Introduction

Today there are many beauty methods for the face, but exfoliation is not a new trend, since it dates back to the years when women made their exfoliating creams with any plant, herb, fruit, or essence that was within their reach. Today there are many methods of exfoliating, from using products to using laser machines.

One of the most common treatments is peeling, highly recommended by dermatologists to treat acne disease, both for young people and adults. There are many types and they all work at different depth levels to allow for more even skin color and to remove minor signs of aging such as superficial wrinkles, acne results, and skin blemishes.

What is it?

Chemical peeling is an aesthetic medicine treatment that aims to regenerate the skin. The word itself can be translated from English as “peel” as it removes a surface layer of the skin to allow it to regenerate. This effect is achieved thanks to the action of the active ingredients that make up the exfoliation and that penetrate the different levels of the dermis or epidermis.

The function of the peel depends on the type of treatment and the substance that makes it up and its objectives are:

Stimulate facial skin rejuvenation
Standardize the complexion
Close pores
Reduce superficial wrinkles on the face

If you are a woman who suffers from oily skin, this treatment helps to control the level of fat in the skin and leaves a correct secretion of fat, luminosity, and consistency.

Likewise, most people, both men, and women, who have decided to try this method, are satisfied with the results since in a very short period the result is noticeable and does not cause any type of pain, it only depends on the situation you have on your skin. Even Sacred Baza specialists indicate that there is a quick-application peeling, ideal for attending parties and events.

Exfoliation treatments are intended to leave the skin looking new, mainly they were carried out in the face area, now they are also carried out on the whole body, from the face to the feet, since some people need attention in other places of the body that has a skin problem.

Acids are used in a large part of the treatment, which is not harmful to health, on the contrary, they are exclusively used for situations that arise on the skin; in this case of the peeling, acids such as salicylic, glycolic, phenol, trichloroacetic, among others, are used, and all depending on the reason for treatment, the skin condition, the age of the patient and the clinical history that they present.

How do I know if I am a candidate for treatment?

Doctors at the Massana Medical Center insist that it is applied to patients with problems such as acne, blemishes, and scars. It consists of removing superficial layers of the epidermis. For this, it is necessary to know if the person has a good production of collagen and elastin in the skin.

There are different types of treatments, and depending on the type chosen, they can help treat different types of skin problems. In general, they are especially recommended for people with:

Oily skin
Large pores
Acne scars
Stains
Small wrinkles

Although peels can be done for almost all skin types, it is necessary to proceed with great caution with people with skin types 5 or 6, that is, with dull or dark skin, because they are at risk of depigmentation.

Peeling is contraindicated in pregnant or lactating women.

How do I find my doctor?

Peeling, like all aesthetic treatments, should always be performed under medical supervision and by a qualified and accredited medical specialist to avoid the risk of burns or depigmentation. It is recommended to do it by dermatologists or aesthetic doctors since they are the professionals who understand the skin the most. On the website of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venerology, you can check that the dermatologist has the necessary certifications. On the website of the Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine, you can verify the information about aesthetic doctors.

We also advise you to search the Internet for opinions of other patients and comparisons of before and after images. of treatment before deciding who to trust. Never trust too cheap prices and if necessary, visit more than one professional to compare and see who gives you the most confidence and security.

How is the first visit made?

In the first visit, the professional will study your case and evaluate your complete medical history. During this first appointment, the doctor will analyze your skin, listen to your motivations and advise you on the best type of treatment to perform. An evaluation is necessary to see the type of lesions to be eliminated. The patient’s skin is observed, and it is important to corroborate the healing capacity and the production of collagen and elastin. Likewise, it will be decided how deep the treatment should be, that is, how many layers of skin to remove. Experts from the Soft Clinic point out that shallow ones need less recovery time.

Once your case has been examined, the doctor will explain in detail how the treatment is carried out, how to prepare for the treatment, and also what precautions you should take afterward. E sta first consultation also serves to assess whether there are contraindications to treatment, such as herpes, diabetes, or facial skin hypersensitivity.

The different types of peeling

There are different types, such as chemical, laser, or mechanical; even if it is true that what we automatically think of when we hear the word “peeling” is precisely the chemical. Let’s see, in more detail, the characteristics of each type.

