June 2008

June 2, 2008

Healing After a Chemical Peel

Obagi Blue Peel - Chemical PeelUndergoing a facial chemical peel like Obagi Blue Peel is often done to diminish the appearance of skin irregularities including sun-damaged spots, blackheads, large pores, liver spots, freckles, fine lines, small scars, whiteheads, and hyper-pigmentation.

Three types of chemical peels are available. The type that is used is dependent upon the severity of the scarring that the patient desires to reduce. A mild chemical peel employs hydroxy acid, a medium chemical peel uses trichloracetic acid, and a deep chemical peel
consists of phenol acids.

The recovery process after experiencing an Obagi Blue Peel or some other chemical peel involves a pre-established set of steps that include the following:

  • It is essential to wash your face frequently following the chemical peel treatment. A minimum of four times is recommended, although a greater number of washings is encouraged. The washing of the face discourages crust formation that could hinder the healing process. This practice should continue for the first week and up to ten days.
  • Typically, some form of pain will occur depending on the severity of the treatment. Pain medication might be prescribed to diminish post-operative pain. If it is prescribed, it should be taken during the first one to four days. Usually, only those patients undergoing a medium or deep chemical peel need pain medication.
  • Additionally, medium or deep chemical peel treatments require a dressing or ointment on the skin area that is healing. It is essential to change this as needed or according to the doctor’s recommendation.
  • In order to promote healing, the patient should drink plenty of water in order to remain hydrated. Hydrated skin should heal more quickly.
  • Additionally, moisturizer should be applied to the skin in order to keep it moist and supple. Your physician should recommend a moisturizing product for you.
  • Individuals who have undergone chemical peels should avoid scratching their skin during the healing process. The fingernails can lead to unwanted scarring, as the facial skin is very sensitive during the healing scenario.
  • The sun should be avoided for the first few days up to a week or more after a chemical peel treatment. The skin’s sensitivity to the sun and its rays is heightened after this type of treatment. If you must go out into the sunlight, wear a sunscreen product with an SPF of at least 15 if not higher. Moreover, wearing a hat to shield the face from the sun’s rays is also recommended.
  • It is essential to maintain a positive attitude during the healing process in order to heal more quickly. A patient who maintains an upbeat attitude is more likely to follow all of the guidelines to the letter. Even tough you might have been prepared for the anticipated crusting and swelling that occurs with medium and deep chemical peels, it can still be unnerving. Therefore, some mood swing is expected.

If you follow the recommended steps provided by your doctor, you should experience no complications with your healing process following a chemical peel. Should you notice any signs of unexpected trauma, contact your doctor immediately.

Filed under Obagi Blue Peel by Sophia

Permalink Print Comment

June 1, 2008

New Anti-Aging Serums – Fact or Fiction?

Anti-Aging SerumsWith so many new companies with names like Obagi, Kinerase, Skinceuticals and Dermalogica appearing on the skin treatment radar over the past decade, one cant help but wonder if the new products that they offer are any different from products of the past.

Everyone has seen the scientist arguing on the TV, debating whether or not a person can actually turn back the clock on the aging process of their skin. There has always been a pretty convincing argument made that once a skin cell has died, it can't be brought back to life, so a person is stuck with the way that their skin looks as they age.

New Research Discoveries

However; some things have been getting overlooked over the years and recent clinical research into just how the skin ages has produced new data on the subject. It is a fact that dead skin cells can't be brought back to life but what if new products contained substances that enabled living skin cells to function twice as well as they had in the past?

Also, what if there were chemical substances and proteins that your skin produces that could be introduced into it in synthetic form? What if stretched microscopic fibers in the skins substrate that were the cause of sagging skin and fine wrinkles such as crows feet could be chemically induced to contract?

The Search for Answers

All of these questions were what scientist and dermatologists were looking to find answers to when they went to work in their research laboratories. The secrets to better looking skin wasn't in being able to bring dead cells back to life, it was simply in being able to make older sun damaged skin look and function like it did before it was old and damaged.

A Whole New Aproach Brings Results

An old and worn out car will still look old and worn out after a new engine is put into it but fix the dents and give it a new paint job and that will make a big difference in how it looks. The new anti aging serums that are now coming onto the market function just that way.

Peptides, Kinetin and hyaluronic acid are just a few of the synthesized proteins and substances that they contain to effectively remove the dents in your skin and leave it looking fresh and new by function below the skins surface where the problems are located.

Filed under Anti-Wrinkle Skin Care Products by Sophia

Permalink Print Comment

How Effective are Today’s Deep Wrinkle Creams?

Deep Wrinkle CreamIt is only during the past decade that clinical research has exposed just how harmful over exposure to the suns harmful UV rays can be. While younger people are now using far more precautionary measures, such as as sunblock, the baby boomer generation is rife with men and women who just got the information too late.

All of the time that they spent in the sun during their younger years has taken a toll on their skin, which has led more and more of them to turn to deep wrinkle creams for help. Do any of these new products actually work or are they just a waste of money?

New Research Developments

The fact is, that extensive research into the actual intrinsic microbiological functions of human skin tissues has led to some startling developments. These new understandings of how the skin actually functions on a cellular level has enabled research developers to synthesize new highly effective substances for use in new skin treatment products.

The substances in these products actually mimic the skins biochemical processes that transpire in the skins sub dermal layers where wrinkles are actually developed. Kinerase, Obagi, Skinceuticals, Dermologica, Skinmedica and Pevonia are all companies that produce products that function on these new scientific principals.

Go Beyond the Surface for Actual Results

Newly discovered and synthesized substances such as Kinetin and hyaluronic acid are now chemically engineered to penetrate past the skins natural protective dermal skin layer, down to the lower substrate level where they can then function as a replacement therapy for naturally occurring skin substances that your skin may be deficient in due to organic damage and or degradation.

It is important to keep in mind that skin wrinkles are in fact symptomatic of problems and dysfunctions that are occurring beyond the skins surface in its underlying layers. Attempting to treat skin wrinkles on the surface is only treating the symptom and any results that are attained that way will be minimal and temporary at best.

Surface vs Sub Surface Treatments

Surface treatments are the way of the past, because they only worked by temporarily smoothing out the top of the skin with oils such as lanolin. They gave immediate results by making the skin feel smoother but that was all and in very short order the oils would rub off and the treatment would have to be repeated. Newer deep wrinkle creams that function below thew skins surface take a bit longer to produce results but the results that are produced are cumulative and a lot longer lasting.

Filed under Anti-Wrinkle Cream by Sophia

Permalink Print Comment