Skin Resurfacing - Opting for Chemical Peel

Chemical peels are a category of advanced clinical skin rejuvenation treatments that help to reverse the signs of aging and the damage of past sun exposure and have been used in France since the late nineteenth century. They have been used in North America since the 1920s and are now accepted and well recognized procedures particularly for treatment of sun damaged and aged skin. Chemical peels can be performed on all parts of the body: face, neck, chest, back, arms and legs.

A variety of chemical agents are used to cause inflammation and irritation to the superficial layer of the skin. Three of the most commonly used peeling agents are:

• Phenol and its derivatives,
• Trichloro-acetic acid (TCA), and
• Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid.

The subsequent realignment of the skin's collagen building blocks after the chemical peel leads to a smoother younger look.

Chemical peels can effectively improve a wide variety of skin conditions including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Uneven pigmentation
• Shallow Acne scars
• Sun-damaged skin
• Age spots
• Freckling

What benefits can a chemical peel yield?

Sun damaged skin characterized by fine to moderately coarse wrinkles, irregular pigmentation, dilated blood vessels and scaling wound, all benefits from a chemical peel. Light skinned patients are better candidates than those with darker skin because they tend to have fewer pigmentation after the procedure. Individuals with sagging and excessive skin are not candidates for this procedure since chemical peeling improves skin quality but does not reduce excess skin. An eyelid lift for example, removes redundant skin but chemical peeling may be necessary to remove the fine wrinkles.

What is involved in a chemical peel?

Chemical peels can be categorized as mild, moderate and aggressive. The extent of skin damage determines the type of peel which is used and the depth of peeling necessary.

Mild chemical peels
A solution of 30 to 70% glycolic acid or 10 to 15% trichloroacetic acid may be used.

Moderate chemical peels
20 to 45% trichloroacetic acid is used.

Aggressive peels
45 to 60% trichloroacetic acid phenol or baker's solution (a modified phenol preparation) may be used.

Many dermatologist, plastic surgeons and other esthetic surgeons are now using milder agents in a series of applications rather than using more aggressive agents on a single occasion to visit the best results with the least amount of risk.

The glycolic acid peels are particularly popular, because they offer the least risk of pigment changes and scars as well as the shortest period of re-cooperation disability after the procedure. In contrast, with the phenol peels there is a greater risk of scar and pigment changes, a longer recovery time, and the risk of damage to the heart, liver and kidneys .

The steps involved with each type of peel are similar, with some differences.

If phenol is used for the peeling procedure, a pre-operative assessment of the heart, liver and kidneys is necessary. This is not necessary with glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid peels.

With all types of peels, the skin is cleared with degreasing agents such as, acetone, alcohol or Povidone iodine (Betadine), as these encourage better penetration to deeper levels and greater uniformity of the peel.

The chemical agent of choice is usually done or performed with Q- tips or gauze over the designated areas. Feathering, using less or lower concentrations of the agent, is performed as the physician moves from the face into the neck or hairline regions. This avoids any obvious demarcation between peeled and untreated skin.