Are the Scar Removal Results of a Chemical Peel Permanent?

Question

I spoke to a doctor who told me that my skin is very sensitive and so chemical peeling can ruin my skin. She also said that the chemical peeling is temporary and scars will reappear. I have acne scars and i was hoping to get rid of them through chemical peeling. Will a chemical peel be safe on sensitive skin and will it provide permanent results?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Chemical peels can be used on sensitive skin for wrinkles and discolorations and work quite well if done gentely and repetitively but they usually do nothing for true depressed scars. Light TCA peels (10-15%) every 2-4 weeks @$250 each help with discolorations. Usually stronger ones are needed for wrinkles. Dermabrasions (sanding) of the skin or fraxel lasers or subcisions or punch grafting help with depressed scarring and usually need to be done a few times and are quite expensive but do give permanent results.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented  scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Lawrence Kass, MD · Answer

There are very few cosmetic treatments that are "permanent." But I would not say that the results of chemical peels are temporary either. you will get significan improvement but many of the light peels will have even greater effect is they are repeated. There is little that light peels can do for depressed acne scars, however.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Chemical peel does not provide permanent results. It can only diminish the appearance of some scars. However you can have good results for acne scarring by Fraxel treatment. This treatment eliminates irregular skin discoloration, and stimulates new collagen production, tightening the skin without prolonged recovery. Best of luck!

Daniel Shapiro, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. If you want permanent results, a chemical peel will likely not provide them. At my practice, I have gotten excellent results for scarring with Fraxel. This treatment eliminates irregular skin discoloration, and stimulates new collagen production, tightening the skin without prolonged recovery. After a series of 2 to 4 Fraxel treatments, the cumulative cosmetic improvement is near more aggressive lasers, but unlike more aggressive lasers, redness and swelling eliminated within 2 to 4 days after each treatment. Fraxel is outstanding for fine wrinkles, mild skin laxity, irregular pigmentation, acne scars, surgical scars, enlarged pores, stretch marks, age spots and Rosacea. It can be used safely on the face, neck, hands, arms, and chest.

Philip Young, MD · Answer

I have a lot of patients with sensitive skin and they seemed to do well with resurfacing. Obviously, everybody is different and you would have to get a complete history and physical exam to make sure that you are okay to receive this particular treatment. 
Here are some of the contraindications to having a resurfacing:
previous cancers or active skin cancers, on Accutane within the last 1-2 years, medications such as tetracycline, chloroquine, bleomycin, amiodorone, St. John's wart, recent sun exposure within the last 4-8 weeks, recent skin procedure within the last 4-8 weeks, previous chemical peel or laser within the last 6 mos to a year, skin koebnerizing diseases, autoimmune diseases, hiv, active infections, herpes, lupus, hormonal/endocrine diseases, bleeding disorders, history of keloid and hypertrophic scar formation, pregnancy / nursing, porphyria, previous radiation to the face.
In terms of whether they are permanent, this is a difficult question because permanent can mean forever and nothing lasts forever. Studies show that after a resurfacing, and this depends on how it is done and how aggressive, the results lasts around 8-10 years and then you will likely want to do this again.

Are the Scar Removal Results of a Chemical Peel Permanent?

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