Microdermabrasion

Acne treatment is incomplete without removing the dirty looking acne scars. Acne may go away but the scars remain for a lifetime. Many treatments are suggested for treatment of acne scars. Out of these chemical peeling and laser are very popular. Let us compare both of them.

Acne scars- treatment with chemical peeling-

Chemical peeling is one of the popular cosmetic procedures to remove old skin and get a fresh new skin. Chemical peeling is also called derma-peeling or chemexfoliation. As the name implies, in this procedure, the skin is peeled off with chemicals and when the new skin grows it is fresh and with lesser sun damage and wrinkles. Depending on the strength of the peeling chemical, the peeling procedure may be called- superficial, medium-depth or deep. The name refers to the depth of the skin to which the chemical peels off the old skin.

The common chemicals used for chemical peeling are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), trichloroacetic acid and phenol. Your doctor may also choose other chemicals to get the desired result. With superficial peeling, you can go back to work immediately while after getting medium or deep peeling done, you may have to let the new skin grow for some days before you go out. The pain and trouble associated with peeling also depends on the depth to which peeling is done. Superficial peeling will remove fine lines, wrinkles etc. while with deep peeling, deep scars and pre-cancerous sun damage gets removed.

Acne scars- treatment with lasers

A laser is focused high energy light. The scientific name of LASER is ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. Ordinary light emits photons in all the directions and consists of many wavelengths. Unlike that, laser emits photons in a single direction and consists of a single wavelength. Laser therefore has very high energy and can be focused on any object or in any direction. In laser skin resurfacing, the laser burns away the unwanted skin tissues bloodlessly and gives a new shape with precise control.

Laser resurfacing is a bloodless process and doctors can control the resurfacing more accurately with it. The risk of infection is also low with this procedure. With latest lasers available, this process is revolutionizing the procedure of facial resurfacing and scar removal.

Both lasers and chemical peeling give good results. Lasers are more expensive than chemical peeling. Lasers can also be controlled much better than chemical peeling. But chemical peeling is much cheaper.

By: CD Mohatta

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Freckles were cute when you were playing T-ball, but now you’re thinking…What is that – an age spot?!? Although age spots really have little to do with aging, they do appear over time when the cells that produce melanin (skin pigment) go bad. You’ll get a freckle, or more likely a blotch that’s bigger than a freckle, and it just won’t go away. If you think it’s too early to be noticing age spots but you see them on family members – well, the bad news is, those darkened, discolored spots that appear on faces and hands over the years are hereditary, so you may be likely to get them.

The good news is that you can take steps now to minimize the appearance of this discoloration. Better yet, the science of dermatology keeps evolving with new cosmetic dermatology treatments. This means all of us, at any age, have options to fade skin discoloration. In this article, I’ll give you the information you need on the treatment generally known as the chemical peel (or facial peel).

But first, let’s talk about what you can do to try to avoid age spots: Sunscreen! (You knew I’d say that.) Sun damage brings out these spots and blotches, and for those of us already blessed with the unsightly marks, sun exposure will make them darker and more prominent. No question: wear protective clothing and use a UVA/UVB sunscreen marked at least SPF 30. Protect your skin from the sun – every day, even if it’s cloudy!

But, what if the pesky age spots have already blossomed on your skin? Among the treatments cosmetic dermatologists offer, chemical facial peels provide effective fading of age spots and other skin discoloration, along with other benefits. The facial peel works by loosening the connections between surface cells and speeding up the “turnover rate,” bringing new cells to the skin surface. Since these spots begin with defective pigmentation in deeper cells, this procedure lets your skin get rid of these cells, along with sun-damaged surface skin. A side benefit: the process also smoothes wrinkles and increases collagen production, thereby improving skin tone.

Chemical treatments offer an advantage over surface procedures like dermabrasion: peels work at a deeper level in your skin. Of course, you’ll want to talk with your own cosmetic dermatologist about the best treatment for your unique needs. A few people have chemical-sensitive skin, so preliminary testing will make it clear if this treatment is right for you.

