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 plastic surgeon or dermatologist on a specific type of chemical peel before a procedure is performed. A body treatment, spa treatment, or cosmetic treatment is non-medical proceedure to help the health of the body. ... In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs. ... Plastic surgery is a general term for operative manual and instrumental treatment which is performed for functional or aesthetic reasons. ... Dermatology is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin, its structure, functions, and diseases (from Greek derma, skin), as well as its appendages (nails, hair, sweat glands). ...

Types

There are several types of chemical peels. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (450x964, 48 KB)Pictures of the 3 types of Chemical Peels Light, Medium, Deep Source:http://freeimages. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (450x964, 48 KB)Pictures of the 3 types of Chemical Peels Light, Medium, Deep Source:http://freeimages. ...

Alpha hydroxy acid peels

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring organic carboxylic acids such as glycolic acid, a natural constituent of sugar cane juice and lactic acid, found in sour milk and tomato juice. This is the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light peels for treatment of fine wrinkles, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. Alpha hydroxy acids can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream in lesser concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve the skin's texture. α-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring carboxylic acids which are well-known for their use in the cosmetics industry. ... In chemistry, carboxylic acids (also called alkanoic acids) are organic acids characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group. ... Glycolic acid (or hydroxyacetic acid) is the smallest α-hydroxy acid (AHA). ... Lactic acid (IUPAC systematic name: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid), also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. ...

AHA peels are used to:

• reduce fine wrinkling
• treat areas of dryness
• reduce uneven pigmentation
• aid in the control of acne
• smooth rough dry skin
• improve the texture of sun-damaged skin

AHA peels may:

• cause stinging
• cause skin redness
• cause mild skin irritation
• cause dryness
• take multiple treatments for desired results

Beta Hydroxy Acid Peels

It is becoming common for the use of Beta Hydroxy Acid(BHA) peels to be used instead of the stronger Alpha Hyroxy(AHA)peels due to BHA's albility to get deeper into the pore than AHA. Studies show that BHA peels control oil, acne as well as remove dead skin cells to a certain extent better than AHA's, due to AHA's only working on the surface of the skin.

Jessner's Peel

Jessner's peel is a combination of salicylic and lactic acids, and resorcinol. It is thought to break intracellular bridges between keratinocytes.

Retinoic Acid Peel

Trichloroacetic Acid Peels

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used as an intermediate to deep peeling agent in concentrations ranging from 20-50%. Depth of penetration is increased as concentration increases, with 50% TCA penetrating into the reticular dermis. Concentrations higher than 35% are not recommended because of the high risk of scarring. In organic chemistry, the chloroethanoic acids (trivial name chloroacetic acids) are three related chlorocarbon carboxylic acids: chloroethanoic acid (chloroacetic acid), CH2ClCOOH dichloroethanoic acid (dichloroacetic acid), CHCl2COOH trichloroethanoic acid (trichloroacetic acid), CCl3COOH As the number of chlorine atoms increases, the electronegativity of that end of the molecule increases, and the molecule... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Trichloroacetic acid peels:

• are referred for darker-skinned patients over Phenol
• smooth out fine surface wrinkles
• remove superficial blemishes
• correct skin pigment problems

Trichloroacetic acid peels may:

• require pre-treatment with Retin-A or AHA creams
• require repeat treatment to maintain results
• require the use of sunblock for several months (this is a must)
• take several days to heal depending on the peel depth

Phenol Peels

Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and produces a deep skin peel. Recent studies suggest that phenol is most likely only the carrier for another active component in the solution, namely croton oil. In fact, phenol alone produces only a light peel which is ineffective for restructuring the deeper dermal structures (such as wrinkles). The term Phenol/Croton oil peel has been proposed as a more accurate descriptor, but the established terminology phenol peel continues to be the dominant usage, as the role of croton oil in the mix is not as widely understood. Phenol, also known under an older name of carbolic acid, is a colourless crystalline solid with a typical sweet tarry odor. ... Croton oil (Crotonis Oleum) is an oil prepared from the seeds of Croton Tiglium, a tree belonging to the natural order Euphorbiaceae and native or cultivated in India and the Malay Archipelago. ...

Effects of a phenol chemical peel are long lasting, and in some cases are still readily apparent up to 20 years following the procedure. Improvements in the patient’s skin can be quite dramatic. A single treatment usually achieves the desired result.

Phenol peels are used to:

• correct blotches caused by sun exposure or aging
• smooth out coarse deep wrinkles
• remove precancerous growths

Phenol peels may:

• pose a risk for patients with heart problems
• permanently remove facial freckles
• cause permanent skin lightening by reducing the ability to produce pigment
• take several months to heal
• require increased protection from the sun for life

Anesthesia

Light chemical peels like AHA and glycolic acid peels are usually done in dermatologists’ offices. There is minimal discomfort so usually no anesthetic is given because the patient feels only a slight stinging when the solution is applied. If a patient were to request something for pain, an oral pain pill like Tylenol with codeine would be appropriate.^[1] According to the International Society for the Study of Pain, there are two different terms: pain and nociception. ... Anesthesia (AE), also anaesthesia (BE), is the process of blocking the perception of pain and other sensations. ... Dissolving table salt (NaCl) in water This article is about a chemical solution; for other uses of the term solution, see solution (disambiguation). ... Look up Pain in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Medium peels like TCA are also performed in the doctor’s office or in an ambulatory surgery center as an outpatient procedure and are a bit more painful. Frequently, the combination of a tranquilizer like Valium and a pain pill usually suffice. TCA peels often do not require anesthesia because the solution itself has a numbing effect on the skin. The patient usually feels a warm or burning sensation.^[2] An ambulatory surgery center or ASC is a health care facility that specializes in providing surgery services in an outpatient setting. ... A sedative is a drug that depresses the central nervous system (CNS), which causes calmness, relaxation, reduction of anxiety, sleepiness, slowed breathing, slurred speech, staggering gait, poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes. ... Pediatric polysomnography patient Childrens Hospital (Saint Louis), 2006 A patient or invalid is any person who receives medical attention, care, or treatment. ...

Phenol is the classic deep chemical peel. The application is very painful and most practitioners will perform it under either general anesthesia, administered by an MD-anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. Less often, the procedure is done using very heavy sedation, usually intravenous or intramuscular. But that approach is less desirable for several reasons including possible adverse influences of the phenol upon the heart.^[3] This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer. ... Sedation is a medical procedure involving administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure, such as endoscopy, vasectomy, or minor surgery with local anaesthesia. ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ...

References:

External Links:

• Before-and-after pictures of chemical peel patients.
• Society for Dermatological Surgery.
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
• Chemical Peel Information.
• American Society for Plastic Surgery Chemical Peel.