Thursday, April 14, 2011

Chemical Peeling: Say Goodbye To Acne Scars Even Without The Aid Of A Surgical Operation

By Jeremy Cooper


Acne sufferers seldom visit a dermatologist. Studies show that only 7 percent of teens suffering from acne bother to seek a professional's advice, while the rest choose self treatment.

There are reasons why people, both teenagers and adults, select self treatment. First is the lack of courage since bearing acne scars is associated with a social stigma. Another reason could be the fact that self treatment is easier to accomplish.

Also, those who opted to see a dermatologist rarely achieve the result they hoped for after undergoing an acne treatment procedure. This normally happens 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 really important because there are numerous causes of pimple breakouts.

Dermatologists recommend chemical peeling (also called derma peeling and chemexfoliation) as one of the treatment procedures for acne scars. Although 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.

Dermatologists usually use three types of chemical solutions, namely Alphahydroxy acids, Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and Phenol, in performing chemical peeling. These chemical solutions cause the skin to blister and eventually peel off.

Among these three formulations for chemical peeling, Alphahydroxy acids are the mildest. Individuals who prefer this are advised to observe a daily skin care regimen, such as the application of facial wash or creams of light concentration, especially if their goal is to achieve a smooth and brighter looking skin.

TCA, on the other hand, is applied to medium-depth peeling. This procedure must be carried out in a series of treatment sessions to achieve positive results. It may be less painful because of its light concentrations but it seldom gives a dramatic change in the facial skin, especially when the patient ceases to continue the treatment session.

Phenol acids consists 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. In addition, 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.




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