Laser Resurfacing Vs. Chemical Peels
Posted by DavidHarley on October 6th, 2017
Comparison between laser resurfacing and chemical peels:
Chemical peeling and laser resurfacing treatments are non-surgical out patient procedures that work by peeling off the upper layers of the skin to reveal fresh,smooth and younger-looking skin.
Both treatments reduce the apparent signs of ageing, sun damage, and scarring. There are several similarities and differences between the treatments. Both the treatments have different levels on which they work, and these levels represent the intensity of the treatments.
1. Indications:
Chemical peels are used to treat the hyperpigmentation, melasma, sun spots and freckles by peeling off the uppermost layer of the skin. Chemical peeling is an effective treatment for acne as well.
Laser skin resurfacing can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, scars and blemishes.
2. Mechanism of action:
Chemical peels utilise acids of different intensities and concentrations to exfoliate the upper layers of skin. The chemicals work on various depth of the skin; the shallow and medium depth peel does not require any downtime, and the treatment takes less than an hour to perform. These skinsdo notneed anyanaesthetic before the treatment. The complete effects of the treatment can be seen after a few weeks of the treatment when the peeling process ends. Sometimes, the peeling is not even visible while sometimes the peeling process involves theapparent shedding of the skin.
Laser resurfacing uses concentrated beams of monochromatic light to remove the damaged layers of skin, one at a time. The treatment takes at least 1-2 hours to perform. The procedure requires downtime of around two days, and the treatment is done under local anaesthesia. Post-treatment, the surgeon applies dressing on the face for protection.
3. Cost of treatment:
Chemical peels can cost anywhere between £300 and £700. Because it is a cosmetic treatment, medical insurance usually do not cover the cost of this procedure.
Laser resurfacing treatment is far more expensive than chemical peeling. The cost differentiates from practitioner to practitioner. The price of the treatment ranges between £1000 and £3000.
4. Post-treatment effects:
Chemical peels might sting a little and can turn the skin a bit dark for a few days. It can take as long as four weeks for skin to peel completely. Other than that there are no post peeling side effects.
Laser resurfacing, on the other hand, causes irritation, swelling and possible stinging or itching for a few days. The skin may look like it has a severe sunburn; oozing blisters may also form on the skin. Due to this, the patient requires downtime of a few days. The skin may peel for five days post-treatment. The patient may also develop acne flare, skin infection, hyperpigmentation, scarring and swelling.
5. Longevity:
Results of both treatments last for many years, but it also depends on the aftercare and sun exposure. If the patients expose the skin to thesun without sunscreen, the resultant sun damage will be worse than before and will require treatment of higher intensity and more frequently.
Therefore, proper after treatment care and sunscreen application is essential to maintain the results.
Before opting for a procedure, the patient should do a thorough consultation with an experienced doctor. A doctor who has MD beside his name may not be certified to perform these sensitive procedures. Laser resurfacing and chemical peeling can only be performed after proper training.
For more information on skin peel training courses click on this link: (https://www.theharleystreet.com/skin-peel- training-course/)
