Treatment: Dermabrasion is a procedure that uses a high-speed rotary wheel to scrape off the top layers of skin. A dermabrasion session may last from a few minutes to more than an hour, depending upon the extent of the treatment, and multiple sessions may be required. The surgeon generally performs the treatment in an outpatient setting, with the patient under local, topical or general anesthesia. Dermabrasion can be used in conjunction with other procedures, such as chemical peel or rhytidectomy.

After Treatment: The patient can expect to experience temporary tingling, burning, swelling, itching and/or redness. Crusts that form over the treated area will drop off as new skin grows underneath. Some patients develop small whiteheads. New skin in the treated area is likely to be lighter-colored, acutely sensitive to the sun and unable to tan. These effects should gradually disappear within six to twelve months. Redness may persist for up to three months.

Beginning Treatment: Your initial application of Retin-A® will include a lesson on how to continue your skin-care routine at home. It’s likely that a very gentle formula will be used at the beginning - especially if you are younger or have a fair complexion. You may be switched to a stronger formula after your skin becomes accustomed to treatment.

Treament: To achieve the desired effect, the product is applied topically every night before going to bed for a period of eight months to one year. After this initial period, applications will be limited to only two or three times per week. At periodic follow-up visits, your docTo maintain the benefits of Retin-A®, its use must be continued for a lifetime.

Reactions/Side Effects: Until the skin adjusts to the treatment, the patient may experience temporary redness, itching, irritation, stinging and/or dry skin. Typically, these symptoms to gradually disappear as the skin becomes acclimated to the treatment. Patients are advised to apply moisturizer twice daily and wear sunblock when outdoors.

Alphahydroxy Acid Peels: Alphahydroxy acid (AHA) peels smooth rough, dry skin and improve the texture of sun-damaged skin. It may also help to improve mild acne. The AHA solution can be mixed with a bleaching agent to correct or improve pigmentation problems. Sometimes the AHA peel is used as a pretreatment to prepare the face for a TCA peel or for laser resurfacing. An AHA peel may cause mild stinging, but no anesthetic is required. Several treatments may be needed to achieve the desired effects, but once this point is reached, the patient can maintain improved skin texture by using a low-concentration of an AHA, such as a glycolic or fruit acid, mixed with a facial cream or wash as part of a daily at-home skin care program.

Trichloroacetic Acid Peels: Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels can be administered in various strengths to adjust the depth of the peel. The TCA peel is appropriate to smooth fine surface wrinkles, remove superficial blemishes and correct pigmentation problems. The TCA peel may be used on the neck as well as the face, and this is the preferred peel for darker-skinned individuals. To achieve the best effects, the skin is sometimes pretreated first with Retin-A or AHA. A full-face TCA peel may take from 30 to 60 minutes. The peel does not require anesthesia, but the patient may be sedated to make him/her more comfortable. Repeat treatment may be necessary to maintain the desired effects.

Reactions/Side Effects: Temporary side-effects and recovery time vary with the type and depth of chemical peel. After an AHA peel, the patient is likely to experience flaking, scaling, redness, dry skin and possibly minor crusting, but these conditions are transient and should not interfere with prompt resumption of normal activities. After a TCA peel, the patient may experience tingling or throbbing sufficient to require a mild pain medication, and there may be significant swelling, especially if a strong formula has been used. Swelling generally subsides within a week. Crusts or scabs that form on the treated areas begin to slough off in a week to 10 days. Risks vary with the type and depth of the peel, but all peels carry a small risk of infection and/or scarring. Patients with allergies could experience a flare-up of skin allergies. Fever blisters and/or cold sores may also develop. The phenol peel also carries a risk of permanent abnormal skin-color changes, and while very rare, a patient may develop heart irregularities while undergoing treatment.

After Treatment: The patient should use a sunblock every day to protect the skin, however. Patients should avoid sun exposure until complete healing has occurred. Then the patient should apply sunblock daily for protection.

Beginning treatment. Your initial application of glycolic acid cream will include a lesson on how to continue your skin-care routine at home. The way in which glycolic acid is applied to the face depends upon what form it’s in. Two common forms are cream or facial wash. Both forms contain about 12 percent glycolic acid, which helps slough away dry, sun-damaged skin on the face’s surface. Each also contains a special moisturizer and, if needed, a bleaching agent. In most cases, the acid is applied to the face twice daily, either by smoothing on the cream or using the facial wash. Your doctor may adjust the strength of the acid formulation or the frequency of its use after evaluating your skin’s condition in follow-up visits.

After Treatment: It’s normal to experience some redness, irritation, itching, stinging, or skin dryness once you begin to use glycolic acid. However, you can expect these symptoms to gradually disappear as the skin adjusts to the treatment.

Reactions/side-effects. It’s important to remember that side-effects may occur even with non-surgical treatments. No serious medical problems have been associated with glycolic acids, but their use may cause temporary skin irritation and redness. Switching to a milder formula may remedy the problem.

Caring for your new skin: Because glycolic acid thins the skin’s outer layer, patients are advised to apply moisturizer once or twice daily and wear sun block when outdoors. And, to prevent irritation, you may have to discontinue using certain products or cosmetics on you face. Results are permanent as long as treatment is continued, but treatment does not prevent deeper wrinkles from forming with aging.

The Outcome: Though the degree of change varies from person to person, with continued use of glycolic acid preparations, you will begin to see subtle improvements in the texture and tone of your skin. In most cases, glycolic acid users notice an overall freshness and smoothness. After a while, pigmented blotches fade or disappear as the bleaching effect begins to work. The time necessary for visible results depends on the degree of pigmentation and individual circumstances. Some patients see results in as little as six weeks.