REFRESH MD’s highly qualified and experienced skin doctors can help you decide if this procedure is for you. A REFRESH MD chemical peel is most commonly performed for cosmetic reasons—to enhance your appearance and your self confidence. Chemical peels may also be used to remove pre-cancerous skin growths, soften acne facial scars and even control acne.

Chemical peels use a chemical solution to improve and smooth the texture of facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. It can be helpful for those individuals who suffer from facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation. Depending on the level of skin damage to be repaired, your REFRESH MD doctor will recommend one of three chemical peels.

Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids are the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light peels. These types of peels can provide you with smoother, brighter-looking skin if you don’t have the time to recover from a phenol or TCA peel. AHA peels may be used to treat fine wrinkling, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. Various concentrations of an AHA may be applied at weekly or longer intervals to obtain the best result. Your REFRESH MD doctor will make this decision during your consultation and as the treatment proceeds. An alphahydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid, can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream in lesser concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve the skin's texture.

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is available in many concentrations, but it is most commonly used for medium-depth peeling. Fine surface wrinkles, superficial blemishes and pigment problems are commonly treated with TCA. The results of a TCA peel are usually less dramatic than and not as long-lasting as those of a phenol peel. It’s not unusual for a patient to need more than one procedure to get the desired result. The recovery from a TCA peel is usually shorter than with a phenol peel.

Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and produces a deep peel. It is used mainly to treat patients with coarse facial wrinkles, areas of blotchy or sun- damaged skin, or pre-cancerous growths. Since phenol sometimes lightens the treated areas, your skin pigmentation may be a determining factor as to whether or not this is an appropriate treatment for you. Phenol is primarily used on the face; REFRESH MD does not recommend this for other areas of the body, as it may result in scarring.

All chemical peels carry some uncertainty and risk. Chemical peel is normally a safe procedure when it is performed by a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon. However, some unpredictability and risks such as infection and scarring, while infrequent, are possible.

Your REFRESH MD doctor is the best person to provide you with information on this and any other concern you may have regarding chemical peels.