Your cosmetic dermatologist can also recommend the level of treatment appropriate for the condition of your individual skin type and schedule requirements. The procedure involves the carefully controlled application of an acid or other solution to the skin, and there’s a range of chemical peel formulations, from heavy-duty to gentler. To start with the big guns, one popular combination includes fluocinolone, hydroquinone, and tretinoin. It’s topical (applied to your skin) but does require a doctor’s prescription. Fluocinolone is a steroid; hydroquinone blocks the production of melanin, the dark skin pigment; tretinoin is a form of vitamin A. Together they strongly stimulate skin cell turnover and prevent the formation of new pigment.

This combination is highly effective for heavier discoloration, but must be used carefully. Women of childbearing age should take a test to rule out pregnancy before having the procedure. Everyone should know that the skin will become more sensitive to other skin products and to sunlight during the series of treatments. The dermatologist may use an anesthetic, as your skin will likely feel hot, look red and peel. But, it will settle down in a few days to a week, and look very clear and even in tone – in other words, youthful!

Natural fruit acids provide the gentler (and less expensive) chemical peel treatments, especially glycolic acid, as well as lactic and citric acid. Each treatment is brief (15–20 minutes), and a series over a few months will gently renew the skin, fading those age spots right out. Again, you may have some redness, but it’s less pronounced. These treatments are easier on your whole system than the stronger formulations mentioned above. There’s also an intermediate treatment available using trichloroacetic acid (TCA). This one is particularly effective on darker-toned skin.

Next time, we’ll look at two other kinds of help for age spots and other discolorations, crystal-free microdermabrasion and light treatments, including lasers. It’s great to know that even though some skin discoloration may be inevitable, we do have options to reduce or abolish them. Lighten up the age spots, and you could wind up looking as young as you feel!

By: James Fairfield

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Chemical peels, also known as chemexfoliation or derma-peeling, are a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, which causes it to eventually peel off. The new, regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.

Chemical Peels Question 1, What Conditions Do a Chemical Peel Treat?

Chemical peels are performed on the face, neck or hands. Chemical peels can be used to:

1. Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth,

2. Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors,

3. Improve the appearance of mild scarring,

4. Treat certain types of acne

5. Reduce age spots, freckles and dark patches due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills

6. And improve the look and feel of skin that is dull in texture and color

Chemical Peels Question 2, How Are Chemical Peels Performed?

The skin is thoroughly cleansed with an agent(chemical peel) that removes excess oils while the eyes and hair are protected. One or more chemicalsolutions, such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid,lactic acid or carbolic acid (phenol), are applied to small areas on the skin. These Chemical Peel applications produce a controlled wound, enabling new, regenerated skin to appear.

Chemical Peels Question 3, How do I prepare for a Chemical Peel?

Prior to the chemical peel, your Aesthetician may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin with topical preconditioning medications such as Retin-A, Renova, or glycolic acid. After the chemical peel, it’s important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.

The more clinical definition of a chemical peel is as follows: A chemical peel is a body treatment technique used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the skin to blister

and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Thus the term chemical peel is derived. Some types of chemical peels can be purchased and administered without a medical license, however people are advised to seek professional help from a dermatologist on a specific type of chemical peel before a procedure is performed.

By: Shelly Cruz

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There are so many products on the market that claim to improve the appearance of the skin, but perhaps one of the best out there is chemical peeling. Chemical peeling is normally performed on your neck, face or hands. This type of treatment consists of the use of a chemical solution that is applied directly to the skin that causes the skin to blister and then fall off eventually.

The new skin that is revealed is usually smoother with less wrinkling then the skin that was initially treated. The new skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, therefore you must stay out of the sun for a period of time to allow for proper healing. The new skin is just that, new, so it will be very sensitive - take good care of it.

Various peeling agents have been used by dermatologic surgeons for over the last fifty years, making them experts in performing various types of chemical peels. As with any procedure, you must have a thorough consult to determine which procedure is right for you.

What Can a Chemical Peel Do?

