Chemical peels and dermabrasion are two specialty treatments used to treat wrinkles, age spots and other skin conditions. These treatments are typically offered at a physician's office, spa or esthetician's office. Both are considered more invasive forms of treatment, as stronger chemical peels and dermabrasion can remove a portion of the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin.
Features
A chemical peel utilizes a form of acid to take away the skin's outer layers to reveal fresher, younger-looking skin underneath. Chemical peels can range from very mild (using alpha-hydroxy acids) to deeper peels, utilizing liquid nitrogen or other strong chemicals.
Dermabrasion, which also is known as skin planing, uses a rotating instrument to abrade the skin, removing the skin's top layer. This treatment is significantly more invasive than its more mild counterpart, microdermabrasion.
Benefits
Dermabrasion is used to reduce skin scarring, age spots, sun damage or wrinkling. The treatment is worthwhile in reducing especially deep wrinkles or acne-related scars. Chemical peels offer benefits that vary dependent upon the strength of the peel. Milder peels may help to remove superficial wrinkles and age spots, while deeper peels can take on the same effects as a facelift: dramatically reducing deep wrinkles.
Side Effects
Immediately following a chemical peel, a person may experience a variety of side effects, dependent upon which peel type is used. A mild peel may cause redness and increased sensitivity to the sun.
After a dermabrasion treatment, a person's skin may appear as if it has experienced a severe sunburn. This may result in symptoms such as redness, cracking and peeling.
Time Frame
Following a chemical peel, some patches of skin may scale and then flake off, which typically occurs across a three- to five-day period. Medium to deep peels will cause facial swelling, as well as blistering that may cause the skin to appear dark in color with crust-like scales. This may take a month to several months to subside.
For a chemical peel, initial symptoms typically go away within 10 days. However, a dermabrasion patient should avoid sun exposure for several months following the procedure as the skin works to achieves a more normal appearance (this takes between 8 and 12 weeks).
Warning
Both dermabrasion and chemical peels carry risks of pain as well as uneven pigmentation following the treatment. Because the treatment can result in skin cracking and peeling, it is possible for those who are genetically predispositioned to experience keloid scars to develop thicker areas of skin following either procedure.
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