Zero risk: general principles for preventing complications from chemical peels
Despite the constant improvement of hardware techniques, chemical peels retain their position as one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools for skin restructuring, but their high effectiveness is directly proportional to the risk of complications. The key to “zero risk” lies not in the skill of applying the agent, but in a perfectly developed and strictly implemented peri-peeling protocol, which begins long before the procedure.
1st degree peeling exfoliates only the stratum corneum, without touching living cells, so after such a procedure, there is a quick and complete restoration of the skin, in most cases without any side effects and even more so without the risk of persistent complications. And provided that competently selected regular skin care, we get a noticeable positive aesthetic result. Therefore, it is the 1st degree peeling that should be recommended to most patients.
2nd degree peeling of damage affects living cells of the epidermis, but does not lead to damage to the basal layer, so it can provoke side effects in the form of hyperemia and peeling, and in patients prone to this - to early complications in the form of exacerbation of chronic skin diseases and activation of herpetic infection. However, these phenomena are short-lived and are easily corrected during rehabilitation. The risk of persistent complications with such peeling is practically absent. In order for persistent complications to occur after a 2nd degree peel, it is necessary for everyone, both the specialist and the patient, to grossly violate the patient management protocol in the post-peel period, and at the same time there are unfavorable conditions during and after the procedure. However, a 2nd degree peel allows you to correct more pronounced skin defects and achieve a more noticeable aesthetic result than a superficial peel. Therefore, a 2nd degree peel, if indicated, can be performed repeatedly throughout life.
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