| Everyone has heard of skin peels and there are | | | | days until it starts to peel off and reveal new, |
| many - lactic, glycolic, salicylic, TCA (trichloroacetic | | | | clean, younger looking skin. Depending on the skin |
| acid), and phenol. Of these there are basically 3 | | | | problems treated it may take several treatments, |
| levels: | | | | but a major difference will be seen |
| Minor, superficial peels - lactic, glycolic, salicylic. | | | | immediately.The results from a TCA peel are far |
| Medium depth peels - TCA, Jessner's | | | | more reaching than with a regular, superficial peel. |
| Deep peels - phenol.We will only deal with | | | | Results can last 6 months to a year and it has |
| medium strength TCA peels here as they are the | | | | been known to keep acne at bay, shrink and |
| easiest to apply (Jessner's can require multiple | | | | lessen acne scars, reduce and tighten up wrinkles, |
| concurrent applications and taping to aide in skin | | | | improve color, pigmentation, etc... A TCA peel |
| penetration), safest, and, by far, the most | | | | cannot be applied as often as a more superficial |
| effective against numerous skin ailments | | | | peel. Generally speaking, a superficial peel can be |
| conditions. They are also one of the most | | | | applied every 2-5 weeks. A Stronger, medium |
| effective treatments for acne currently known to | | | | depth peel needs more time batween peels for |
| the medical community.The most common | | | | the skin to properly heal and regenerate. Doctors |
| treated area is the face. TCA is applied usually in | | | | like to wait 2-6 months or more between these |
| a cream. Doctors will mix Obagi, Apeel, or other | | | | peels.This process of chemically exfoliating the |
| previously prepared cream with TCA and then | | | | skin is more rapid and deeper in a TCA peel than |
| apply this mixture to the face or body area to be | | | | in most peels. Many skin peels, like lactic, glycolic |
| treated. The creams tend to have a skin dye of | | | | and salicylic are good at reducing oily buildup |
| green or blue so the doctor can easily see what | | | | (overactive sebaceous glands), and very minor |
| areas have and or have not been treated. It is | | | | skin imperfections. but they cannot effectively |
| usually applied with a cotton or foam applicator. | | | | treat acne, wrinkles, fine lines, etc... TCA has been |
| This is then left on for 10-20 minutes. Some | | | | proven to treat these deeper skin conditions and |
| doctors prefer to use a straight (non-cream) | | | | is offered at almost every dermatologist and |
| solution of TCA. This works much faster and | | | | plastic surgeon office. The improvement in skin |
| penetrates deeper and is used for deeper | | | | color, tone, etc... is so drastic that women, even |
| peels.After application and proper time for the | | | | men are lining up in droves to have this done all |
| desired depth is achieved, the doctor will apply a | | | | over the world.David Maillie is a chemist with over |
| neutralizer. This is usually just a mixture of baking | | | | 12 years experience in biochemical research and |
| soda and water made into a paste. Some doctors | | | | clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell |
| will add chipped ice to further cool the skin. The | | | | University and specializes in biochemical synthesis |
| skin will now be inflammed and if no dye was | | | | for public, private, and governmental interests. He |
| used will look like a bad sunburn. This will last 2-4 | | | | can be reached at M.D. |