Neostrata Chemical Peel:

Neostrata superficial peel treatments are quick, in-office procedures that are performed under the supervision of a dermatologist. They are used in combination with Neostrata home care products to stimulate skin renewal helping the skin to appear heathier, plumper and tighter with enhanced skin smoothness and clarity.

Most Neostrata products contain glycolic acid, a natural constituent of cane sugar and the smallest molecule of the alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) family. AHAs, also known as fruit acids, naturally occur in foods such as apples, grapes and citrus fruits.

Clinical studies have shown that Neostrata glycolic acid products used in a daily regimen reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin look refreshed and more youthful.

AHAs mildly peel away the accumulation of dead cells on the surface of the skin, enhancing cell renewal and increasing the moisture content of the skin.

Conditions such as aging and sun-damaged skin, severe dryness, dehydrated skin, hyperpigmentation and acne improve with consistent and proactive use of AHA skin care products.

Neostrata poly-hydroxy acid (PHA) products contain a second generation of AHAs recently developed by Neostrata researchers. Highly moisturizing, PHAs provide all the smoothing and anti-wrinkle benefits of other AHAs without the skin, irritation, burning or stinging. PHAs also contain antioxidant benefits, a property not found in glycolic acid.

Gluconolactone is a PHA exclusive to Neostrata. This PHA has particularly effective hydrating properties which assist in optimum degrees of moisturisation of the skin.

Some Neostrata products contain lactobionic acid, the latest skin care technology to emerge from the Neostrata Company. This new poly-hydroxyl ‘bionic’ acid is a non-irritating, complex PHA derived from naturally occurring lactose (milk sugar) and gluconic acid. Lactobionic acid is a potent antioxidant with humectant properties that strongly attract and bind water, producing a natural gel matrix. Its unique film forming property provides softness and velvety smoothness to the skin. Lactobionic acid formulations reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Neoceuticals

Neostrata’s Neoceuticals product line is therapeutic treatments containing various blends of AHAs and PHAs. These products have been developed for more serious skin conditions such as problem dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis and acne conditions.

What is Glycolic Acid?

Glycolic acid is one of the alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), a group of naturally occurring substances often referred to as “fruit acids” because they are found naturally in various fruits and other foods. In its natural state, glycolic acid is found in sugar cane juice. AHAs improve skin appearance and texture. Improvement has been found in patients with dry, oily and acne-prone skin and with age spots.

What is a Glycolic Acid Peel?

A glycolic acid peel treatment is a specific technique for skin renewal. With this process, a high concentration of glycolic acid is applied to the skin for a short period of time and then chemically neutralized to end the treatment. This procedure rapidly removes the damaged layer of dead surface skin cells revealing the fresh skin, and stimulating cell rebuilding and restructuring of the deeper skin layers, which can help the skin appear smoother, healthier, plumper and tighter, with more even pigmentation.

How do Glycolic Acid Peels differ from other chemical peels?

In the past, chemical peeling agents have been primarily phenol and triochloroaetic acid (TCA). These types of chemical peels are effective in a number of conditions requiring a deep peel, although they are, by their very nature, toxic to cells. Phenol and TCA can produce treatment complications such as excessive colouration or discolouration (hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation) and possible scarring.

In contrast, glycolic acid peels are not toxic to skin cells and are used as superficial peels requiring little skin recovery time. Usually done in a series of controlled superficial peels, AHA peels have been shown to provide improvements to acne prone skin and help reverse sun damage. When proper procedures and techniques are used, results with glycolic acid peels are comparable to deeper peels, without their complications.

Can anyone be treated with a Glycolic Acid Peel?

To determine if you should have the Neostrata Glycolic Acid Skin Renewal Peel Treatment, you need to meet with your doctor and discuss your medical history, skin sensitivities and peel expectations. Your doctor will design a program for you with the appropriate type and timing for a peel.

Many conditions can affect the sensitivity and reactivity of your skin to the glycolic acid peel. Your physician may recommend that you briefly discontinue using certain products and cosmetic procedures, or pre-treat you with other products.

