Chemical Peels
Chemical peels remove damaged outer layers of skin on the face to smooth texture, reduce scarring, and remove blemishes to produce healthy, glowing skin. There are three types of chemical peels, ranging from mild to strong - alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol - and formula strengths are tailored to each patient. Peels can be combined with other procedures such as facelifts for a younger look. They may be covered by insurance if they are performed for medical rather than cosmetic reasons.
Chemical peels can be used to treat:
- Acne scars
- Aging skin
- Crow’s feet
- Scars
- Sun damaged skin
- Sagging skin
- Wrinkles
Different Strength For Different Results:
There are three different types of chemical peels, each one removing a different amount of skin to obtain specific results:
Deep peel: Uses phenol to deeply penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged cells. This treatment removes age spots, freckles, shallow scars, and wrinkles.
Medium peel: Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) penetrates the skin to bring more dramatic results than a light peel, with a longer downtime. They can address sun damage, uneven pigmentation, and wrinkles.
Mild peel: Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as those found naturally occurring in fruit,
The formula strengths are tailored to the needs of each patient. This treats fine wrinkles, dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne.
Caring For Your Skin After A Chemical Peel
Depending on the strength of the peel, you will experience up to a week of downtime. After a chemical peel, it is important to protect your skin from sun exposure. Be sure to use a full spectrum sunblock to keep your skin safe. Phenol and TCA peels can cause varying levels of redness, stinging, tightness, soreness, and you may have a crust or scab that lasts for a week. Phenol treatments may cause your eyes to be swollen shut, and you may need to be on a liquid diet and not speak much during your recovery.
Combination Care
Chemical peels can be performed on their own, or they can be combined with other treatments to reach your skin care goals. The expert Acclaim team can help you determine the right treatments to achieve your skin care goals.
If you are interested in exploring the benefits of chemical peels, set an appointment with us today. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and set up a treatment plan tailored to you.
How Are Chemical Peels Performed?
Chemical peels may be performed in our Sugar Land, TX office, office-based facility or outpatient surgical center. Anesthesia is not required because phenol and TCAs act as an anesthetic while AHAs produce only a slight stinging, though you may be given a sedative.
In an AHA peel, the skin is cleaned and the solution applied; there is no need for "after-peel" ointment or covering. During TCA and phenol peels, the skin is cleansed and solution is applied, which may cause a brief stinging sensation. Petroleum jelly or a waterproof adhesive tape may be put on the skin following a phenol treatment.
Are Chemical Peels Painful?
AHA peels can cause temporary stinging, redness, irritation and flaking or crusting. Phenol and TCA peels can result in tingling or throbbing, reddened skin, a crust or scab, and significant swelling which lasts about a week, depending on the strength of the peel used. With phenol, your eyes may even be swollen shut at first and you may be put on a liquid diet and advised not to talk very much. Any tape used is removed after a day or two. All procedures require adequate sun protection for your new skin.
Give our Sugar Land, TX office a call at (832) 770-6388 for more information about chemical peels.
MicroDermabrasion
Dermabrasion removes a layer of surface skin to improve the appearance of facial scarring due to acne, chicken pox, injury or other causes, as well as uneven pigmentation, wrinkles, sun damage, tattoos, age spots and certain kinds of skin lesions. It can also be used to remove pre-cancerous growths.
Dermabrasion can be performed on targeted areas of skin or the entire face, depending on each patient's individual skin condition and goals for treatment. This procedure can also be combined with others, such as facelift, chemical peel or scar revision, for optimal results. Your doctor will determine an ideal treatment plan for you based on a thorough evaluation of your skin.
It is important for patients undergoing dermabrasion to maintain realistic expectations for treatment, and understand that this procedure can effectively enhance your appearance but will not completely change the way you look or feel. Dermabrasion can be performed on patients of all ages, although it is most successful in those with lighter skin. Those with active acne should treat existing lesions before undergoing dermabrasion in order to reduce the risk of infection.