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Light peeling is a chemical treatment designed to remove superficial layers of the skin.
It is used to help "dry out" active acne, to reduce shallow wrinkles and scarring
and in some cases to lighten hyperpigmented spots. Before the solution is applied, your skin is cleansed with alcohol then acetone. It would be helpful if you do not wear any face make up on the day of your office visit. The solution is applied with a feather brush by our nurse. Because the solution is a combination of mild acids, some stinging usually occurs upon application. After application of the solution, your face may have white colored areas called frosting. This shows that the solution is working and usually fades within 15-30 minutes. YOUR FACE MAY APPEAR SLIGHTLY REDDER THAN USUAL FOR SOME TIME AFTER THE TREATMENT. In most cases, peeling usually occurs between the second and fifth day following a peel. Your skin may appear very dry after treatment and some small cracks may develop. The doctor recommends a non-drying cleanser such as DOVE, NUTROGENA, OR DML. You may apply makeup as usual and also a good moisturizer lotion like cetaphil, Lubriderm, or DML. In general the peeled areas will appear mildly or moderately sunburned. As you continue with light peel treatments, they will be spaced 2-3 weeks apart. The number of treatments required for any given problem varies with each individual person, and is determined by the physician. The number of coats of solution will vary depending on skin type. There is no limit on the number of peels a person can receive as long as improvement continues. You may continue to wear make up following light peeling treatments. YOU SHOULD CONTINUE USING ORAL MEDICATION, BUT TOPICALS SUCH AS retin a OR glyclic acid should not be applied for one week. The above information describes light chemical peeling using a combination of weak acids and is primarily used as an adjunct to the anti-aging effects of RETIN A .For acne patients your doctor may recommend a different type of light chemical treatment which utilizes a weak organic called alph hydroxyl acid. In our practice, GLYCOLIC ACID is the one used. This procedure rids pores of their plugs, comedones, and unroofs pustules. Its effect is to hasten appearance improvement in patients with acne and have found it works well. The use of glycolic acids peeling is somewhat new, but references to it are beginning to appear rather frequently in magazines. We are pleased to have been among the pioneers in the USA in making the technique available to our complexion patients. Frequently, our patients with sun damaged skin have begun glycolic acid treatment before the stronger peels described above are added. |