Chemical peeling is most commonly used for treating fine lines around the mouth and around the eyes. Chemical peeling can reduce or even completely eliminate wrinkles that have been caused by aging, sun damage and hereditary factors. There are some areas that are more difficult then others to treat, such as bulges, sags and wrinkles that are more severe. These types of flaws may require other types of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as brow lifts, face lift, eye lift or even a soft tissue filler.

Most people are not aware that mild scarring and certain types of acne can be treated with chemical peels as well. Also, pigmentations of the skin, such as sun spots, liver spots, age spots, blotching from birth control pills, freckles and skin that is dull or flat colored or textured, can be improved from chemical peeling.

There are other types of treatments that chemical peeling can be combined with to achieve the best results. Chemical peeling can be combined with such procedures as dermabrasion, resurfacing with lasers or soft tissue filler to help obtain cost-effective rejuvenation of the skin that is customized to the needs of the individual patient. Some other areas that may improve after a chemical peel are precancerous keratoses, sun damaged spots or scaling patches.

After a chemical peeling, new patches or lesions are less likely to show up. Usually, people that are fair skinned and/or have light colored hair are good candidates for such treatments as chemical peels. Even darker skin types can also experience positive results, depending on the types of skin problems they have encountered.

How Are Chemical Peels Performed?

Instructions prior to surgery may include stopping certain medications to reduce interference with the procedure or recovery time. The doctor may treat the skin to pre-condition the skin with topical pre-conditioning medications. Cleaning of the area with an antiseptic soap is usually required prior to surgery, generally the day prior to surgery.

Chemical peels can be performed right in a doctor’s office or as an out-patient procedure in a surgery center, making these procedures more convenient for people. The skin must be thoroughly cleansed at the time of treatment. This is done to remove any excess oils and to make sure the eyes and hair are well protected. If you would like to try one or more solutions, such as a chemical peel, you might want to try such items as: salicylic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, a glycolic acid, lactic acid or a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and sometimes a carbolic acid (phenol). These are used by Dermatologic surgeons that are well qualified to choose the proper peeling agent, this is based on the type of skin damage present. When getting a chemical peel, the physician will apply the solution to directly to small areas on the skin. These applications produce a controlled wound that will enable new, refreshed skin to appear. The majority of patients may experience a sensation that is warm to somewhat hot that may last from about five to ten minutes, followed by a stinging sensation. Deeper peels may require the use of pain medication during or after the procedure to make the person comfortable.

What Should Be Expected After Treatment?

Depending on the type of peel treatment you get, you may have a reaction similar to a sunburn that will occur following the chemical peel. There will be superficial peeling that usually involves redness, which is followed by scaling that will end within three to seven days. If you have medium-depth and/or deep peeling occur, this may result in swelling and the first sign of water blisters that may break, turn brown, crust and peel off over a seven to fourteen day period. You may require bandages, depending on what kind of chemical peel you had done. These would have to cover all or part of the skin that has been treated.

These bandages can usually be removed in several days and usually improve the effectiveness of the treatment. Avoiding overexposure to the sun is crucial after a chemical peel as the new skin is more susceptible to getting sun burned. Th skin will be very fragile and will need to be well taken care of to ensure that you do not damage the new skin. Without proper care, you may run the risk of an infection or a serious sunburn that can be detrimental to the new skin. Your dermatologic surgeon may prescribe the medications to allow for proper follow-up care to reduce the chance to develop abnormal skin color after peeling.

As with any procedure, check with your doctor to make sure you get the best treatment possible. Follow your doctor’s instructions to a T to ensure that you heal correctly. You do not want to ruin the outcome of the chemical peel by not following the right advice.

By: Barry Lycka

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Chemical Peeling for Aging Skin Care

As the name implies Chemical peeling peels the skin with chemicals. It is also called dermapeeling or chemexfoliation. By peeling off an outer layer of the skin, it allows new skin to form, which is new and fresh, and without some wrinkles. Chemical peeling is used to remove photo aged skin damages.

