Chemical peels: The real deal?

Good for: Deep wrinkles, scars and sun-damaged skin.

Drawbacks: While your skin will become smoother and tighter after this kind of peel, the procedure is very uncomfortable. The face becomes swollen and most patients won't feel comfortable in public for two weeks after the procedure. Other problems may include scarring, permanent skin lightening and differences in pigmentation between the peeled and unpeeled areas. This kind of peel is not recommended for people with dark skin.

Microdermabrasion: This skin polishing technique is also known as Particle Resurfacing, Power Peel, Derma Peel or Parisian Peel, and is performed by beauty consultants in spas and salons as well as by technicians in dermatologists' and plastic surgeons' offices. The operator uses a handheld device that blasts fine particles of sandlike crystals (aluminum oxide, or table salt) against the client's face, neck or chest and then hoovers away the crystals, dirt and dead surface skin cells. This type of treatment may also be called a 'lunchtime peel'. because it takes only 45 minutes for a full-face treatment. The patient can then return to work with only mild skin redness, which can be covered up with make-up. The redness will fade after an hour or two. This procedure is not painful, although patients will feel a slight tingling as it is being done, it requires no anaesthetic and will not adversely lighten or darken African American skin, as some exfoliating treatments do. The treatment leaves the skin with a healthy glow.

READ MORE:  previous | 1 |  2 |  3 |  4 | next printer friendly send to a friend