Chemical Peeling: A Less Invasive Acne Treatment Procedure
Acne sufferers seldom visit a dermatologist. Studies show that only 7 percent of teenagers suffering from acne bother to seek a professional’s advice, while the rest prefer self treatment.
There are several reasons why people who are fighting this persistent skin problem choose self treatment. For one thing, it is easy to get carried away by the amazing stories about self medications than to have the courage to open up this problem to a dermatologist.
Also, those who opted to see a dermatologist seldom obtain the result they hoped for after undergoing an acne treatment procedure. This is especially true to those who do not comply with the prescription.
However, given the right information, medication and prescription, acne treatment can be successful. An accurate diagnosis is essential because the cause of acne is multifactor.
One of the recommended treatment procedures for acne scars is chemical peeling (also called derma peeling and chemexfoliation). Even though chemical peeling has no universal application – since it can also be effective in treating blemishes, skin pigmentation and wrinkles – it works well in treating mild to serious acne scars.
Chemical peels are normally made of concentrated chemical solutions in the form of Alphahydroxy acids, Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and Phenol. These chemical solutions cause the skin to blister and eventually peel off.
Alphahydroxy acids are the mildest among the three chemical concentrations. Dermatologists suggest daily skin regimens, such as using facial wash or creams of light concentration while undergoing this procedure to achieve a smooth and brighter looking skin.
On the other hand, TCA is applied to medium-depth peeling. TCA is less harsh compared with Phenol acids due to its moderate acid concentrations. But individuals who have undergone this procedure should take post treatment schedules seriously so their initial efforts would not be put to waste.
Phenol acids are the strongest concentration and they are used for deeper peels. Deeper peels are more effective than TCA. However, undergoing this procedure can be uncomfortable due to strong acid concentration. Moreover, phenol acids put individuals at risk to sun sensitivity as it prevents the skin from producing melatonin.
Going through acne treatment procedures in the form of chemical peeling must be an agreed decision between the dermatologist and the patient.