How chemical peeling is done for skin care

With chemical peeling, chemical solutions are applied directly to the skin. The choice and strength of chemical depends upon the results desired. For mild peeling, mild chemicals are used and so on. Sometimes, a light peel is repeated over time to get desired effect. With mild peel, superficial wrinkles and sun damage is removed. For more damaged skin such as skin having age spots, freckles and acetinic keratoses, a medium peel is used.

Skin care and strength of chemicals

Depending upon the skin damage, and the results desired, the dermatologist decides the kind of peeling to be performed.

Skin care and peeling chemicals

Common peeling chemicals include alpha hydroxy acids, trichloroacetic acid, carbolic acid and other chemicals.

Skin care and side effects of chemical peeling

The chemicals peel the old skin and that’s sort of like a sunburn. What the doctor is doing is to remove the old skin to a certain depth. That naturally causes redness and scaling of the skin. As new skin forms, the redness and scaling disappear. With medium or deep chemical peeling, the skin may develop blisters and swelling along with redness and peeling that may last for up to two weeks.

Skin care and discomfort with chemical peeling

Some discomfort will result as the skin peels. Your doctor may prescribe lotions to reduce the discomfort. Exposure to sun must be avoided for some time and protection must be taken from sun till the new skin forms and all the side effects disappear. With chemical peeling, surface skin damage is removed.

By: Carson Danfield

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As we get older our skin changes. Wrinkles, sun damage, age spots, and acne scars make your skin look much different later in life than in your youth. As you age, your skin stops shedding and replacing old cells with new cells, which makes aging visible. However, these natural processes can be reversed and alleviated with chemical peels.

How Does A Chemical Peel Work?

A chemical peel uses a chemical solution to remove the upper layers of skin cells. This tightens the skin, smoothing wrinkles and making your skin produce new skin cells so you look younger and more vibrant.

Chemical Peels Vs. Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing and chemical peels have similar results. Both procedures remove the upper layers of skin to promote the production of new skin cells. Laser resurfacing, however, can leave undesirable redness.

Light Peels

Chemical peels are available in a range of strengths. A light peel, such as an alpha hydroxy acid peel (AHA), is used to treat:

· Uneven skin tone

· Acne

· Fine wrinkles

· Rough skin texture

“An alpha hydroxy acid peel is a good choice for those who need a less intensive treatment,” says Dr. Jerrold C. Gendler, who administers chemical peels in his New York office. “There are some that are sold over the counter in a low concentration, but longer-lasting effects can be achieved if a patient allows a doctor to apply a higher concentrated alpha hydroxy acid peel.”

Medium Peels

A trichloroacetic acid peel (TCA) goes deeper than AHA to produce more dramatic results. This is usually a better option for darker-skinned patients than a deep peel, which may lighten the skin.

TCA is a good choice for those who wish to treat:

· Wrinkles

· Pigment issues

· Skin blemishes

Deep Peels

Deep peels last longest and offer the most dramatic results. The deepest and strongest peel is a phenol peel. This type of chemical peel treats deep skin wrinkles and sun damage. There is a possibility of skin lightening when undergoing a phenol chemical peel, so you and your doctor will need to discuss whether this would be a good choice for you.

The Effects Of A Chemical Peel

After a chemical peel your skin will look smoother, more even, and younger. The easiest way to understand the effects a chemical peel can have is to examine before-and-after photos online. Dr. Gendler’s website offers several good examples on the impressive results of this procedure.

By: Patricia Woloch

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When it comes to beauty, a general rule of thumb is “the less the pain, the less dramatic the gain.” Keep this in mind if you’re looking for big results. For instance, if you’d like to create a satiny-smooth finish on pockmarked skin, eradicate moderate lines, or restore firmness to a slack area of the face, the quick “lunchtime” procedures we have just described probably won’t give you what you want. However, there are more intensive procedures available.

Not all big-deal treatments are performed in hospital. In fact, many are done in a dermatologist’s in-office surgery suite.

