A facial peel is done in a dermatologist or medical office. It can be used to even out acne spots, improve other skin color irregularities, improve appearance of fine wrinkles and lines and even to remove precancerous spots. The procedure can take anywhere from three minutes to one hour.
Chemicals
The doctor or dermatologist applies an acid solution to the skin during a facial peel. This will cause the topmost layers to peel off. For example, at the Mayo Clinic, glycolic and salicylic acids are used for superficial, or mild, peels that remove the outermost layer of skin. The clinic uses trichloroacetic acid for medium-depth peels that take off the epidermis as well as a small portion of the middle layer of skin. Other commonly used acids include lactic acid and carbolic acid, also called phenol, which is used for deep peels.
Preparation
Good candidates for a facial peel include people who have fair skin that is dull. A peel will not fix deep furrows or sagging skin, according to the Cambridge Health Alliance. Before the treatment, patients need to stop taking certain medications and prepare their skin. Patients apply pre-conditioning creams at home for a period of time determined by the health care professional, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Procedure
When the peel is done, the health care professional will wash the skin to remove excess oils. She applies the peel to the desired area of the face or neck with a sponge, brush, cotton pad or cotton swab. Patients can also elect to have peels on the chest, arms, hands or legs. Most people who undergo a peel feel a warm to hot sensation during the peel. It can last five to 10 minutes. A deeper peel is sometimes more painful, and some patients need medication during or directly following the procedure.
Results
Some people need more than one facial peel to achieve the results they want. The mild peel aims to improve mild scarring, acne spots, skin color irregularities, and the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. The Mayo Clinic recommends a medium peel for people who have sun damage, precancerous spots, fine wrinkles or skin color abnormalities. The deep facial peel is undergone by people who have deep wrinkles from sun exposure, according to the American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and are also used to treat wrinkling skin in the areas of the lips and chin.
Recovery
Following the peel, some patients feel like the skin is sunburned. The gentlest type of peel often causes redness that is followed by scaling. The scaling can last three to five days. Medium and deep peels can cause swelling and blisters. These can turn brown, break, crust, and peel off over a seven to 14 days. In some cases, surgical tape needs to be placed on the treated skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. After healing, dermatologists also recommend people who've had peels use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks ultraviolet A and B rays.
Risks
There are some risks with the facial peel. These include a temporary or permanent change in skin color, activation of a latent cold sore infection, or persistent redness that lasts for months. There is also a risk of scarring, but this is rare, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Member Comments