Guide To Facial Peels Vancouver Patients Will Find Helpful

By Lucia Weeks


A chemical peel procedure involves the application of an acid solution to the skin, which has an exfoliating effect that causes the new skin to grow back with a rejuvenated, fresh glow to it. When interested in facial peels Vancouver BC patients should first have an understanding of what it entails and what to expect.

A peel can be done at one of three levels, deep, medium, or superficial. The deeper the peel, the more pronounced the results will be. Superficial peels only treat the upper layer of cells, usually with alpha or beta-hydroxy acid complexes, to produce brighter, softer skin. Medium level treatments can eliminate many creases and pigmented marks using trichloroacetic or glycolic acid, and deep peels which use phenol or trichloroacetic acid, offer maximum results, effectively erasing most lines, areas of hyperpigmentation, and some scars.

Patients will first need to attend a consultation with a dermatologist if they are considering having a peel. They can discuss their concerns and expectations with the doctor, who will examine them and decide if this treatment is suitable or not. If the patient is a good candidate, the doctor will recommend which level of treatment is most appropriate.

Fair-skinned individuals usually obtain the best results from chemical peels, but it can also work for those who have a darker skin tone, even though there is a slight chance of them experiencing lighter pigmentation as the new skin grows. Contraindications include being pregnant or nursing, using Retin-A, Renova, or Accutane, or having an active outbreak of eczema, rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis, or herpes simplex I.

Store-bought "peels" may provide users with some improvement in the tone and texture of the complexion, but they are by no means capable of producing the same results as a procedure performed by a doctor. They are safe to use, too mild to do any harm, and are acceptable for subtle results, but are not the equivalent of a professional peel.

When a patient is undergoing a superficial peel, usually a cooling fan and some cold compresses are all that's needed to manage the stinging sensation. When a deeper peel is being done, the patient is normally given a local anesthetic and sometimes intravenous sedation. Then a defatting agent such as alcohol or acetone is applied to the face, followed by the peeling and neutralizing solutions. Bandages will then be used to dress the area.

Usually the only discomfort involved is some stinging, but this depends on how deep the level of treatment is. Redness, swelling, and irritation are to be expected following the procedure, but this can be controlled with the use of topical preparations prescribed by the physician. Rarely, a patient may experience scarring or discoloration.

The time needed for recovery depends on the depth of the peel. Superficial treatments typically heal within a week or less, while medium level ones can take one to two weeks, and deep treatments, two to three weeks for a full recovery. When the skin heals, its crusts will fall off, to reveal the new layer of skin. It's important to avoid smoking and sun exposure for three to six month after the procedure, as they can cause complications.




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