Advertisement
The first evening after the trichloroacetic (TCA) peel, the skin looks reddened and sometimes gray. The face is washed twice a day and a moisturizer is applied. The next day, it looks dry; by the third day, the skin looks strikingly like that of a molting reptile.
By the fourth day after the peel, the skin begins to flake off, in much the same way a bad sunburn does. By the fifth day, the peeling is usually complete and makeup can be applied. Older people usually look red rather than gray. If the peel is purposely deepened, as is required for the treatment of wrinkles, healing can take as long as fourteen days. The redness of the skin will persist for two to six weeks. After the skin has peeled, the patient is again given tretinoin and hydroquinone. The darker the skin color, the longer hydroquinone is used after the peel. I encourage the long term use of tretinoin.
Any peel can cause scarring if performed too deeply. And any peel can injure the cornea if splashed into the eye. A nurse has a bottle of eyewash in her hand during the procedure in the event of any such accidental spillage.
Though TCA peels are superficial, bad results can still occur. Brown pigment can return after unprotected sun exposure (hyperpigmentation). I have seen this effect in olive-complected people, particularly if they scratch their skin during the weeks following the peel. Sometimes the peel will not fully remove brown pigment. In this case, it may be repeated in six to eight weeks.
I've seen more than one allergic reaction to various skin creams after the peel. The protective layer of the skin has been thinned, and creams that were previously tolerated may cause problems now. Itching is common. It is treated with Benadryl tablets and hydrocortisone cream.
Scratching is the curse of the peel. It can rip off the delicate new skin and lead to infection. Infection can cause scarring. Trim those long fingernails after a peel!
The effects last between one and two years, depending on the type of skin care that is used and the amount of sun damage sustained. If desired, the peel can then be repeated.
By the fourth day after the peel, the skin begins to flake off, in much the same way a bad sunburn does. By the fifth day, the peeling is usually complete and makeup can be applied. Older people usually look red rather than gray. If the peel is purposely deepened, as is required for the treatment of wrinkles, healing can take as long as fourteen days. The redness of the skin will persist for two to six weeks. After the skin has peeled, the patient is again given tretinoin and hydroquinone. The darker the skin color, the longer hydroquinone is used after the peel. I encourage the long term use of tretinoin.
Any peel can cause scarring if performed too deeply. And any peel can injure the cornea if splashed into the eye. A nurse has a bottle of eyewash in her hand during the procedure in the event of any such accidental spillage.
Though TCA peels are superficial, bad results can still occur. Brown pigment can return after unprotected sun exposure (hyperpigmentation). I have seen this effect in olive-complected people, particularly if they scratch their skin during the weeks following the peel. Sometimes the peel will not fully remove brown pigment. In this case, it may be repeated in six to eight weeks.
I've seen more than one allergic reaction to various skin creams after the peel. The protective layer of the skin has been thinned, and creams that were previously tolerated may cause problems now. Itching is common. It is treated with Benadryl tablets and hydrocortisone cream.
Scratching is the curse of the peel. It can rip off the delicate new skin and lead to infection. Infection can cause scarring. Trim those long fingernails after a peel!
The effects last between one and two years, depending on the type of skin care that is used and the amount of sun damage sustained. If desired, the peel can then be repeated.
More About this Book
Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery (Yale University Press Health & Wellness)
The public’s recent exuberance toward cosmetic surgery has spurred an unprecedented demand for appearance-changing procedures. But how can an average consumer discern the hype from solid truth? ...
Continue Learning about Chemical Peels
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.