Home Tag: "Chemical peels" (Page 2)

Tag: Chemical peels

chemical peels
6Jun

Yes, the word is out: many celebs swear by chemical peels. Some choose not to reveal their cosmetic treatments, but others are quite open about their love for this procedure to maintain a flawless skin. Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Anniston are a few who have given the thumbs up to regular peels.

Lactic acid peels are nothing new. In fact, Cleopatra used sour milk and clay to exfoliate her skin. But these days we use infinitely more scientific chemical peels to either remove the outer layer of skin or inflame the deeper skin so that the healing process will lead to renewed, refreshed skin.

Which peel?

Chemical peels are the ultimate multitaskers: providing exfoliation, skin rejuvenation and general skin tone improvement. And do note that it’s never too early or too late to start your chemical peel journey.

In your 20s and 30s, light peels, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels, glycolic acid and other AHAs are great for rejuvenating the skin, as well as treating mild to moderate acne.

From age 40 upwards you might want to consider deeper peels. Trichloracetic acid or TCA peels (which have greater depth than AHAs) reduce the onset of sun damage and stimulate collagen when applied at least once a year. On the other side of the spectrum, phenol peels are reserved for deeply-damaged skin.

A chemical peel won’t erase deep wrinkles or large areas of pigmentation. Rather, it can work wonders at minimising sunspots and other discolouration, reducing fine lines, boosting your skin’s collagen production and improving elasticity.

Frequency

Chemical peels can be administered as frequently as once a month to treat acne-prone skin, or at much longer intervals from a few months to six months for ageing skin. Phenol peels are often administered only once, or with many years in between.

When deciding on the frequency of your peels, take the condition of your skin into consideration. For instance, if your skin is acne-prone, a monthly treatment might be advisable.

So be assured that chemical peels can shave years off your face. After all, celebs swear by chemical peels.

But to look youthful, you must be diligent about stripping off that top dead-cell sludge. Another bonus is that topical products such as moisturisers and serums will penetrate the fresh new skin much better.

20May

The good news is: IPL reduces the appearance of Dyschromia. Another alternative treatment which yields good results is chemical peels.

As the name indicates, Dyschromia is a skin pigmentation disorder. The main cause is hyperpigmentation: darker patches surrounded by lighter patches on the skin. Normally, these darker skin patches occur on areas of the skin which are commonly exposed to sunlight, such as the face, hands and arms.

Causes

Age or liver spots are the most common form of Dyschromia. Meanwhile, Melasma and Chloasma have larger darker patches on the skin as a result of hormonal changes.

More melanin in the skin can also be the result of other factors such as heat, heavy metals, hormones and trauma from ionising radiation. Mottled skin is another type of Dyschromia in which blood vessel changes cause a patchy appearance.

Many things can cause Dyschromia, but by far the most common is accumulated sun exposure, especially recurrent sunburns or suntans. In some cases, certain medications heighten sunlight sensitivity.

Other causes are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) as a result of wound or skin infection healing. Generally, the darker your complexion, the darker your PIH will be. Café-au-lait spots, Mongolian blue spots, seborrheic keratosis, moles, malignant melanoma and radiation therapy can also cause Dyschromia.

Treatment

By far the best treatment is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Use an SPF50+ sunscreen, cover legs, arms and hands and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

If you suspect that you suffer from Dyschromia, consult a dermatologist. Once the condition is diagnosed, he/she may prescribe topical creams such as hydroquinone and/or tretinoin and steroid creams. But do check whether you’re a suitable candidate for IPL, because it’s definite that IPL reduces the appearance of Dyschromia. You may need more than one session to truly see a good result, but it will be worth it in the end.

Chemical peels also are a good alternative. And again, a series of peels may be necessary.

So, although Dyschromia is mentally traumatic, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Photo: stemcellreference.com

Lasermed, help for ageing skin
14Jan

Although the relentless march of time results in wrinkles, fine lines, sagginess and pigmentation, there is help for ageing skin. Some people are content to sit it out with an old-looking skin, but many of us want to look more youthful. This isn’t a case of vanity, but simply the pursuit of improving quality of life. After all, the science is there, so why not use it?

Why skin ages

Age obviously is the prime culprit, but other factors also come into play. Free radicals from pollutants are toxic elements under the upper skin layer which lead to premature ageing. One way of protecting the skin from free radicals is daily use of a vitamin C serum.

Poor nutrition also contributes to ageing faster. The biggest blame goes to junk food. And we all know the answer by now: follow a healthy diet with loads of grains, seeds, fruit and vegetables.

A dry skin certainly will age faster than a hydrated skin. Although genetics also come into play, hydration is key in staving off dryness. And not only topical hydration, but eight glasses of H2O daily will make a big difference.

Fixes for ageing skin

Skincare meets technology at Lasermed. As such we have a basket of treatments available for ageing skin.

  • IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) effectively reduces the visible signs of photo-ageing and sun damage in light-skinned men and women of all ages by stimulating collagen production to improve skin quality and texture.
  • Dermapen 4 Advanced Skin Needling treats wrinkles by stimulating collagen and tightening the skin. It’s suitable for all skin colours.
  • Our superficial chemical peels use Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) to repair damaged collagen and speed up cell turnover. The result is healthier, plumper and tighter skin.
  •  CO2 Fractional Resurfacing is performed by our dermatologists. This laser is exceptional for skin resurfacing to treat the effects of ageing and skin tightening is visible immediately.
  • The frax laser delivers substantial improvements in collagen remodelling while leaving the skin’s outermost layer unaffected.
  • Microdermabrasion is safe for men and women of all skin conditions and colours. It improves the overall appearance and tone of skin as it stimulates collagen and blood circulation, getting oxygen to the cells, which results in a smoother and healthier skin.
  • Using ultrasound energy, Utims Mini safely tightens and lifts muscle, as well as stimulating collagen production – perfect for heavy eyelids, nasolabial folds, loss of jawline definition and sagging neck and chin.

All that remains is a phone call from you to get help for ageing skin!

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