CAN YOU ‘OVER PEEL’ YOUR SKIN?

I perform a variety of chemical peels in my practice and within that, it varies from the AHA ‘lunchtime’ peels to the deeper downtime peels like TCA and Jessners. Having been a TCA peel trainer for Obagi Medical products, I can tell you the answer to that question is a resounding NO!!

What one needs to understand about peels, is that they actually speed up cellular turnover, create new collagen fibers and this in turn actually thickens the skin. Our skin needs a ‘workout’ every so often which keeps it performing optimally as well as forces the skin to rebuild and repair-exactly what you want in order to reduce the signs of aging. Be it brown spots, fine lines and laxity-they are all lessened with a good peel

regimen.

What most people don’t realize is that in doing these treatments, they have the ability to build healthier skin, and by increasing cellular turnover, you’re less likely to have a cancer cell stick around and fester. The idea being-to rid the skin or bump it off as soon as it surfaces.That is the true meaning of healthy skin. It’s also important that the chemical peel is chosen according to your skin type and sensitivity and your goals with having the treatment.

In my opinion Chemical peels will never go out of ‘skin care’ fashion. They’re tried and true, and women have been doing them since the days of Cleopatra in ancient Egypt.

And lastly-a word about the ‘designer named peels’. Whether it’s called the VIpeel, the

fusion peel or some other cool sounding name, what counts is not the name brand but

the peel ingredients. Are you getting an AHA peel, a Jessner, a TCA, a Retinoid peel?

I challenge you to ask your skin practitioner, “hey, so exactly what's the active chemical in today's peel”. Just don’t tell them I told you :).

Kerry Elmasry

Radiant Skin by Kerry, Inc.

4skindivas.com