Spanish Chemical Peel Treatments

Chemical peels (also known as chemexfoliation or derma-peeling) are used to improve the appearance of the skin. The skin is thoroughly cleansed with an agent that removes excess oils while the eyes and hair are protected.

One or more chemical solutions are applied to small areas on the skin producing a controlled wound causing the skin to blister and eventually peel off.  

The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled but is temporarily more sensitive to the sun.

Chemical peels can be used to:

• Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
• Treat winkles caused by sun damage and ageing
• Improve mild scarring
• Treat some types acne
• Reduce age spots, freckles and dark skin patches
• Improve your skin’s  texture and colour

There are three different types of peel: superficial, medium and deep:

In a superficial peel a chemical is applied to the skin with a small brush, gauze, or cotton-tipped applicators. It is left on the skin for several minutes and you may feel a slight burning sensation. A fan can help cool the skin and relieve any discomfort. The skin may turn pink and usually only minimal peeling occurs. You can use makeup to hide any redness until it fades.

 The technique for a medium peel is similar to that for a superficial, but the chemicals are stronger may be left on for a longer time to soak deeper into the skin. Medium peels are more painful and you may be given a pain reliever during the procedure. The procedure takes about 40 minutes and cool compresses and fans can be used to cool the stinging and burning sensations.

A medium peel may cause some swelling:  especially if the area around the eyes is treated. The skin will turn reddish brown in two to three days, become crusty and then flake and peel over the next few days.

Deep peels take the most time and are the most painful type of chemical peel and you may be given a pain-killing injection or anaesthetic. After one area of the face is treated, there is a 15 minute break before moving on to the next section to avoid getting too much phenol into your system. Tape or ointment may be applied to the area after the peel to treat deeper problem areas. Tape is removed after two days and ointment is washed off with water after 24 hours and then reapplied as needed.

Depending on how large an area is being treated, a deep peel procedure may take between 60 to 90 minutes.

•  Oral pain killers may be given to reduce pain after a deep peel.
• Severe swelling might occur, especially around the eye area.
• You may be given a short course of antiviral and antibiotic medicines to prevent infection
• You may be asked to shower several times a day after a deep peel to reduce crusting, and may have to return to the doctor's office regularly to have the wound cleaned and checked.

A deep peel causes a second-degree burn of the skin and skin regrowth takes between 10 to 14 days, with the skin remaining extremely red for 3 weeks (up to 2 months for some people). Most people take about 2 weeks off from work and complete healing of the skin may take several months. Proper care of the skin after any type of peel is very important to speed the healing process, help results last longer, prevent infection and avoid color changes occurring in the treated area caused by sun exposure. Proper skin care typically involves:

• Cleansing the skin frequently with water or a special wash
• Changing the dressing or ointment on the wound (for medium and deep peels)
• Moisturizing the skin daily
• Avoiding exposure to the sun until the peeling has stopped and sunscreen can be used.

Some doctors may also recommend using tretinoin cream at night two to three weeks after the peel.

To find out more about clinics who carry out chemical peels  in Marbella visit www.oceanclinic.com  or www.marbellamedical.com  or www.millsmedical.com