Chemical Peel, Part 1

What Is A Chemical Peel?

A chemical peel is an anti aging treatment used to improve skin using a chemical solution. The solution brings on a controlled injury to the skin that causes the dead skin to peel off. By removing the top layers of skin, collagen production is induced thereby improving sun damaged skin and skin pigmentation problems, reducing wrinkles, and improves skin texture and overall appearance of the skin. The younger looking skin has fewer wrinkles than the old skin.

Some types of chemical peels can be purchased and applied without a medical license; however people are advised to seek professional advice on a specific type of chemical peel beforehand. The strength of the chemical solution will determine the depth of the peel. Deeper peels may have a greater number of complications and require a longer recovery period, but will also result in a greater improvement to the skin.

Chemical peels can be applied to several different parts of the body other than the face. For example, the procedure can be done on the chest and back for acne, or on the neck or decolletage to treat sun damage.

Types Of Chemical Peels

Chemical peels fall into several categories. Each type is suited to treat different skin ailments. Chemical peels also vary in solution strength and are classified as either 'superficial', 'medium' or 'deep', according to the level of skin to be treated.

Supercial chemical peels include;

• Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels - these contain glycolic and lactic acid.
• Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) peels - salicylic acid is the main ingredient in these peels.
• Retinoic acid peels - retinoic acid is the ingredient found in Retin-A and Stieva-A (tretinoin) skin care products, but in much less concentrations than the retinoic peels.
• Jessner's Peel - contains a combination of salicylic acid, resorcinol and lactic acid.
• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel - typically contains 10 - 20% TCA.
• Deep sea peel - this is a natural organic, herb/plant-based peel.

Medium depth chemical peels include;

• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel - typically containing 35% TCA.

Deep chemical peels include;

• Baker-Gordon phenol peel.

Applying A Chemical Peel

It is recommended that the application of a chemical peel be performed by an experienced doctor or nurse.

The skin should be thoroughly cleansed. For facial peels, vaseline can be used to prevent the peel from entering the eyes. Your eyes should be closed during the procedure. As your skin is likely to get hot during the procedure, keep a fan handy to cool the area.

The chemical peel solution is applied to the skin for a set time before neutralizing the solution. However, if there is any unexpected skin reaction before the end of the allotted time, or if the pain is excessive, neutralization can be done early. Sodium bicarbonate is used for the neutralization stage.

At the end of the procedure, the peel is completed by placing sunscreen and a soothing balm on the skin.

Anti Aging Using A Dermal Roller

It's safe to use anywhere on the body, on all skin types and all skin colors. The results and healing are quick, and there's no requirement for time off work. It can treat sensitive skin that other procedures must avoid, such as under eye wrinkles, the neck and the back of the hands. And dramatic results can be seen within one week.

What is it?

It's known as "skin needling", where surgical stainless steel needles are gently rolled over the skin puncturing the dermis. This induces the release of growth factors that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.

The procedure is a relatively new practice in cosmetic medicine. The skin micro needling is the modern equivalent to traditional Chinese acupuncture and is designed for home or clinic use. It is very cost effective as the skin or derma roller can be used dozens of times.

The roller tool goes by such names as derma roller, Dermal Roller, Dr Roller, Skin Roller and Skin Needling Roller.

Dermal rolling has been an area of discussion and rigorous research in Europe and the USA. The technique has proven beneficial in enhancing anti aging of the skin. Some of the main benefits include;

• wrinkle reduction - induces collagen, increasing production by up to 10 times in a single treatment.
• absorption of anti wrinkle products - it increases the absorption of anti wrinkle products by up to 10,000 times in a single use. This is called Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT).

Unlike other methods such as acids or laser, it does not damage or peel the epidermis. It works beneath the surface to stimulate collagen growth, thus tightening and producing younger looking skin.

Dermal rolling can be used for treatment and reduction of sagging skin, loss of hair, reduction of stretch marks, acne scarring and the management of cellulite. When used for hyperpigmentation, these spots will often return to normal within a few treatments.

There are several different needle length available, depending on the specific results you may want;

0.2 mm - These are good for increasing microcirculation and helping with the absorption of skin products. The needles are not long enough, however, to induce collagen production.

0.5 mm - This needle size is highly recommended and is the best all round roller. It also helps absorption of skin products and is the smallest of the roller that induce collagen production. This is recommended for the face.

1.0 mm - This is the most useful for restoring hair loss. The longer needles are necessary to pass through the hair in the area. These needles are not recommended for the face.

1.5 mm - This is recommended only for scars, and on stretch marks and cellulite. Be sure to take care as the needles can cause localized pain.

Skin Care Tips For Men

Yeah! Men have skin, too. So why shouldn't they get a few tips...