Chemical peel

The Massana Medical Center indicates that there are 3 types of chemicals:

Superficial or soft peeling: generally composed of acids or substances derived from fruit plants, it is the least aggressive. The most superficial layer of the epidermis is exfoliated, to stimulate the formation of collagen. Helps to level complexion and tighten pores. With this technique, it is possible to treat even small irregularities of pigmentation or acne.

Medium peel: generally based on TCA (trichloroacetic acid) in different percentages. It affects the deep layer of the epidermis. It is recommended to remove superficial scars, acne scars, sun spots, and fine wrinkles.
Deep peeling: the products used are much more aggressive, such as phenol. It is a very effective treatment for wrinkles. However, even if the results are more obvious, this type requires a long recovery period that can also affect social life.

Laser Peeling

Made with a CO2 laser or Erbium Yag laser, it has the advantage of being less painful than chemicals and less invasive. However, it will take several sessions to treat the entire face because it works area by area. The laser can smooth the skin and improve the texture. At the end of the session, a slight blush may appear, but it will disappear during the day. However, it will be necessary to avoid the sun during the treatment cycle.

Mechanical peeling

Also called dermabrasion or microdermabrasion, it is used to treat large pores, blemishes, acne scars, and blackheads. It is a more or less deep exfoliation technique. The face will regain its shine with a “new skin” effect. The head used exfoliates the skin and cleanses it at the same time. It takes between 4 and 8 sessions of 45 minutes each to achieve an optimal result. Also in this case we must avoid the sun between the different sessions.

Preparation for a chemical peel

Whether you need a soft, medium, or deep one, you should prepare your skin at home at least 1 or 2 weeks before the treatment, with a specific cream that will be prescribed by the specialist depending on the characteristics of each patient. Generally, he will recommend that you apply a special cream, slightly exfoliating, to rest the skin and the melanocytes to avoid the risk of pigmentation.

Some specialists also recommend avoiding sun exposure not only after treatment but also during the preparation period.

How is a chemical peel performed?

These are the steps that are followed during a session:

First, the doctor will remove the makeup and clean the skin
Then you will apply a 1-minute pre-peel, which will cause a slight tingling to exfoliate the surface layer of the epidermis and allow the exfoliation to penetrate evenly. After 1 minute, the pre-peel product is rinsed off and the skin is dried so that it is ready to receive the actual peel.

Next, the doctor applies the exfoliation with the help of a brush or a cotton pad on the entire surface of the face. The patient will feel an increasingly intense sensation of tingling or heat. In medium or deep exfoliation, the burning sensation may be unpleasant but can be relieved with ventilation.

Finally, the doctor rinses and removes the peeling and applies a hydrating and soothing cream. As for the surface, you will first apply a neutralizing cream that stops the action of the active ingredient.

Finally, it is important to remember that it is preferable to perform the peeling during the autumn or winter seasons when the sun is less strong.

After treatment

After the treatment, the skin will be slightly red, but it will return to a normal tone during the day. We could compare the redness to that of a sunburn. The superficial allows you to resume normal activities during the day. The experts at the Soft Clinic located in Madrid indicate that if it is superficial, it does not need recovery. On the other hand, if it is deep, it takes up to a week.

After a medium peel with TCA, the skin will turn red and will begin to exfoliate from the third day after the treatment for a total of 3 days. You can apply a soothing moisturizer to reduce this effect. It can take up to 1 week to regain social life.

The deep phenol facial peel is the one whose consequences are the most complicated. Your skin will have been burned and will need time to regenerate. The skin will be red and scabs will form and gradually fall off. It will take around 3-4 weeks to resume normal social activity. The patient may be very shocked and frightened by the effects of the deep after treatment; however, after this more or less long recovery period, the results will be just as impressive.

It is important to specify that, regardless of the treatment, it will be necessary to avoid sun exposure throughout the treatment period and for at least 1 week after the superficial one.

Results

The superficial results in a smoother and brighter skin from the first session. The complexion and complexion are homogeneous and the pores are closed. As for the medium, the skin will be renewed after 2 weeks and will appear brighter and more uniform, and fine spots and wrinkles will disappear. The deep with phenol is a chemical lifting that achieves a more visible result, eliminating wrinkles and smoothing the skin, leaving a luminous and uniform complexion. However, it should be noted that the results are transitory and may vary from patient to patient, as ISAPS experts point out.

