruits)
and tartaric acid (from fermented grapes). Glycolic acid is most frequently
used for superficial peels and in cosmetic formulations. When used as a
peel, the pH or measure of acidity is low (more acidic) and thus more
irritating.
Medium chemical peels often contain trichloroacetic acid (TCA) (35%),
although lower percentages can be used for superficial peels and higher
percentages (50-60%) can produce a deep peel. The best candidate for a
medium chemical peel is an individual with fair skin. It is sometimes
combined with other treatments such as tretinoin cream, Jessner's solution
(containing lactic acid, salicylic acid and resorcinol), or
Microdermabrasion, to intensify the results.
TCA treats the epidermis and upper dermis and causes the upper layers of
skin to peel within 5 to 7 days. A mild pain medication may be used to ease
the stinging that occurs with this type of peel. Immediately after the
treatment a white frost forms and begins temporarily turning red.
There is some recovery (down) time from a TCA chemical peel. Typically three
to five days, but it's time well spent since milder peels simply cannot
deliver the same results.
Medium chemical peels can be used to treat a number of skin conditions, but
they are most often used to treat the effects of sun damage. These chemical
peels also diminish the appearance of blotchy skin by reducing the
color contrast of surrounding skin. Deep wrinkles are less responsive and
require additional treatments. Frequently a series of medium peels is
required to achieve the desired result.
It's important to take pretreatment with anti-viral medicine if you have a
tendency for cold sores. It's also extremely important to protect your
treated skin from sun exposure by using a transparent zinc oxide sun-blocker
before leaving going outdoors. .
To varying degrees, medium chemical peels cause remodeling of the collagen
in the dermis and an increase in the elastic fibers. Collagen and elastin
(an elastic fiber) are the main structural proteins in the dermis. With
aging, the dermal collagen and elastin content decreases as the skin becomes
thinner. This is accelerated by sun exposure and is the major factor
associated with wrinkling.
If you'd like to find out what this treatment can offer you, please contact
the NYC dermatoloigst for a consultation appointment.
Feel free to make a consultation with Board Certified Dermatologist, Debra
Jaliman, MD at her Manhattan, New York office for your chemical peel. |
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