Chemical Peeling vs. Other Treatments

Chemical peeling is a popular way to rejuvenate the skin. It can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, remove blemishes like sun spots and melasma, and treat acne and other skin conditions. The procedure is fast, with few side effects and a short recovery time.

Other dermatological treatments, like microdermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing, offer results and benefits similar to those of chemical peeling. Let's take a look at how chemical peelings compares to some of these other treatments.

Chemical Peels and How They Work

Chemical peels use a layer of gentle chemicals to melt away dead cells from the surface of the skin, leaving skin smoother, lighter, and younger in appearance. Chemical peels of varying strengths are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, acne and acne scarring, melasma, age spots, sun spots and precancerous growths.

Chemical peels come in three different strengths, mild, medium-depth and deep. Each one penetrates a little further into the skin to more effectively treat blemishes, scars and irregularities in skin tone.

Chemical Peels vs. Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is another way to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Rather than using chemicals to melt away dead cells from the skin's surface, dermabrasion uses surgical tools to scrape them away. Like chemical peels, dermabrasion can be used to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars, age spots, sun spots, melasma and precancerous growths.

Dermabrasion, however, is generally considered a more serious procedure than chemical peeling, because it uses tools to surgically scrape surface skin from your face. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may need either local or general anesthetic to under dermabrasion. The procedure itself can last for up to an hour and a half, whereas most mild and medium-depth chemical peels take only about half an hour to administer.

Dermabrasion generally causes more significant side effects than chemical peeling. Your face may be quite inflamed and swollen for as long as a week. It may burn, ache or tingle. You may need to stay at home for at least two weeks and you may need to avoid the sun entirely for at least four weeks. Full recovery could take as long as one year. In comparison, mild and medium-depth chemical peels cause only moderate pain and inflammation for about 24 hours post-procedure, and full recovery usually takes about two weeks.

Chemical Peels vs. Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is a relatively new skin refinishing technique that promises to smooth skin and even out skin tone with fewer side effects. Laser resurfacing is used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, remove acne scars and firm skin. Laser skin resurfacing has minimal side effects including bruising, redness and swelling. Comparatively, they may be slightly more severe than the side effects of chemical peeling. Recovery time for laser resurfacing is longer; one to two weeks, depending on the type of laser used.

Laser resurfacing for your whole face can take as long as two hours, much longer than a mild or medium-depth chemical peel, which usually takes about 30 minutes and almost never takes longer than an hour. You may also need to wear a facial bandage for as many as three days, and use ointment to prevent the formation of a scab. With most chemical peels, bandages and ointments aren't necessary as scabs don't form.

Jessner's Solution 101

Jessner's Solution is a skin peel made with a mixture of AHA Lactic Acid and BHA Salicylic acid with the Phenol derivative of Resocinol. This peel, which has also been known as the Combe's Peel was made popular by Max Jessner, a New York dermatologist. He originally formulated the solution to reduce the toxity and high potency of the individual ingredients.

Skin Conditions Jessner's Solution Treats
This peel is ideal for an extensive range of skin conditions such as lightening hyper-pigmentation areas, treating acne and acne scars, treating aged, photo-damaged and sun-damaged skin. (Darker skin types particularly African American, should proceed with caution due to an increased risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the Resorcinol exposure).

Application
However, the Jessner's Solution should only be applied by experience professionals. When the professional is applying the solution, they will gently paint onto the skin (it can be layered). Up to 4-6 coats are applied until a white frost develops (this means the peel is getting rid of your dead, dull skin) or until the pain sensation is too intense.

Then rinse your face throughly with cool water and pat dry. Be sure to wear a light moisturizer or a sunscreen for a few days following the Jessner's Solution Peel treatment.

The three individual ingredients, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Resorcinol in the Jessner's Solution work together to give you the best results.

Lactic Acid
The Lactic Acid in the peel accelerates the skin’s cells renewal rate which then softens the epidermis and stimulates collagen growth.

Salicylic Acid

The Salicylic Acid exfoliates deep into the lining of the pores to rid of dirt, sebum and debris that can cause blackheads, whiteheads and enlarged pores.

Resorcinol
The Resorcinol breaks down dead, uneven and rough skin due to it's anti-septic properties it actively sterilizes bacteria upon contact. Combination of these three ingredients in the Jessner's Solution result in a even toned, clear complexion.

Jessner’s Solution can be used in conjunction with other peels, such as Glycolic peels, and TCA peels to enhance the effectiveness of the peel.

TCA Peels 101

TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) is an effective chemical agent used to exfoliate and renew the skin on a more superficial level. TCA is most frequently applied to the face, neck, chest, and hands. In addition, TCA is also an excellent “spot treatment” and can be used to exclusively peel isolated areas of the skin.

 The range of depth that the TCA peel achieves varies according to concentration potency(available strengths range from 10% -30%), application methods: time and pressure, and of course skin type. When applied, the solution penetrates deep into the skin continually seeking protein to neutralize itself.

Unlike the progressive peels such as Glycolic or Salicylic, TCA Peels exfoliate the skin more rapidly upon initial contact. The long-lasting results make it an ideal peel for those who prefer less peeling sessions at the cost of moderate downtime.

TCA’s ability to treat a wide range of skin conditions makes it the perfect chemical peel for individuals with multiple concerns.

Skin types/conditions treated by TCA Peels:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Stretch marks
• Acne
• Uneven skin tone

  TCA Peels 10%-30%

• TCA 10% Light Peel- looking to make minor improvements to your skin
  
• TCA 20% Medium Strength Peel- Fine lines, wrinkles, uneven and blotchy complexion
  
• TCA 30% Deep Strength Peel- removes “permanent” skin fixtures such as unwanted freckles, birthmarks, and tattoos.
  

Like all TCA peels, it is best suited for experienced users who have tolerated acids in the past.

Keep in mind:
Darker skin types (particularly African American) should proceed with caution due to an increased risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

If you have any further questions please leave a comment and we will provide the best answer possible.

AHA Kojic Acid Peel 101

Kojic Acid is a powerful skin-brightening agent that is naturally derived mostly from the fermentation of sake. Yes, I am talking about the Japanese wine we shoot back with sushi, from time to time. Kojic Acid is also known as the healthier alternative to harsh bleaching agents such as Hydroquinone.

In the AHA Kojic Acid Peel there are a wide range of exfoliating, highly water-soluble ingredients such as Glycolic and Lactic Acid (AHA's) that help get rid of that annoying acne.

The AHA Kojic Peel inhibits melanin production while simultaneously reducing disorders such as melasma and post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation.

This peel is ideal for multiple skin types:

-Normal

-Sensitive

-Dry

-Hyper-pigmented

-Sun-damaged

-Dull

-Uneven

It is also suitable for those of you who are new to chemical peels. While there are some side effects such as a slight stinging sensation, a heightened skin sensitivity, flaking, minor redness, and a downtime of 7-10 days, the benefits far outway the negative.

The benefits that result from the AHA Kojic Peel is improved skin tone, texture and clarity, reductions of acne, clogged pores, shallow wrinkles, fine lines, melasma, and hyper-pigmentation. It also increases collagen and elastin production.

So next time your skin needs a re-vamp and some brightening use an AHA Kojic Peel!