Some conditions may make it unsafe to have a peel. It is important to inform your physician of the following conditions:

• Allergies
• Atopic skin reactions/eczema
• Rosacea
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Pigmentation disorders
• Recent anticoagulant therapy
• Circulation disorders
• Collagen/autoimmune disease
• Viral infections (inc herpes)
• Hypertrophic/keloidal scarring
• Cryotherapy/cryosurgery
• Roaccutane/oral retinoid use
• Smoking
• Pregnancy

What kinds of improvement can I expect with a peel treatment?

Be sure to discuss the type of skin improvement you hope to achieve from the peel treatment. Together you can decide if your expectations are realistic and redefine your goals if necessary to get your desired improvements. The following are types of improvements that are possible with the Neostrata Glycolic Acid Peel Treatment program and items to discuss with your doctor:

• Softening of fine lines
• Diminution of coarse lines
• Increased smoothness in skin texture
• Mild or moderate levelling of acne scars
• Lightening of pigmentation irregularities
• Increasing skin natural glow or radiance
• Some minimization of pore size

How will I look of feel right after the Peel Treatment?

Initially your skin may be somewhat red or puffy. It may take up to one week for the renewal and rebuilding process to let your skin appearance return to “normal”. During this repair/renewal period some patients have experienced some of the following: stinging, itching, burning, mild pain or discomfort, tightness and peeling of the superficial layer of the skin. Light peeling is an expected result and will lessen over the week as the skin returns to “normal”. Once healed, your skin will have a refreshed, hydrated, more youthful appearance.

20% TCA Peel

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is a 20% TCA peel?

It is a specific skin rejuvenation technique for skin renewal.

A superficial peel is performed by a physician utilising Trichloroacetic acid. It is a quick procedure that rapidly removes the damaged layer of skin cells to reveal fresh skin, and stimulates cell rebuilding and restructuring of the skin.

This procedure in association with the pre and post-conditioning programme will provide improvements in the appearance and texture of the skin, resulting in smoother, healthier, tighter skin with more even pigmentation.

Is it suitable for use on everyone?

It is important to determine if you should have the 20% TCA peeling. Through a consultation with your doctor, your medical history, skin condition and expectations will be discussed. Your doctor will prescribe an appropriate skin rejuvenation programme.

What conditions can be treated with the 20% TCA peel?

Face

• Uneven pigmentation
• Congested/enlarged pores
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Sallow discoloured skin
• Active acne/acne scarring
• Sun damage

Body

• Ageing and damaged skin on the back of the hands, neck and chest area.
• Stretch marks and scars

What improvements can I expect from this treatment?

• Increased smoothness in skin texture and smaller pore size
• Softening of lines from sun damage
• Softening of scars
• Reduction of pigmentation irregularities
• Increase in skin vitality and radiance

What are the pre and post peel treatment instructions?

It is important to follow the guidelines for home care treatment protocol to ensure successful results. The doctor will explain this to you in detail.

What is the natural progression immediately after my skin peel?

• Tightness – which may persist for 4 to 5 days.
• Darkening – skin will darken 4 to 5 shades before healing process of skin.
• Pigmented areas – may temporarily appear darker after treatment.
• Peeling – flaking usually starts on day 3 or 4, around mouth and into other areas. Areas along the hairline are last to heal.
• Do not attempt to remove dead skin prematurely or peel, pick or irritate the skin, in order to avoid the possibility of scarring.
• Duration – treatment healing time is 7 to 10 days. Avoid sun and wind exposure, smoking, alcohol, any aggression on the skin, strenuous exercise, contact sports, people with colds, sore throats or any infections.

How can my skin react after the treatment?

The following are normal reactions, which may occur 10 days post peel:
Redness, sensitivity, irritation and stinging, taut feeling, dryness, fever blister flare up and possible whitehead formation.

What is the timing for additional treatments?

Depending on your skin condition and level of discomfort experienced with the peel treatment, a second peel may be done within 3 to 6 weeks. In certain instances, only one peel may be required.