The skin has many layers. Skin cells are formed deep within the skin itself and as the cells mature, they make their way toward the surface of the skin. In fact, the outermost layer of skin is actually made up of dead skin cells that had migrated from deeper layers. A chemical peel removes the outer layers of skin to reveal younger skin beneath, literally. Not only are the skin cells younger because they were “born” more recently than skin cells in outer layers, but the skin that remains after a chemical peel appears younger and smoother. Ultraviolet light from the sun and the ravages of time make the skin appear old. The skin becomes lax, discolored, wrinkled, and blotchy however most of the physical entities that cause these blemishes reside in the outer layers of skin. The more layers of skin that rest on top of scars, folds, and wrinkles, the deeper they appear. By extension, these blemishes are more noticeable and unappealing. Thus by chemically removing the outer layers of skin, scars and wrinkles are minimized. Also, discolorations and blotches appear less intense compared to the surrounding skin. There is really nothing glamorous about a chemical peel. Often the substance used to remove the outer layers of skin is some sort of acid. What is actually occurring in a chemical peel is that the peel is disrupting the connections between skin cells and actually destroying the cells themselves. Stronger agents, like phenol, rapidly destroy skin cells while milder agents, like alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), simply create an inhospitable environment for skin cells causing the cells to slough off...
To eliminate acne, skin discolorations, enlarged pores, and other facial problems, a number of people choose to get facial peels. There are variations to this procedure called chemical peels that make use of special solutions to enliven the skin. An example of a chemical peel is the VI Peel. The VI Peel solution contains acids which improve the natural exfoliating powers of the skin. Dead skin is removed from the face faster so a fresh layer of skin is revealed. The amount of collagen produced, which is an important factor of skin health, is also increased in this facial peel. Candidates The VI Peel is for people who are looking for a more efficient way of eliminating skin afflictions and age marks. Neither age nor skin type would prohibit a person from availing this chemical peel procedure. The method is harmless for children - twelve-year olds have been remedied for acne using the VI solution. The technique is just as effective for adults as well. Most facial peels don’t work on darker skin tones, but the VI Peel is similarly effective for such type of people. How It Works Conventional facial peels usually need the skin to undergo preconditioning routines before the actual application of the solution. On the other hand, no such thing is needed in a VI treatment. Skin cleansing and eye protection are the only steps taken at the start of the procedure. The VI solution is then lathered on the surface of the skin for thirty minutes. This is allowed to remain on the face for five hours before it is washed off. Patients are...
MesoSonic Facial Rejuvenation The face is the most important component of a person’s physical identity. It is how we identify ourselves among other people, and is how we express our feelings and emotions. It is also a good indicator of a person’s age, health, diet, and overall well-being, which is why when wrinkles begin to appear, it is of much concern to image-conscious people. This, is because wrinkles are big signs of aging. Some try to hide wrinkles using make-up. Others try to prevent it by having a healthy diet and lifestyle. But wrinkles are inevitable, and sometimes, one needs extra treatments to remove them. Two of these available facial rejuvenation treatments, are mesotherapy, and sonic therapy. What is mesotherapy and sonic therapy? Mesotherapy is the procedure of injecting mixed medications and formulations into the patient’s skin, to treat various medical conditions. In the case of facial rejuvenation, this is used to treat wrinkles, revitalize dry skin, remove excess facial fat, and many more. For the face, mesotherapy comes in the forms of MesoGlow and MesoLift, with each method requiring the use of dozens of tiny needles to deliver the medication into the skin. The mixture of medication depends on the the area and the severity of the problem. Sonic facial therapy, also known as ultra-sonic facial therapy uses sound waves to stimulate the skin cells of the face. This is done by raising the temperature in the skin, to increase the surrounding’s metabolic rate. By increasing the circulation, a chain-reaction of benefits for skin begins, which include cell wall cleansing, healing, and regeneration. Mesotherapy and sonic therapy procedure...
