The Perfect Peel

The cosmetic benefits of skin exfoliation or removing the outer layers of the skin have been known since ancient times. Babylonians used pumice stones to exfoliate the skin. Egyptians discovered that simply bathing in sour milk which is now known to contain lactic acid could make their skin softer and smoother. 

The outer portion of the skin or epidermis is composed of multiple layers of cells. Over time, these cells are shed naturally. 

As we age, the process of exfoliation slows down.  This leads to a dull, coarse and sallow complexion with excess and irregular pigmentation. Spider veins and wrinkles form and the skin becomes lax. The ultraviolet rays of the sun accelerate these changes. 

The good news is that these changes are limited to the outer layer of skin. Therefore, they can be treated by a variety of methods that exfoliate or resurface the damaged portion of the skin. Newly healed skin replaces the damaged skin without the unwanted imperfections and restores a more healthy and youthful glow.  These methods include chemical exfoliants and peels, mechanical devices such as microdermabrasion and thermal energy delivered through laser and other light sources. 

Epidermal cells are held together by both microscopic fibers and a substance like glue that surrounds each cell.  Microdermabrasion physically breaks apart the filaments connecting the cells of the epidermis.  A vacuum device and hand piece allow micro crystals of aluminum and magnesium to pass over the skin.  The hand piece then vacuums off the dead skin and crystal particles.  This procedure exfoliates the most superficial layer of the epidermis.  Microdermabrasion is a progressive skin treatment and usually requires a number of sessions.   

Chemical peels act to dissolve the glue which holds cells together and therefore penetrate deeper into the skin.  The more common peels include the alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic and lactic acid, salicylic acid and trichloroacetic acid.  The ultimate depth of a peel is influenced by a number of factors - the use of a pre-peel preparation, the amount of chemical applied and the length of time the chemical is allowed to stay on the skin.  Also, variation in skin thickness between individuals can affect the outcome of the peel. 

Chemical peels are generally divided into superficial, typically performed by an aesthetician, and medium and deep peels, performed in a medical setting.  Medium and deep peels can lead to side effects such as infection and areas of irregular pigmentation.  Deep peels can also lead to a permanent lightening of skin tone. The treated skin will often freckle instead of tan with sun exposure.  Medium and deep peels are not appropriate for people with darker skin tones due to the risk of increased pigmentation that can occur following the procedure.  

Both microdermabrasion and chemical peels can work well but neither provide a thorough exfoliation when used alone. One of the most exciting innovations since 1994 is the use of lasers to exfoliate or resurface the skin. The carbon dioxide (CO2) laser was the first laser that made it possible to safely peel away the top layer of the skin by a process known as vaporization. The CO2 laser is generally used for those with severe photodamage characterized by deep wrinkles and premalignant skin lesions. Because it penetrates into the deeper layer of the skin, there is a potential for side effects. These include persistent redness, increased pigmentation of the treated area, prolonged healing times and infection.

A more recent innovation, the Erbium laser, provides a more superficial peel than the CO2 laser because it does not penetrate the entire upper layer of the skin.  Therefore, it leads to fewer side effects, a shorter recovery time and therefore a product preferred by both patients and physicians.  Because there is less thermal injury to the skin, the risk of pigment changes is reduced making it a safe alternative in patients with darker skin types.  It is quite effective for individuals with mild to moderate degrees of photodamage, i.e., coarse skin, spider vessels, fine wrinkles and laxity. 

The MicroLaserPeel is an Erbium laser that precisely peels the outermost layers of the skin.  The epidermis has an average thickness on the face of about 110 microns. The MicroLaserPeel can remove up to 80 microns of the skin in one session.   Peels up to 30 microns can be performed under topical anesthesia.

Healing generally takes three to five days.  Symptoms following the procedure resemble those of a sun burn which are treated with analgesics and topical agents.  Many patients chose a series of 20 to 30 micron peels to avoid the prolonged recovery time of deeper peels. Typically the procedure is repeated 2-4 times at 8-10 week intervals.

The MicroLaserPeel is one of the most predictable and effective procedures available for facial rejuvenation and therefore is THE PERFECT PEEL.

Dr. Christine Helinski of Brilliant Aesthetics MedSpa specializes in cosmetic procedures, including MicroLaserPeels in Maryland [http://brilliantmedspa.com/Microlaserpeel/micro-laser-peels-maryland.aspx].