Case Studies

Chemical Peels In Women

The purpose of any skin peel is to remove the dead cell layer on the surface of the skin in order to get back to a more translucent look to the skin.  Stronger skin peels remove that layer and some of the topmost layer of the living cells beneath in order to remove superficial wrinkles in the skin.  Phenol chemical peel is the subject here.  Anything less than that, or a LASER resurfacing, would be classified as a Medical Spa treatment.

Phenol in combination with various other ingredients is the deepest of the skin peeling products used to remove the surface of the skin and thus allow the area to grow a new surface removing areas of hyperpigmentation, surface wrinkles, keratosis, and other skin irregularities.  Peels of this type have been around for many years and have been in or out of favor depending on the last major article and the author of that study.  There really is no question that the product works.  The question is whether the user is judicious in choosing the proper patient for this chemical and whether it is applied correctly.

There are two major complications that can occur with the use of phenol.  The first is the formation of hypertrophic scarring, particularly about the mouth and chin area.  The second is its propensity to depigment areas that are peeled.  These two complications are not unique to the phenol.  Indeed, any peeling substance or LASER resurfacing can cause the same problems.

In the past 40-50 years, phenol peels have been used by physicians and non-physicians to rejuvenate the entire skin of the face.  Currently, most plastic surgeons are using other methods to achieve skin rejuvenation.  However, the phenol peel is the most effective method in removal of deep vertical lines about the mouth and chin area.  In my practice, phenol is used there on carefully chosen patients and LASER resurfacing is used for the rest of the face.  Depigmentation occurs in both situations but to a limited degree as the product is applied in small amounts and to a limited area.  The degree of depigmentation is minimal in properly chosen patients and as a final stage the skin of the entire face is treated with various skin products to produce a homogenous pigmentation that is normal and requires no make-up base.

Phenol peels require about 2 weeks for skin regeneration to the point where one is comfortable going out in public with proper skin protection with sunblock and with camouflage make-up.  The new skin is red and tender and must be protected from sun exposure.  The redness will fade over the course of several weeks leaving smoother skin with a homogenous pigmentation.

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