Chemical Peels and Photorejuvenation
For our patients who want to stimulate the production of new collagen and correct a variety of visible skin concerns, we offer chemical peels and photofacial (IPL photorejuvenation) treatment in New Jersey.
Chemical Peels
There are four basic chemical peels available:
- The basic glycolic acid peel to maintain collagen
- The stronger TCA (trichloroacetic acid or Obagi Blue Peel®) for pigment and collagen; this peel requires the longest period of downtime (7 days)
- The salicylic acid peel for acne reduction
- The ALA or aminolevulinic acid peel with light stimulation (IPL) for precancerous lesions, oily skin, acne and to optimize skin rejuvenation. This requires a 3 to 4 day downtime and may cause a windburned appearance and peeling
All of these peels are medically proven to stimulate the production of collagen and are enhanced by daily maintenance skin care programs, which we can design specifically for you. We recommend that any patient undergoing a chemical peel at our New Jersey office discontinue use of Retin-A 1 to 2 days prior to their peel.
These peels and the light rejuvenation treatments below are all available for the face, neck, chest, hands, arms and legs.
Photorejuvenation
If you have broken blood vessels, resistant brown spots or persistent acne, try light rejuvenation with:
- IPL (intense pulsed light)
- BBL (broad band light)
- Or the gentle Omnilux™ or Gentle Waves® diode light treatments
About IPL and BBL Pulsed Light Treatments
Photorejuvenation pulsed light treatments address the face, neck, chest, hands, and even arms or legs with pulses of visible light that effectively improve facial redness and flushing, enlarged pores, pigmentation and the visible signs of sun damage and aging. The light source for these treatments is produced by xenon flash lamps.
Indications for IPL
- Treatments effectively reduce redness and flushing from broken capillaries.
- Sun damage (photoaging) treatments reduce fine wrinkling, freckling and irregular pigmentation.
- Treatments smooth skin, reduce pores and even skin tone.
- Rosacea IPL treatments reduce the overall redness, flushing and dilated capillaries and improve the breakouts of this common chronic facial condition.
- Enlarged pores are very tough to improve. IPL with Gentle Wave and Retin-A will give the best results.
- Oily skin and acne are markedly improved, especially if aminolevulinic acid (ALA) peels are used to boost the results.
- Precancerous lesions, like actinic keratoses, absorb the ALA and regress.
Vasculite® IPL by Lumenis and Broadband Light by the Sciton JOULE™
These are the 2 beyond-laser medical devices used to deliver a series of intense pulses of light to the deep skin. Specific settings are selected to customize each treatment to your specific skin type and condition to maximize improvement. The light energy is absorbed by the damaged target tissue, and stimulates the production of collagen. This flexible, interactive approach to treatment cannot be reached using any other non-invasive treatment currently available. A series of 5 or more treatments are performed at three-week intervals. This is optimally followed with yearly maintenance treatments.
What Are The Intense Pulsed Light Treatments Like?
There is minimal discomfort during your photofacial treatment session at our New Jersey office. Some patients prefer an anesthetic cream, which is applied 30 minutes before your treatment. The light treatment takes approximately 30 minutes. Immediately after the pulsed light therapy, the skin may appear flushed and red, with tiny visible capillaries, and the dark spots will appear much darker. These changes are readily covered with makeup and gradually fade over several hours to days, leaving the skin smooth, healthy and young-looking. The dark brown spots will flake off over a 10 day period, so no major events should be planned during that period for some patients.
The improvement can be quite dramatic, however, as with any procedure, there is always the possibility that only minor changes will occur, and in rare cases there is no response. This is why parameters may be changed or adjusted before each session.
Most importantly, the patient cannot be suntanned, or the treatment will be cancelled. Sun must be avoided 2 weeks before and after your treatments and sunblocks are recommended to protect your skin during this time.
What are The Advantages of IPL?
Minimal to no downtime plus:
- Only IPL reduces dilated capillaries, redness and flushing. With IPL there is less discomfort and no downtime or disruptions to normal activities.
- Enlarged pores are very tough to improve. IPL with gentle wave or omnilux diode light treatments and Retin-A will give the best results.
- Acne and oily skin can be suppressed, especially if aminoleulinic acid (ALA) peels are done in conjunction with the light treatments. This is because the ALA is selectively absorbed by the sebaceous glands, which produce oil and clog up creating acne cysts.
- Precancerous lesions like actinic keratosis also selectively absorb the ALA chemical and are ablated by the light treatments.
Because IPL targets deep skin damage, and chemical peels and microdermabrasion treat the skin surface, these treatments are often used together to enhance your skin rejuvenation (along with your daily AHAs). IPL can be beneficial after laser resurfacing or facelift surgery to improve the results.
These IPL treatments can also be maximized by applying an aminolevulinic acid (ALA) peel 45 minutes prior to your 30 minute light treatment. This acid is also selectively absorbed by sebaceous oil glands and precancerous tumors like actinic keratosis, which will resolve without hypopigmentation.
Another enhancement involves adding a painless Omnilux™ or Gentle Waves® light treatment to your plan. This is especially true if you are targeting enlarged pores and redness. Enlarged pores are a very difficult target to treat, and are best treated with the combination of IPL and Gentle Waves or Omnilux light treatments and long term Retin-A skin care.
What Are Gentle Waves and Omnilux Combination Light Treatments?
Both are light emitting diode (LED) systems medically proven to stimulate the production of collagen. Gentle Waves was the first produced with a yellow light, and the newer Omnilux is much more advanced. The Omnilux is customized to treat different skin problems with combination lights.
For acne, blue and red LEDs can clear skin significantly for 4 to 6 months, and:
- Destroy bacteria
- Stimulate cell growth
- Decrease inflammation and PORE size
- Stabilize oil production
For fine lines, skin smoothness, and improved tone, yellow and red LEDs and invisible infrared LEDS:
- Stimulate cell repair and rejuvenation
- Soften fine lines in up to 80% of patients
- Improve skin softness and smoothness
With these treatments, results continue to improve for 4 to 6 months.
Gentle Waves treatments are painless, 45 second diode light treatments to the skin. Performed in a series of 8, treatments are spaced at one week intervals.
Omnilux light treatments are painless 20 minute light emitting diode treatments to the skin. Performed in a series of 8, treatments are performed twice a week.
How Do I Choose IPL or the Diode Light Treatments?
The diode Gentle Waves and Omnilux treatments are completely painless light treatments, and are better tolerated by the beginner. Acne patients will do well using this with the ALA peel, especially if they have no associated broken blood vessels caused by acne damage.
Optimal skin rejuvenation is achieved with both the IPL and diode machines, along with your daily AHA skin care.
If you are interested in learning more about chemical peel and photofacial treatment in New Jersey, click here to request a consultation today. Or you can call the Hughes Center for Aesthetic Medicine at (856) 528-4896 to schedule your appointment.
