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Best Chemical Peel in Portland, Oregon

A Chemical Peel uses a solution to exfoliate, even out the skins texture and tone, decongest the skin, increases cell turn over and can stimulate collagen production.

Who is a good candidate for a Chemical Peel?

A Chemical Peel uses a solution to exfoliate, even out the skins texture and tone, decongest the skin, increases cell turn over and can stimulate collagen production. Although chemical peels are most commonly used on the face they can also be used on the body. Facial Chemical Peels can help you achieve healthy glowing skin!

Chemical Peels can be done on all skin types. A consultation with your Esthetician will determine what kind of peel will best benefit you and your skins condition. At the time of your consultation your Esthetician will discuss all pre and post treatment care with you in order to achieve the best results. Chemical peels are great for treating:

  • Acne or acne scars
  • Age and liver spots
  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Pigmentation/ Melasma
  • Textured skin
  • Sun-damaged skin

Peels we provide

Light Level peels:

  • Salicylic Acid
  • Latic acid
  • Glycolic and combination peels

Medium Depth peels:

  • Vi Peel Original
  • Vi Peel Precision Plus
  • Vi Peel Purify
  • Vi Peel Advanced

What you should know about Chemical Peel

Expectations

Chemical peels are designed to wound and remove the upper layers of the skin. You need to prepare yourself for how your skin will look immediately after the peel and throughout the healing process. You also need to be prepared to use cosmetics to blend skin tones between treated and untreated areas, such as between the face and jawline.

It is important that your doctor understands what you hope to achieve and that you understand what results you can realistically expect. Even with realistic expectations, you may not see results for several weeks or months after a chemical peel.

Sun protection

During the early healing period after a chemical peel (before the skin has finished peeling), you will need to avoid sun exposure. After the early healing period has passed, you will need to wear sunscreen every day and limit sun exposure as much as possible. New skin is more susceptible to damage and discoloration from sunlight.

Options for skin resurfacing

Chemical peel, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing are the most commonly used techniques for improving the texture and appearance of the skin. Although these techniques use different methods, they have basically the same effect on the skin—they destroy and remove the upper layers of skin to allow for skin regrowth.

No one technique is necessarily better than the others. When done by an experienced surgeon, laser resurfacing may be slightly more precise than chemical peeling or dermabrasion. But the choice of technique is based on the site you want to treat, your skin type and condition, the doctor’s experience, your preferences, and other things. Some people may get the best results using a combination of techniques.

What are chemical / skin peels?

Chemical peels produce controlled injury to the skin, which promote growth of new skin and improved appearance. A variety of chemicals can be used as peeling agents and include glycolic, trichloroacetic (TCA), salicylic and resorcinol. The different chemical solutions produce different degrees of injury to the skin.

What are chemical peels used for?

Chemical peels are used for the treatment of photo-aging (from sun damage), wrinkles, scarring, acne, precancerous lesions, and discoloration (including melasma, freckles, and age spots).

How are chemical peels performed?

There are numerous chemical peels and each one is performed differently. In general, chemical peels usually begin with vigorous cleansing of the skin, followed by application of the appropriate peel.

What is the most popular peel solution?

Glycolic Acid – probably due to the fact that all skin types benefit from Glycolic Acid – is the most commonly recognized chemical peel solution. Salicylic Acid is also very common for use in acne treatments.

How long do chemical peels take?

Most peels can be performed within a few minutes, depending on size of the area being treated.

What will my skin feel like after a chemical peel?

The state of your skin after a peel depends on the type of chemical used and your skin type. Superficial peels have limited effects. Medium peels may cause some redness and the deeper peels may require 10-14 days to recover.

How many peels will I need?

Generally chemical peels are done once every 2-3 weeks, until the desired results are achieved. Maintenance peels can then be performed once a month.

How long do the chemical peel results last?

With good sun protection, results can last months, even years. This is dependent upon the depth of the peel. The deeper peels generally provide a long-lasting effect.

What should I use at home to maintain the condition of my skin after a chemical peel?

You can use a mild cleanser (Green Tea Cleanser) and always include either Hyaluronic Replenishing Serum / Green Tea Anti-Oxidant Serum as often as needed. You may resume regular skincare 3-5 days after a peel or once redness or peeling is no longer apparent. Sun protection is a must!

How long after a chemical peel before I can return to normal activities?

  • Light Peels – The light peel takes approximately three to five days to complete the shedding process. No downtime required.
  • Medium Peels – Medium peels usually persist for five to seven days. The skin may or may not flake and fall away. AHAs can produce some redness with little or no flaking, depending on the individual.
  • Deep Peels – May take several weeks to fully recover. This type of peel is usually effective in treating hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles.

Best chemical peel in Portland, Oregon

Facial chemical peel

A Chemical Peel uses a solution to exfoliate, even out the skins texture and tone, decongest the skin, increases cell turn over and can stimulate collagen production. Although chemical peels are most commonly used on the face they can also be used on the body. Facial Chemical Peels can help you achieve healthy glowing skin!

  • Acne or acne scars
  • Age and liver spots
  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Freckles
  • Irregular skin pigmentation
  • Rough skin and scaly patches
  • Scars
  • Sun-damaged skin

What a chemical peel won’t do:

  • Treat deep facial lines
  • Tighten loose or sagging skin
  • Remove broken capillaries
  • Change pore size
  • Remove deep scars

Chemical peel and your skin

Chemical peels improve the appearance of the skin. The solution used in this procedure causes the skin to “blister” and renew itself. The skin becomes more youthful and smooth.

Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands. They can be used to:

  • Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
  • Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
  • Improve the appearance of mild scars
  • Treat certain types of acne
  • Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills
  • Improve the look and feel of skin

Areas of sun damage may improve after chemical peeling.

Chemical peels will temporarily make your skin tender and sensitive. To protect it from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and environmental factors, you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who is a good candidate for a chemical peel?

If you have fair skin tone, you are an excellent candidate for a chemical peel procedure. If you have darker skin, you can also benefit from chemical peels, but you should know that it is likely that your skin tone will become less smooth after the procedure.

Chemical peels aren’t very effective at preventing or reducing severe wrinkles, skin sagging and bulging. You may need other types of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as laser skin therapy, a facelift or soft tissue filler (collagen or adipose tissue). The aesthetic physician can help you decide on the best treatment.

Before you get a chemical peel

Before a chemical facial peel, your doctor will ask you about your medical history. If you have a chronic skin disorders or have been taking medications for a long time, please tell him about it. To prepare your skin for the procedure, Dr. Grishkevich may prescribe you antibiotics, antihistamines or Tretinoin medications.

Chemical peel in our Portland clinic

The substance that is applied to the skin during a chemical peel procedure is called an exfoliating agent. Within a few days of the treatment, your skin will begin to exfoliate and renew itself. Try not to traumatize your skin during this time and do not touch it with your hands too often. You should be relaxed, because the skin will be destroyed under control.

The types of chemical peels differ based on how deeply the chemical penetrates and what type of chemical solution is used. Things that may affect the depth of a peel include the acid concentration in the peeling agent, the number of coats that are applied, and the amount of time allowed before the acid is neutralized. Deeper peels result in more dramatic effects as well as higher risks, increased pain, and longer healing time. There are three basic types of peels:

  • Superficial peels are the mildest type of chemical peel and can be used on all skin types. Superficial peels usually use liquid containing a mild (dilute) acid, most often glycolic acid. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is sometimes used.
  • Medium peels penetrate the skin more deeply than superficial peels and cause a second-degree burn of the skin. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is the main peeling agent used for medium peels, though the peel may also be done in several steps using a different chemical solution followed by TCA.
  • Deep peels penetrate several layers of skin and cause a second-degree burn of the skin. They are used only on the face. A chemical called phenol is usually used for a deep peel. Deep peels may not be used on darker skin types, because they tend to bleach the skin (hypopigmentation). Even in lighter-skinned people, phenol peels—or any type of deep resurfacing—may bleach the skin. A deep peel can be done only once in most cases.

Before a face chemical peel

Your doctor can help you decide what depth of peel and what type of chemical solution is most appropriate, based on your skin type, which areas you want peeled, what kind of results you want, how much risk you are willing to take, and other issues. A small “test spot” may be peeled to get a better idea of the results, especially for people who have darker skin.

Two to three weeks before the peel, you will need to begin preparing your skin by cleansing it twice a day, applying a special moisturizer or cream once or twice a day, and using sunscreen every day. In some cases, daily use of tretinoin (Retin-A) a topical medicine usually used to treat acne is also recommended and may speed healing. This skin care regimen will help the skin peel more evenly, speed healing after the peel, and may reduce the chance of infection and other complications, especially uneven color changes in the skin.

For medium and deep peels of the face, you may be given a short course of medicine (such as acyclovir) to prevent viral infection. This is especially likely if you have had cold sores before and if the peel will be in the areas near the mouth or eyes.

How a superficial peel is done

Right before the peel, the skin is cleaned. The chemical (usually a liquid or paste) is then applied to the skin with a small brush, gauze, or cotton-tipped applicators. The chemical is left on the skin for several minutes, depending on the type of chemical used. Water or alcohol may be used to neutralize the acid and end the chemical reaction, then it is wiped off. You may feel a little burning while the chemical is on your skin. A handheld fan can help cool the skin and relieve any discomfort.

How a medium peel is done

The technique used to do a medium peel is similar to that used for a superficial peel, but the chemical may be left on for a longer period of time. Medium peels are more painful than superficial peels, because the chemicals are stronger and they soak deeper into the skin. You may be given a pain reliever and an oral sedative to reduce pain and anxiety during the procedure. Cool compresses and fans can be used to cool the stinging and burning caused by the chemical. The procedure takes about 40 minutes. There is little or no pain after the peel is finished.

How a deep peel is done

Deep peels take the most time and are the most painful type of chemical peel. The procedure for a deep peel using phenol is also more complicated than for other types of peels.

  • You may be given an oral sedative and pain relievers. This is usually in the form of a shot or intravenousinjection. General anesthesia may also be used.
  • You may be put on a heart monitor and receive intravenous (IV) fluids during the procedure, because phenol is toxic when absorbed into the body’s systems in large doses. These measures may not be needed if only a single, small area is being peeled.
  • After the skin has been thoroughly cleaned, the chemical will be applied and allowed to penetrate. After one area of the face is treated, there will be a 15-minute break before the next area is treated to avoid getting too much phenol in your system.
  • Tape or ointment may be applied to the area after the peel to treat deeper problem areas. When tape is used, it is removed after 2 days. Ointment is washed off with water after 24 hours and then reapplied as needed.

Depending on how large an area is being treated, the entire procedure may take 60 to 90 minutes.

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