The skin is the biggest organ in the body. It covers almost everything, and is a good way to show a person’s health, well-being, and age. The good thing about skin is that it naturally replaces itself. Old, rough, dead skin cells get shed to make way for younger, more youthful looking skin. This means that the skin is able to look younger through natural means. Unfortunately, the natural process takes too long, and usually when it does happen, the effects are barely noticeable to the naked eye. Chemical Peel Benefits Plastic surgery has an answer to this in the form of chemical peeling. Chemical peels have existed in some primitive form or another since mankind has become conscious about beauty. Whether it be complex oils of the Egyptians, to natural oils and scrubs of Indians, chemical peels have played an important role in the history of human beauty. Nowadays, however, chemical peels are now more easily available to the masses, as opposed to its ancient counterparts that were usually reserved for the noble and elite. Not to mention, modern chemical peels are more effective, able to yield almost instant results upon application. Facial chemical peels can help eliminate fine wrinkles and lines, blotched pigments, scars from acne, and pimples. Chemical peels can also make the skin softer and more moisturized, having a more rejuvenated look. However, there are also more practical reasons to have a chemical peel. Acne can be a horrendous thing to deal with, especially for teenagers, but mostly for adults who think that acne will be gone soon after puberty ends, which in some cases,...
Several types of acne treatments are useful for the treatment of scarring from acne. Scars can be a devastating result of acne from both the teenage years and adult acne. Chemical Peel Acne Treatments Chemical peels use the application of an acid to the skin needing acne removal treatment. This causes the top layer of the skin to slough off and stimulate new skin. Acids range in strength from mild – which can be applied at home or in a spa acne treatment procedure to much stronger acne scar treatment acids which must be applied by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. The milder acid treatments can be considered to be a natural acne treatment method as they are composed of fruit acids such as beta hydroxy or alpha hydroxy acids. These types of acid peel acne treatments are also used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Dermabrasion Acne Treatment Techniques Microdermabrasion is the process of using a machine to exfoliate the top layer of skin. Microdermabrasion is used for mild acne scarring and must be repeated occasionally. It may be performed by a doctor or aesthetician or by a person at home using a home acne treatment. Actual dermabrasion involves the removal of more of the skin by essentially sanding off skin layers with a dermabrasion tool. It is thought to stimulate collagen and new skin formation resulting in acne treatment for scarring. It is generally painful, produces redness and swelling and must involve some type of anesthesia. Dermabrasion acne procedures require a week or more of recovery time and though it is not useful for...
About Facial Peels A number of different acids and other agents are available for the treatment of cosmetic skin improvement. Some of these facial peel agents may be applied at home for the treatment of superficial issues while others must be applied under medical supervision to treat deeper skin conditions. At home application of low concentration skin peel products have few side effects other than some minor tingling and redness. More concentrated chemical peels will often cause redness, swelling and heavy peeling which will often require the patient to take several days of recovery time before returning to work because of the appearance of the face. Uses for Facial Peels Face peel solutions can be used to treat a number of cosmetic skin conditions such as: -Wrinkle Reduction -Sun Damage Elimination -Skin Rejuvenation -Acne Improvement -Acne Scarring Types of Facial Peels Plant Acid Peel Glycolic, Beta Hydroxy and Alpha Hydroxy acids are derived from plant products and are all common ingredients in skin care products that may be purchased over the counter at retailers selling beauty supplies and cosmetics. Stronger forms of acid peels such as concentrated salicylic acid may be applied by an aesthetician or a physician. It is often recommended that a person begin with a lower concentration and work up to a stronger solution after several treatments, if continued treatment is necessary. Chemical Peel Phenol is a concentrated chemical peel agent that may be applied in a physician’s office. This is most often done by certified dermatologists for the treatment of acne scarring but also done at a cosmetic surgery clinic for wrinkle reduction. Phenol is...
Part of the appeal and benefit of skin peels is that they are so versatile. They can be used just about anywhere on your body and provide a range of benefits from giving your skin a “refreshed” look to taking years off your face. People often mistake microdermabrasion procedures for chemical peels. While the result is similar (removal of older dead skin cells to reveal younger skin), the mechanism of action is quite different. In microdermabrasion, physical exfoliation is used to break the glue that holds cells together. In peels, chemicals work to dissolve the glue that holds the cells together. Chemical peels can be used for a whole list of problems, including improving skin hyperpigmentation, reducing mild scarring, correcting mild photoaging, removing excess skin oil and blackheads, and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Chemical peels cannot reduce blood vessels, are not recommended for dark-skinned individuals, and will not provide the same effect as a face lift. While a chemical peel cannot reduce the size of a pore, it can minimize a pore’s appearance. When preparing for a peel, it is helpful to exfoliate for a week or two leading up to the procedure. Peels and microdermabrasion are most effective when used together. If preparing for a deeper peel, check with your doctor. Very superficial peels, like Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Facial peel or beta-hydroxy products helps to smooth out roughened areas, remove blackheads, aids in application of self-tanning products and stimulates collagen regrowth (vitamin A peels). These types of peels can be do-it-yourself at home and affect only the outermost layer of epidermal skin cells. Superficial peels are generally...
