Chemical Peel Recommendation for Fair Skin with Severe Sun Damage and Wrinkles?

asked 3 years ago by sandrasue in Grants Pass
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 5,134 times
Tags: wrinkles, sun damage

What type of chemical peel would you recommend for someone with very fair skin, severe sun damage, wrinkles on top of lips and crow's feet? What concentration would you recommend and are there any risks? Does chemical peel thin the skin? I am 40 years old and I notice on each side of my cheekbone that I have light purple veins running vertical down my face. I have been using renova A. Thank you.

7 answers to Chemical Peel Recommendation for Fair Skin with Severe Sun Damage and Wrinkles?

Consider Fraxel for wrinkles and sun damage

Chemical peels normally don’t improve wrinkles and a deep chemical peel would be out of the question at your age. It is rarely done these days. Chemical peels certainly don’t help the lines that are produced by muscle movement such as the upper lip lines and crow’s feet. Fraxel Re:store might be a more effective treatment for you. Chemical peels might lighten some sunspots (brown flat areas) but it won’t help the texture unless you have a medium-depth chemical peel,... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

You have several peel options

The two main types of chemical peels are TCA or phenol/croton oil. Each can very in concentration depending on which area of the face is being treated. I prefer phenol/croton oil peels for treatment of lines/wrinkles/hyperpigmentation of the face, as this peel treats the isues beautifully and definitively. TCA may improve the situation somewhat, but likely will need to be repeated at some point. Regardless of method, you will absolutely need to receive a full skin evaluation prior to... more

Brian S. Glatt, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon

You might do better with a Fractional CO2 Laser treatment

It depends on the doctor's office that you go to, what technology they have available to them, and what procedures they are comfortable with. Sounds like you are a perfect candidate for a combined Active/ Deep FX treatment. It is not a peel, but a fractional CO2 laser resurfacing treatment. It will probably give you less downtime and better results than an average chemical peel, but it will likely be more expensive. Some offices don't have this laser, and they might want to do a chemical... more

Stella Desyatnikova, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

A mild Glycolic Peel may be what you need

Sandrasue, A mild Glycolic Peel (70%) may be what you need. The Glycolic peels are much more gentle on your skin than TCA or Phenol. You may need several treatments, but it will have a nice effect. For the crow's feet, I would suggest a touch of Botox as well as the peel for the maximum effect. The Botox will help relieve the stress on the skin from constant movement and will allow the underlying dermis to heal. Also, keep using the Renova A. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

There is no way to answer this question without a personal consultation

Chemical peels are fantastic in the right hands. I have a CO2 and an erbium laser in my office but I love the results I can obtain with an appropriate chemical peel. It is important to recognize that doing a chemical peel is a flat out art form that is very difficult to teach to another doctor. No one learns how to do a chemical peel in their plastic surgery residency. It literally requires performing hundreds of chemical peels and this experience is best acquired in a cosmetic surgery... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Chemical peels for sun damage and wrinkles

A medium-depth peel, for example 20-30% TCA would give you the best results as far as peels are concerned. Alternatively, fractionated CO2 lasers such as Active FX or Fraxel re:pair are good as well. As far as the purple veins on the face, you would need to find an office with a vascular laser such as the Pulsed-dye or Nd:Yag laser. I would seek an experienced physician - dermatologist or plastic surgeon who can walk you through all phases of procedure, recovery and potential... more

Bryan K. Chen, MD
San Diego Dermatologist

I would consider a laser option

Hi there- I prefer the precision of lasers over chemical peels for anything as deep as what you will need to achieve meaningful improvement. Consider any one of the excellent fractionated CO2 laser available, such as the Mixto, the DOT, or the Active FX. In my opinion, the risk to benefit ratio is much more favorable, and you are more likely to get what you wanted after a single treatment.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

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