TCA peels

With the advent of laser resurfacing, PhotoFacials, and microbrasion treatments, the TCA peel has waned in popularity. Named after its active ingredient, trichloroacetic acid, the TCA peel is a medium-deep treatment that “freshens” the skin, removes some sun damage and rough scaly patches, reduces freckles and irregular pigmentation, and softens fine wrinkles. There is some evidence that it may also reduce the risk of skin cancer by destroying precancerous cells. The treatment involves painting trichloroacetic acid onto clean skin until the skin whitens.

During the 24 hours following the procedure, your skin will be slightly swollen and red. Over the next few days, the treated skin dries to a crispy brown; to keep things moist, your doctor may suggest coating your face with a thick layer of Vaseline. Things get uglier: between days 5 and 7, the leathery skin begins peeling in large sheets.

As irresistible as picking at skin is after a skin treatment, let it peel at its own pace: pulling it can cause deep scars and infections. As soon as “lour face is done shedding, you can return to your regular skin-care routine.

Jessner’s peel

The Jessner’s peel resembles the TCA peel: a medium­deep treatment that is designed to remove the top layers of skin, thus evening pigmentation, improving the skin’s texture, and minimizing fine lines. Instead of containing trichloroacetic acid, however, the Jessner’s peel consists of a mixture of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol.

The Jessner’s peel solution is applied to clean skin. Immediately afterward, your skin will be red and slightly swollen, and after 3 or 4 days, it will become dry and tight. At this point it should begin to crack and peel; to keep things moist, your doctor may suggest coating your face with a thick layer of petroleum jelly. After 5 to 7 days, skin should be healed enough for you to return to your regular skin-care routine.

On dark skin, olive-toned skin, or skin that scars easily, chemical peels, laser treatments, and dermabrasion can cause scarring, light­ colored patches, or dark patches. Do not consider any of these resurfacing treatments before getting a dermatologist’s evaluation.

By: Alien

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Skin is one of the most important parts of our body and need special attention to be given to it. You need to be very particular with your skin care and before you start with anything you must have primary knowledge about skin care.

Good skin habits are to be followed from a young age and it will have a greater result as you start aging. There are certain basic things like eating habits, good exercise, hygiene, etc. which can help to promote your skin’s health without any investment. Other than these, there are strong recommendations provided by skin consultants on not smoking and drinking, if you are conscious about your skin treatment and care.

You can find plenty of skin care centers like the Avanti skin clinics, offering you the best facilities. At these places you can find great different skin treatments like a sun damage facial, laser hair removal, dermabrasion, facial therapies and lot more. All you need to preserve your healthy skin, can be found at skin centers like Avanti Skin Clinics, which may be found in you area.

Skin care is not restricted to just to the facial skin, but refers to your skin from head to toe. One of the major reasons of aging and other skin problems is due to the exposure of harmful sun rays. You can get treatments such as sun damage facials and other related skin treatment if you think your outer skin layer may be damaged due to the exposure. This help in the rejuvenation process, thus returning the real life within your skin bringing you younger looking skin.

There are several proven products available in the market help you with skin care, but what makes it difficult is the increased competition, thus leaving people confused on which treatment to select. The only way to know exactly what you want is to understand skin better in every way possible and to figure out the treatment that best suits your skin needs.

By: Chris Cambell

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traveler07 asked:

Sorry if this question is repeated… can’t see the first positing. I had a dermabrasion procedure on a scar on my left cheek in the middle of March. The area is still slightly discolored (light brownish). I can no longer tell whether it’s still in a stage of healing or is done healing and I’m left with some discoloration around the site (sun damage?? I was so careful!). My plastic surgeon mentioned the possibility of bleaching cream without actually seeing the site (he told me over the phone). I’m really nervous that will make the site LIGHTER than the rest of my skin.

.. One more thing.. my left eyelid is still a little swollen. Does anybody have any idea how long it takes for the swelling to go away? The doctor kept comparing the procedure to something similar to being burned. Any advice would be great, thanks!
Just would like to add… what I really need to know is whether this wound is still in a stage of healing.