Skin peeling procedures are incredibly popular in the United States for the simple reason that they are minimally invasive and very effective. In 2006 alone, 965,000 women had chemical peels done, making it the second most popular skin care procedure only after Botox™. What makes skin peels so desirable in skin care? Skin peeling is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, photoaging, minor scarring and hyperpigmentation. It can also reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. Another advantage to chemical peels is that they can be used on the face, arms, neck, chest, hands and legs for the treatment of photoaging, scarring, acne and hyperpigmentation. A chemical peel can peel away the years of sun damage, acne scarring and signs of normal aging. In comparison to other cosmetic surgery procedures, chemical peels are minimally invasive, less painful and have a shorter recovery time period, while still effectively improving the appearance and health of your skin. It is a revolutionary skin care regimen and has been the boon of women in the western world. How does it work? Simply put, a chemical peel works by removing the outer, dead layer of the skin. By peeling away the dead outer skin, this improves the appearance of the skin and stimulates new skin growth. Skin peeling should only be done by a qualified doctor. Your doctor will examine your skin and prescribe the appropriate type of skin peel for you. He or she will also tell you how many treatments are necessary for you to achieve the desired results, this varies. Peeling procedures are classified by type of...
Chemical peels as a way to erase the signs of aging have already been discussed, but a cosmetic procedure called a phenol peel is so effective it required its own article. What Makes a Phenol Peel Different? Phenol peels differ from your average chemical peel in that this is the deepest chemical peel available, and it uses carbolic acid to exfoliate. In comparison to other peels, phenol peels are effective for deep wrinkles around the chin and lips and is used for severe photoaging and hyperpigmentation. This type of treatment works very well for fair skinned individuals. Another advantage is that phenol peels’ effects last longer than the regular peel. Results are dramatic, and most patients are very pleased. Phenol peels are not for everyone. Discuss with your cosmetic dermatologist to see if this procedure is right for you: it is only suitable for use on the face, and is not recommended for dark-skinned individuals or people with heart disease. It will dramatically lighten dark skin, changing it to white! Another factor that may cause you to reconsider a phenol peel is if you are covered in freckles, as a phenol peel will remove them. If you have never had a phenol peel before, it is a good idea to try it out in a small area before have it applied to your whole face. Very rarely, an individual can have an adverse reaction to the phenol solution resulting in scarring, bleaching, enlarged skin pores and an inability to tan. Test in a small area first. How Does a Phenol Peel Work? A phenol peel works in the same...
A chemical peel is a non-surgical treatment that uses chemicals to exfoliate the skin. The chemical solution is rubbed onto the skin and the solution works to dissolve the outer skin layers. As the tissue is being dissolved, new tissue is stimulated, that is reacting to the body’s natural healing process, and a new skin layer is revealed underneath. There are different depths and strengths to chemical peels; also the length of time the solution is left on can vary. There are several different types of acid peels. Phenol Peel This is the strongest type of facial peel. It is used to treat severely aged skin and deep wrinkle tissues. One risk includes hyper pigmentation, or a darkening of the skin. Recovery time is longer than other peels. Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) Chemical Peels This type of face peel is the most popular and is often sold in low doses over-the-counter in most drugstores. Stronger doses are often performed by a professional. AHA peels usually treat mild to moderate acne and other skin blemishes. Risks include mild scabbing, itching and rash development. Glycolic Acid Peel A glycolic peel is similar to a alpha hydroxy acid peel. It carries the nickname, “lunchtime peel,” as the treatment is performed very quickly. It treats acne and is used to rejuvenate the skin. Results last about a month or so. Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA Peels) Trichloroacetic Acid, or TCA peels, are facial peels that are very common. They can be deep or superficial, depending on the concentration level. They work to tighten the skin, improve brown spots, reduce blemishes, smooth out pigment problems, and...
