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The term chemical peel evokes various emotions and facial expressions from my patients.
For some, the term brings back memories of glowing, freshly exfoliated, hydrated skin.
Of course, as with any skincare treatment, there are preparation steps and possible side effects to consider.
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What Is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is a procedure that chemically exfoliates the skin.
Chemical peels range in depth from superficial, medium, and deep chemical peels.
In general, the time to heal and potentially adverse reactions increase with the depth of the chemical peel.
What Is a TCA Chemical Peel?
TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid.
Medium-depth TCA chemical peels provide improvement in fine lines and wrinkles.
I would caution against having medium-depth chemical peels performed outside a dermatologist office.
Deep chemical peels should be performed only by a board-certified dermatologist or a plastic surgeon.
It is important to review your calendar before scheduling a chemical peel.
Skin will typically peel for 410 days with a chemical peel.
Check your calendar and ensure you dont have any important events or dates within your peeling window.
You’ll need to avoid makeup for a few days following your treatment as well.
It is also important to avoid sun exposure as the skin is healing.
So dont plan to get a peel right before vacation.
Its also advisable not to have a fresh tan on the day of your procedure.
For superficial peels, it is sometimes useful to prime the skin with retinol or a retinoid before.
“double-check you are drinking adequate amounts of water to keep your skin hydrated,” she adds.
What to Expect During a TCA Chemical Peel
The actual treatment process is fairly quick.
Its best to show up to your appointment without makeup.
Next, theyll apply a protectant to the corners of your eyes, nose, and lips.
Since these areas naturally dip down, theres a risk of peel solution accumulating in them.
So, a thick ointment is applied to protect them.
This is usually accompanied by tingling and warmth in the treated areas.
Often, one area may respond more vigorously than another.
A fan is typically enough to mitigate discomfort in a superficial peel.
Oral or inhaled analgesics may be used beforehand for medium-depth chemical peels.
The number of layers applied will depend on the desired depth of the chemical peel and your skins reaction.
The person applying your peel will watch carefully for the desired endpoint.
Once the desired endpoint is reached, usually within 3-5 minutes, the skin is cooled with cold water.
A thin balm is applied to protect the skin, and the procedure is over.
Dr. Reszko likes to use the Environ TCA Cool Peel, especially for first-time patients.
“The Cool Peels from Environ have a gel-like texture and give a cooling effect,” she explains.
“These peels are fully customizable from very mild and gentle, to more advanced and intense.
The Cool Peels from Environ are safe, non-invasive, and give you great results with minimal downtime.”
Youll cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser, and moisturize with a bland ointment or moisturizer.
It’s important to also practice diligent sun protection.
Depending on the depth of the peel, the skin will likely peel between four to 10 days.
My colleagues and I all have different go-tos for treatment of similar conditions.
At-Home vs. In-Office/Professional
In general, TCA peels should be performed by a professional.
Medium-depth chemical peels should be performed only by a board-certified dermatologist.
For your reference, the depth of penetration is what differentiates an at-home chemical peel from an in-office/professional treatment.
At-home chemical peels are very superficial so you can make them foolproof.
It will take several at-home treatments used at routine frequency to equate to one superficial in-office peel.
Key Ingredients
Tranexamic acid fades discoloration, brightens skin, and reduces the appearance of acne scars.
Risks are minimum with superficial TCA peels, but become more substantial in medium to deep peels.
2018;5(1):30-36. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.09.004
