Chemical Peeling

SKIN PEELS REMOVE WRINKLES, SCARS, HYPERPIGMENTATION

Different types of chemical peels help to remove annoying wrinkles. They can flatten acne scars, and lessen heavy light damage to the skin. Peeling substances applied to the skin will peel the skin in varying degrees and thereby affect an immediate predictable regeneration of the skin. Depending on the applied substance, peels have different penetration depths and consequently they have different effects. We distinguish between superficial, medium, and deep peels.

The indications for a superficial exfoliation (salicylic acid, glycolic acid, Jessner solution, etc.) are fine wrinkles, hyperkeratosis, acne vulgaris, lentigines, and hyperpigmentation. A medium-depth peel (trichloroacetic acid) can treat light/sun damage, shallow acne scars, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, and even lentigines. Deeper wrinkles, deep acne scars, and severe UV photo damage can also be treated successfully with deep peels (phenol).

Common to all peel methods is a consistent pre-and post-treatment that possibly combined with herpes prophylaxis and antibiotic protection. Individual peel procedures can be combined with each other. The procedure is similar in each case: after a careful cleaning and clearing of the skin from oils, the appropriate peel substances are applied to skin. The concentration of the substance determines the penetration depth by increasing the frequency of the application and by a varying of the application pressure. The actual "peeling" takes between 2 - 14 days. Possible side effects and complications can be milia, hyperpigmentation (usually temporary), infection, scarring, and permanent redness.