Tag: chemical peeling

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BASIC OR TREATMENT: WHICH FACIAL IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

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BY: Vivian Moreno
How many times have you looked in the mirror and thought you might need a facial? Where would you start looking and which facial would be right for you? In my many years of experience as an Esthetician I have found there are 2 main categories, a Basic Facial or a Treatment Facial. Under the main categories of Treatment and Basic, there are thousands of sub categories. So where do you start? You have to ask yourself do you need cleaning, hydrating, or rejuvenating?

A facial is one of the best ways to take care of your skin especially if given by an experienced and knowledgeable Esthetician. Any facial program is aimed at the overall improvement of the skin regardless if it’s a series of cleaning and relaxing or peeling and painful. A really good Esthetician can point you in the right direction.

A Basic facial consists of deep cleaning, light exfoliating, moisturizing, and massaging. There are many variations to a basic facial. You could ask for a simple Basic European Facial to a Super Duper Free Radical Fighting Facial loaded with Anti-oxidants, Vitamins, and maybe a little Gold. The Basic Facial comes in many shapes and sizes and are usually found at resorts or Hotel spas where it’s all about the feel-good luxury experience. The benefits are plentiful, it can enhance the immune system, aid in detoxification, reduce the amount of fluid that has built up in the face and aid in stress relief especially when aromatherapy and Lymphatic drainage is added.

A Treatment facial is designed to help with the repair of certain skin conditions and to aid in the rejuvenation process. Your treatment may consist of Deep Cleaning, Oxygenating, Microscrubbing, Chemical Peeling and Hydrating. The results and benefits of a Treatment Facial far out weight that of a basic facial. It really is the most least-invasive way to get good solid results. Chemical peels help rejuvenate or correct the face by increasing the production of new skin. Some benefits of Chemical peeling are, it stimulates collagen and inflammation which results in skin contouring, improves discoloration, age spotting, removes fine lines, some wrinkles, and provides for a general superficial resurfacing of the face. All of which provides better clarity, texture, and youthfulness to the skin.

In my own career I am totally a Treatment Esthetician for sure. My facials are anywhere from pleasantly painful to extremely uncomfortable. I don’t do a Basic Facials at all. I work with a couple Estheticians and Physicians in my community that I can refer to if I have a client that needs something lighter or stronger than what I do.

There are different chemicals an Esthetician can use in his or her practice. My standard for almost 20 years has been Glycolic Acid. I have recently added some Pumpkin Enzymes which contain a combination of Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid. Other chemical agents are Retin-A, TCA Trichloroacetic acid and Phenol Peeling. In my opinion Phenol and Retin-A should be only used by a Physician or a Medical Aesthetician.

When looking for the right facial experience it’s better to start off consulting with an experienced and knowledgeable Esthetician. Consult with a couple if you feel you need to. Start off slow, whether it be a light peel or a basic facial no one should start out with a full blown Chemical Peel. Finding the right Esthetician, with the right skin care plan can provide you with amazing, long lasting results.

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WINTERTIME: THE BEST TIME FOR CHEMICAL PEELING

By Vivian Moreno, Esthetician

This is one question I get a lot, simply because everyone wants to have a chemical peel in order to improve their appearance.  We’ve been told it’s an easy and quick solution for our facial woes.  But depending on the season, a peel may not be conducive to receiving optimium results, and aren’t results what we expect?  Therefore, the time of the year is important because Chemical Peeling  is as if your putting your skin thru a major workout, its trauma to the skin and the conditions for recovery is what’s equally important.

I have already begun my chemical peel for the winter.  Because of my age I will try to fit in at least 3 peels for the season. I will Include some spotting especially around my mouth and eyes. Check with your Doctor or Skin Care Professional if you are planning to do your eyes. I recommend the eyes for some of my clients but not all of them. People want  to peel and get the results, but what they don’t  realize or understand is the healing process.  The detail is in the healing not the peeling. No one teaches us this, even the professionals don’t, some clients will freak out during recovery. The whole idea with a chemical peel is to create a wound so that the skin can go through the healing process. There are 3 to 4 stages of healing (depending on who you ask) so it does take some time. If the skin heals up properly the collagen will rebuild and strengthen the skin, Awsome! If the skin is left vulnerable and  healing is interrupted problems can occur.

Skin redness, heat bumps, tightening, itchiness, and dry cracked peely skin, are all common after a chemical peel.  The deeper you take your peel the more activity will occur.  This is the natural inflammation process at work, which initiates the process of healing.  All these sequences need to be understood in order to make the final goal productive.

Now lets look at why Winter peeling  is more beneficial than Summer Peeling.   The Summer Season consist of more sunshine therefore more heat and sweat. which is not as conducive to a chemical peel, especially in regards to the healing aspect. With heat there is more opportunity for infection as well as its effect on nerve endings, causing more pain, discomfort, and irritation.  With more sunlight there is the opportunity for skin complications including discoloration. In the summer I like to use a light glycolic acid or a pumpkin enzyme for maintenance. If I am in need of a peel I will stick to a lunch time peel or a light peel that I really won’t have any down time or problems.

The Wintertime is the  perfect time to prepare your skin for the following summer by doing a peel. I will in fact try to get as much peeling in as possible.  It’s the perfect time and seasonal environment to build skin strength and skin immunity which leads to skin health.  What I mean, is that if you have skin health, your skin will have the strength and ability to endure and absorb the challenges of the following summer season.   The cool temperature of winter feels better on your skin and  is less irritating when your skin is healing. There is a reason why most surgeries are done in sub normal temperature environments.  A cooler surgery room means less chance of infection and other anomalies. In the cold winter months you are more likely to stay indoors and out of the sun during the healing process.

If you decide on getting  a professional peel this winter, be sure your Skin care professional is highly skilled.  A chemical peel performed correctly will lift and tighten the skin, add amazing clarity, reduce and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, and most importantly, bring your skin back to better health.  That’s why the professional you choose to perform this procedure is important.  A Chemical Peel done wrong may cause deeper wrinkles, dry your skin out, increase the opportunity for discoloration and age the skin faster by the very anti-aging methods used, causing faster sagging of the skin. Remember the detail is in the healing not the peeling.