subject: After using a chemical peel it is necessary to use sunblock [print this page] After using a chemical peel it is necessary to use sunblock
A chemical peel is a skin care procedure which helps to treat numerous skin disorders such as clogged pores, acne, fine lines and wrinkles, scars etc. It is also widely used to treat uneven pigmentation (pigmental spots, freckles, birthmarks etc.) which can be caused by skin injuring, sun damage or hormone disorders. The most common used are fruit acid peels and such AHA peels as glycolic acid peel and lactic acid peel.
These peels remove the upper skin layer which consists of dead and damaged cells and reveal new, fair, young and healthy skin, stimulate cell renewal and collagen and ellastin production. This action of chemical peels helps to remove uneven pigmented cells layer faster and make new cells healthier. At the same time some chemical peels such as AHA peels also have a mild skin whitening effect because of their ability to inhibit melanin production. These properties are very important while treating uneven skin pigmentation.
After using a chemical peel it is necessary to use sunblock because the skin becomes very sensitive to the UV radiation especially the skin with uneven pigmentation problem. There is always a risk of hyper- or hypo-pigmentation after chemical skin peel treatment if there is no good sun protection applied. Sun radiation can cause damaging of new and young cells revealed after the chemical skin peel treatment and also can stimulate melanin production in the skin which leads to further pigmentation problems especially for those people who use chemical peels because of their skin whitening effect.
The patients are usually recommended to use sun block SPF (sun protection factor) up to 45 within three month after skin peel treatment and avoid a direct sun exposure. Sun block protects the skin from UVA and UVB radiation, it blocks about 98% of sun radiation so it does not get absorbed by the skin and does not cause cells damage. Sun block and sunscreen prevent our skin from sunburn, uneven tanning, premature aging and diminishes the risk of skin cancer.
Medium and deep peels, on the other hand, will definitely require anesthesia and pain medication. Medium peels are generally done with TCA (Trichloroacetic acid). It can be used to treat the same problems as AHAs that affect the deeper layers of the skin. Deep peels are done with phenol. A longer recovery session is in order for this kind of chemical peel}. The skin will form scabs that will fall off to reveal lighter looking skin. A phenol peel will make the skin lose its ability to produce melanin. Therefore, an effective sunblock is highly recommended to use throughout the rest of your life.
