Chemical Peel for Skin Resurfacing

• Acne or acne scars

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Irregular skin pigmentation

• Rough skin and scaly patches

• Certain scars

• Sun-damaged skin

• Treat deep facial lines or wrinkles

• Significantly tighten loose or sagging skin

• Remove deep scars

• TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is an analog of acetic acid (like vinegar) and is an active ingredient in many popular Chemical Peels. When applied to the skin, TCA Peels exfoliate the top layer of skin over the course of several days, exposing a smoother and more attractive new layer of skin underneath.

• Phenol is used as an ingredient to kill microorganisms, prevent or inhibit their growth and reproduction, help cleanse the skin, or to prevent odor by destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.

• Salicylic Acid Peels are treatments used to deeply exfoliate the surface layers of the skin. Salicylic acid breaks the bonds that hold the skin's cells together, causing them to shed away or peel. As the skin regenerates, it is rejuvenated. Salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent that will remove acne-causing bacteria and even slough of dark spots along with other dead skin cells.

• Vitamin C, a proven antioxidant found in the skin, helps prevent sun spots and lighten the appearance of hyperpigmentation by helping to fight and prevent age and sun-related damage. "There is good literature that shows that vitamin C, in particular, can prevent brown spots, reverse damage from ultraviolet rays, and stimulate the growth of new collagen." Other good skin serum options to target wrinkles are those with antioxidants, including tea polyphenols and resveratrol. With the help of a Vitamin C Peel, you can slough off the dead skills cells, so your body can replace them with new ones giving you a fresh and vibrant glow. This peel can also help anyone suffering from acne, as it deeply cleanses pores and provides an anti-bacterial action to prevent them from reappearing.

• Topical tretinoin has been shown to increase the production of type I collagen by 80% in photoaged skin. It is thought that the increased collagen content indirectly stimulates the normalization of the elastic tissue organization. The Tretinoin Peel, also known as Retinoic Acid Peel, is a superficial peeling often performed in dermatological clinics in Brazil. The first study on this was published in 2001, by Cuce et al., as a treatment option for melasma. Since then, other studies have reported its applicability with reasonable methodology, although without a consistent scientific background and consensus. Topical tretinoin is used for the treatment of various dermatoses such as acne, melasma, scars, skin aging, and non-melanoma skin cancer.

• Glycolic acid works to break the bonds between the outer layer of skin cells, including dead skin cells and the next skin cell layer. This creates a peeling effect that can make the skin appear smoother and more even. For people with acne, the benefit of glycolic acid is that the peeling effects result in less "gunk" that clogs the pores. This includes dead skin cells and oil. With less to clog the pores, the skin clears, and you usually have fewer breakouts. Also, glycolic acid can affect the outer skin barrier, helping it retain moisture instead of drying your skin out. This is an advantage for acne-prone people because many other topical anti-acne agents, like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, are drying. Glycolic acid has anti-bacterial and antioxidant activity, which can also help improve your skin's appearance when you have acne. Glycolic acid can also thicken skin by stimulating collagen growth.

Your provider will start off with a full History and Physical evaluation of your problem and discuss the treatment plan. The treatment usually takes only a few minutes. The process of application and evaluating the result is individualized for the patient until the results are deemed satisfactory.

The length of time varies depending on a number of factors. These are to include but are not limited to the area being treated, the type of Chemical Peel, and the patient's unique situation. The whole process may be as short as 5 minutes.

Most patients are available to return to their normal activities immediately after treatment. Patients with Chemical Peels treatment can anticipate some pain and inflammation for the first few days as the tissue begin to heal.

There is minimal pain, but over-the-counter medications and homeopathic techniques are available for your comfort.