Chemical Peels for Lines and Melasma
Chemical peels have been around since ancient Egyptian times, and they are still performed on modern skins. The popularity of chemical peels may be because they improve the appearance of skin in a short time. Chemical peels can help with a variety of skin conditions, including fine lines, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, acne and acne scars. Does this Spark an idea?
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Chemical Peels
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A chemical peel uses an acid solution to get rid of the outer layers of skin and the imperfections in those layers, such as lines and melasma. As a result, the smoother skin underneath is uncovered. There are a few types of chemical peels, with different acid types and different acid concentrations. A mild chemical peel uses salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel can be performed with different concentrations to achieve different results. A strong peel uses phenol solution. A stronger peel creates more dramatic improvements, but may carry more serious risks and side effects.
Fine Lines
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As the skin ages, its supportive components such as elastic fibers, collagen fibers and hyaluronic acid are slowly destroyed. As a result, the skin becomes stiffer, thinner, and fine lines begin to appear. Excessive sun exposure and smoking can speed up aging. To minimize fine lines, you should avoid excessive sun exposure, use sunscreens, quit smoking and live a healthy lifestyle. Besides chemical peels, other treatments available for fine lines are botox, fillers, laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion and exfoliants.
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Melasma
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Melasma, like age spots and brown spots, is a discoloration of the skin. An individual with melasma may have dark patches and spots on the cheeks, nose, forehead or upper lip. Melasma is a cosmetic condition with no health repercussions. Melasma appears when hormones stimulate the production of pigment in the skin as the skin becomes exposed to the sun. Wearing sunscreen can help prevent melasma from worsening. Besides chemical peels, melasma can be treated with laser, tretinoin, topical creams and azelaic acid.
Chemical Peels for Fine Lines
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For fine lines, salicylic acid peels and TCA peels at low concentrations produce only little improvement. AHA peels performs better than other mild peels for lines, but the effects last only between one to three years. A TCA peel at a high concentration shows moderate improvement, better than an AHA peel. It also lasts more than one year, although the risks are high and recovery time is long. The best peel for fine lines is a phenol peel, which lasts more than one year. However, this strong peel has a long recovery period and high risks that include possible cardiac problems.
Chemical Peels for Melasma
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Melasma will show some improvement with mild peels like AHA peels and salicylic acid peels. A TCA peel at a low concentration will moderately improve your skin, but a high-concentration TCA peel or a phenol peel will produce better results. Take into account the fact that milder peels have lower risks and shorter recovery times. However, milder peels may need to be repeated regularly to maintain skin appearance.
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References
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