According to the experts at Larrarte Aesthetic Surgery, the substances used in the treatment cause the results to be varied depending on the situation being treated. The results are always visible and very long-lasting. It is possible to give vitality to the skin, but to a large extent, it depends on the part of the body in question and the situation with which the patient has arrived so that the results are noticed. It depends on the chemicals used and the degrees of exfoliation used for the treatment.

How many peeling sessions should be done?

It is possible to do a single session, however, depending on the needs and the desired results, the doctor may advise you to do several sessions. For more results, some doctors recommend combining exfoliation with other treatments, such as radio frequency or hyaluronic acid revitalization.

Superficial peeling is often made up of 4 sessions, all spaced 15 days apart because the skin needs to be renewed. By performing a second session after 15 days, we can achieve excellent results by acting in a deeper part of the epidermis compared to the first treatment.

The medium peel is generally made up of a single session, but the doctor may prescribe a second session, if necessary, a few months later. Deep peeling, on the other hand, is always done in one session.

Some physicians prefer shallow or medium to deep, which is much more aggressive. If the superficial peel is repeated, it is possible to obtain very good results, like a medium peel, without excessively attacking the skin.

Risks and complications

The main risks of peeling are:

Skin burn
Inhomogeneous exfoliation
Partial depigmentation of the skin

Therefore, it is important to contact an authorized and competent doctor to avoid incurring these risks. Only an experienced physician will be able to handle the chemicals used during treatment with care.

The ISAPS also warns that deep with phenol and TCA can cause a sensation of “throbbing”, tingling, swelling, redness, and hypersensitivity to the sun.

Frequent questions

Is anesthesia needed for treatment? This type of treatment does not require anesthesia.
Is a protector required after the treatment? Sunscreen should be used 15 days before treatment and at least 15 days after.
Are the effects permanent? The effects are long-lasting, but not for that reason should you forget to take care of your face, since if a long time passes and you do not take care of yourself, the skin can return to the problem.
How many sessions does it take to treat acne? In cases of acne, it is a little more complicated by the scabs since they tend to last much longer than they should, generally between 7 to 10 days, in other cases, there may be slight peeling of the skin and itching, an issue that can be controlled with a special cream prescribed by the dermatologist.
Is it always done with a dermatologist? It is the most recommended, since this aesthetic procedure can be performed only to maintain skin care, as a preventive method, or also as we have mentioned before, in a curative way and for the elimination of wrinkles and also for other reasons.
From what age can the treatment be carried out? It is recommended for both young and old. Young people can undergo it from the age of approximately 17, and require the presence of their parents or guardians, since they are not yet of legal age, and adults can undergo the treatment at any age.
I have folliculitis on my buttocks, I plan to do a Chemical peel, will this help me or will it get worse? I understand that you have to prepare the skin before a retinoic acid peel? to tell you what type of preparation you should carry out, the first thing is to know what type of peeling is going to be done since the retinoic acid must be suspended days before. What you should do is consult with your doctor who is the one who is going to give it. appropriate indications for optimal results.

Deep phenol peeling how many sessions? within the phenol peels, there are several types and levels, so depending on these the effect and the number of sessions vary. The standard in aesthetic medicine clinics is in the NML or Nomelan type, it is a medium peeling, for spots that greatly improve the quality of the skin and fine lines of expression, that do not hurt or annoy, and that a few days has completely peeled, and that if it may need several sessions. Then there is the phenol-croton within which according to the concentrations it can be more or less aggressive, ain and in this case, in expert hands, it can also be done in consultation, with much more powerful results, and longer recoveries, of up to 10 days, and finally, the deep phenol that you mention, that this has to be done in the operating room, and under sedation and constant control, and with recoveries ranging from 15 to 20 days, but with spectacular results that last for years. Although, the cost also varies a lot, since the first one that we have discussed ranges between € 150-200 and the last of everything can reach € 1500.
are the effects of PRX-T33 permanent and will they only disappear as the skin is damaged again? It is a peeling that can be performed between two and five times at intervals of 15 to 20 days. It has a flash effect and in each session, the flash effect lasts for about 30 days. Provides luminosity and smoothness to our face. Lightens blemishes and improves skin tone. Helps to enhance the rejuvenation of other rejuvenation techniques such as Mesotherapy. If you are looking for treatments with long-lasting effects, you have to look for another type of treatment.