Chemical peels can help dramatically reduce and improve signs of aging, including age spots and fine lines. But the procedure comes with a high cost and a need for a high pain tolerance.
Sometimes called chemexfoliation or derma-peeling, chemical peels work by blistering off the topmost layers of the skin in order to reveal new skin beneath. The new skin usually appears to be much smoother, less wrinkled and without age spots.
While the face is most often treated, chemical peels can also work on other places on the body where age spots might appear, including the neck, chest and hands.
A chemical peel is usually performed in a doctor's office or in a surgery center as an outpatient procedure. Before the procedure, the skin is cleansed and areas like the eyes and hair are covered for protection. Then, one or more chemical solutions, such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid (phenol), are applied to small areas on the skin. The chemicals create a "controlled wound," allowing the skin to regenerate and renew with a new layer. The procedure may take up to an hour depending on how long the chemicals are allowed to stay on the skin.
The procedure is not without pain. Most patients report a fairly high level of pain, especially for the first two minutes, and up to ten. For this reason, only small sections of the face are done, with cooling with a fan or compress taking place in between sections. Once the procedure is over the pain is likened to a severe sunburn, with the major burn going away within a week. After a week, much of the redness and peeling will have subsided. Any residual symptoms are easily covered by makeup. Deep chemical peels may require bandages and cause swelling after the procedure.
Oral pain medication and antibiotics may be prescribed either during or immediately after the procedure to prevent infection. Because the skin is extra sensitive, it is very important to wear sunscreen.
If a deep chemical peel is too much for you, some treatments using smaller concentrations of chemicals are also possible. These treatments produce flaking and require more than one application over several months. In contrast, one medium or deep chemical peel may be repeated every 6 months to one year.
Risks associated with chemical peels vary. People on birth control pills or with darker skin tones may increase the chances of developing a change in skin pigmentation. Personal history also plays a factor, so it is important to disclose any unusually scarring history to your doctor before the peel takes place.
The cost of chemical peels vary, but can round up to hundreds of dollars for one session.
Sometimes called chemexfoliation or derma-peeling, chemical peels work by blistering off the topmost layers of the skin in order to reveal new skin beneath. The new skin usually appears to be much smoother, less wrinkled and without age spots.
While the face is most often treated, chemical peels can also work on other places on the body where age spots might appear, including the neck, chest and hands.
A chemical peel is usually performed in a doctor's office or in a surgery center as an outpatient procedure. Before the procedure, the skin is cleansed and areas like the eyes and hair are covered for protection. Then, one or more chemical solutions, such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid (phenol), are applied to small areas on the skin. The chemicals create a "controlled wound," allowing the skin to regenerate and renew with a new layer. The procedure may take up to an hour depending on how long the chemicals are allowed to stay on the skin.
The procedure is not without pain. Most patients report a fairly high level of pain, especially for the first two minutes, and up to ten. For this reason, only small sections of the face are done, with cooling with a fan or compress taking place in between sections. Once the procedure is over the pain is likened to a severe sunburn, with the major burn going away within a week. After a week, much of the redness and peeling will have subsided. Any residual symptoms are easily covered by makeup. Deep chemical peels may require bandages and cause swelling after the procedure.
Oral pain medication and antibiotics may be prescribed either during or immediately after the procedure to prevent infection. Because the skin is extra sensitive, it is very important to wear sunscreen.
If a deep chemical peel is too much for you, some treatments using smaller concentrations of chemicals are also possible. These treatments produce flaking and require more than one application over several months. In contrast, one medium or deep chemical peel may be repeated every 6 months to one year.
Risks associated with chemical peels vary. People on birth control pills or with darker skin tones may increase the chances of developing a change in skin pigmentation. Personal history also plays a factor, so it is important to disclose any unusually scarring history to your doctor before the peel takes place.
The cost of chemical peels vary, but can round up to hundreds of dollars for one session.
