Chemical Peels

Chemical Peel Introduction
The chemical peel procedure involves a chemical solution that is applied to the skin. The solution causes a layer of skin to separate and peel off. The new, regenerated skin underneath is usually smoother, less wrinkled, and more even in color than the old skin. It is very important to find a chemical peel physician who has adequate training and experience in skin resurfacing. In some states, a medical degree is not required to perform chemical peels - even the strongest phenol peels - and many states have laws that permit non-physicians to administer certain peel solutions, but regulate the strengths which they are permitted to apply.

Chemical peel uses a chemical solution in order to improve the skin's appearance. It can reduce or eliminate fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth, correct uneven skin pigmentation, remove pre-cancerous skin growths, and soften acne or treat the scars caused by acne. The chemical peel procedure can also treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and scarring, as well as skin blemishes common with age and heredity. Chemical peels can be performed on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, and legs.

Baby boomers and others who once sought the sun's rays with little thought of skin damage are now paying the price--billions of dollars annually for cosmetics containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Derived from fruit and milk sugars and served up in creams and lotions, AHAs attract customers with their supposed ability to reduce wrinkles, spots, and other signs of aging, sun-damaged skin. Some scientific evidence suggests they may work.

What substances are used for chemical peels?
Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) are used for chemical peels. The precise formula used may be adjusted for each specific patient.
alphahydroxy acids (AHAs)
Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids are the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light chemical peels that can often provide smoother, brighter-looking skin. AHA chemical peels may be used to treat the following:

• fine wrinkling
• areas of dryness
• uneven pigmentation
• aid in control of acne
• smooth rough, dry skin
• improve texture of sun-damaged skin

Trichloracetic acid chemical peel - Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can be used in many concentrations and is used to accomplish the following:

• smooth fine surface wrinkles
• remove superficial blemishes
• correct pigment problems
• It can be used on the neck or other body areas, and may require pre-treatment with Retin-A or AHA creams. It is preferable for darker-skinned patients.

AHA cosmetics are believed to have derived from the "chemical peels" that dermatologists and plastic surgeons have used for years. The peels, typically trichloroacetic acid, phenol, resorcinol, and salicylic acid, help remove undesirable signs of skin aging, such as discoloration, roughness and wrinkling. The chemicals cause the skin to lose its outer layer, or peel off, revealing a fresher-looking layer of skin. Known as chemical exfoliation, the procedure is done in doctors' offices so that doctors can control the process and prevent deep skin burns from the highly acidic solutions.

Cosmetic manufacturers began to market similar but milder versions of these chemical peels containing AHAs for salon and at-home use around 1989. They quickly caught on, and by 1992, mass marketing had begun. Today, says Lisa Berger, a cosmetic sales manager for a Hecht Co. department store in Washington, D.C., "every [cosmetic company] has AHA products. There used to be only three product lines; now there are 20."

The AHAs used most often in cosmetics are glycolic acid and lactic acid, although there are others, and many are used in combination. Increasingly, says Zoe Draelos, M.D., a dermatologist in High Point, N.C., manufacturers are using poly-AHAs, which have larger molecules, and ingredients such as salicylic acid. According to Draelos, who consults for several large U.S. cosmetic companies, these products may produce less skin irritation.

Typically, AHA products sold to consumers have an AHA concentration of 10 percent or less. The concentration of AHA products used by trained cosmetologists may run between 20 and 30 percent, while those used by doctors can range from 50 to 70 percent.

Though sold to consumers mainly in face and body creams and lotions, AHAs also can be found to a lesser degree in other cosmetics, such as shampoos and cuticle softeners. Available everywhere, from discount pharmacies to fine department stores, the products typically range in price from a few dollars to as much as $60 a bottle.

Understading Chemical Peel Limitations:
• Don't expect perfection.
• Have realistic expectations. A cosmetic surgery can reshape your body, but not your life.
• Know the chemical peel risks.
• Don't do it on the cheap. Pay what it takes for safe chemical peels.
• Make sure your cosmetic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• Do your homework. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Tips for Choosing a Cosmetic Surgeon:

• Check into the experience of the surgeon you are considering. Does he or she specialize in the chemical peel procedure?
• How many chemical peel procedures of this kind has the doctor done?
• How many is the doctor currently performing per year?
• Botox injection before-and-after pictures can give you some indication of a surgeon's ability, although you must realize that they cannot be construed to guarantee the result you will achieve.
• Make sure you are comfortable with the personal support between you and your cosmetic surgeon. You should always feel that your concerns are being addressed.

If you or a loved one are thinking about having chemical peels, you need to speak with an experienced doctor or surgeon as soon as posisble. You probably have alot of questions, and chances are you may be nervous or afraid. Good chemical peel surgeons in your area can help relieve this anxiety and stress. . An experienced cosmetic or plastic surgeon can evaluate your individual situation and give you their professional advice and opinion regarding chemical peels. The fact is, you won't know until you speak with a surgeon directly.

Types of Cosmetic Surgery:

Botox Injections | Breast Augmentation | Breast Lift | Brow Lift | Butt Lift | Cellulite Treatment | Collagen Injections | Chemical Peel | Chin Augmentation | Ear Surgery | Eyelid Lift | Face Lift | Forehead Lift | Hair Replacement | Laser Skin Resurfacing | Lasik Eye Surgery | Lip Augmentation | Liposuction | Nose Job | Varicose Veins | Thigh Lift | Tummy Tuck | Upper Arm Lift | Weight Loss Surgery