Compared to ten years ago, I'd have to say that men are becoming more aware of their skin and the need to look after it. Shaving is tough on the face, so a bit of care can go a long way towards skin rejuvenation. And with the campaigns making people aware of the damage that can be done to skin by over-exposure to the sun's UV rays, the idea of applying a sunblock and moisturizer no longer makes macho males go into a state of panic.

For many men, however, skin care is still little more than an afterthought. Skin care is important since our skin is our defense against the outside world. And no-one wants to develop wrinkles before their time.

For those men who are open to suggestions, here are a few simple, inexpensive tips to retaining that younger looking skin.

Shaving

Before shaving, make sure you wet your face with warm water before applying shaving cream. This will allow the razor to glide better across your skin. Take your time while shaving, to reduce the chances of nicking your skin. Rinse with cold water, not hot. And applying after-shave cream or a facial moisturizer is a good idea.

If you use an electric razor, apply lotion before shaving. This will get your whiskers to stand up and allows the shaver to glider over the skin more easily. It will also decrease irritation that can come with electric shaving.

Protection From The Elements

The wind and sun can dry and damage your skin. As part of your morning routine, apply a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. This should be used on all exposed skin such as arms, the backs of your hands as well as your face and neck. This is important if you intend to be outside for an extended period of time. A cream with a minimum SPF factor of 15 should be used. After being in the sun for a long time, use a moisurizer that contains vitamin E.

Diet And Exercise

A balanced diet and staying active are essential. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, as these will provide you with anti-oxidants that can slow down skin damage. Although natural is best, alternatively, you may consider taking multi vitamins that contain anti-oxidants and vitamin E. Limit your intake of greasy, fried food.

Exercise will help clear your pores and increase your metabolism.

Drink Enough Water

Make sure that you drink lots of water each day. Our body's cells have a high water content, so it makes sense to keep yourself hydrated. Limit your consumption of coffee, tea and alcohol as these tend to dehydrate you.


Men should realize that proper skin care need not take a lot of time. A few minutes a day is all that is required. With just a bit of extra attention, your skin will look healthier and younger.

Resources For Wrinkle Reduction Advice

So you've noticed a few (more) wrinkles appearing on your face and neck. What resources are available for obtaining wrinkle reduction advice or information regarding anti wrinkle products? There are several places where you can find the type of information you need to achieve younger looking skin.

Your local dermatologist is a good source for advice. A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of skin conditions and disorders.

There are also many online resources for wrinkle reduction guidance. Online forums can provide you with advice from people who have found solutions to wrinkle problems, who have tried anti wrinkle products or an anti aging treatment. Alternatively, websites can provide you with a wealth of information ranging from laser wrinkle removal to wrinkle cream reviews to treatment for under eye wrinkles, and any other skin and wrinkle problem that you may have. These sites will have recommendations for products and treatments that can get you on your way to having younger looking skin.

You can quiz your friends and colleagues as to what anti wrinkle products they have tried and would recommend. You may quickly discover an excellent product by just asking!

There are a lot of natural products that benefit your skin. So you could scour the bookshelves for homemade skin rejuvenation treatments. Some home-based treatments have been around for decades - these might be a great anti aging treatment for your skin.

When searching for advice, you need to be mindful that everybody's skin is different. Some people's skin is more sensitive than others. Therefore, some treatments and anti wrinkle products will work better for some than for others. You should be aware of the ingredients and products that might react badly with your skin.

Whatever you discover, make sure you take care of your skin every day. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, eat healthy food and don't get too much sun. It's the best thing you can do for keeping wrinkles at bay.

Marketing - Don't Get Suckered In!

The skin care market is a mega-billion dollar industry. There is so much demand for effective anti wrinkle products, cosmetic companies are continually introducing new anti wrinkle creams to take advantage of this fact.

People are hungry for products that promise skin rejuvenation, and will pay a lot of money in the belief that it will give them younger looking skin.

More often than not, however, it is the pricier skin care products that are ineffective. And it really annoys me when the products don't even come close to achieving the promises that the advertising leads you to believe.

Many of these products are generated and pushed onto the market without testing or proof that they will do anything beneficial for your skin. Instead of spending time and investing money to produce superior, proven anti wrinkle products, most manufacturers will spend their money on marketing and product staging.

And if you haven't realised it yet, marketing is very expensive! But even so, a good marketing campaign can turn a not-so-spectacular small bottle of goo into a huge earner for a cosmetics company.

But don't get me wrong. There are some excellent products that will give you younger looking skin. The complication is in knowing which skin care ingredients and products actually work. Without good information, it can be very hard to find a product that works for you.

Unfortunately, there will never be a lack of people willing to spend good money for the latest anti wrinkle creams, irrespective of whether they help or not. The reality is that most people will not make the effort to investigate cosmetic products and ingredients.

So do yourself a favour, start reading a few wrinkle cream reviews and GET INFORMED before you commit to purchasing that next product. As an informed buyer, you won't fall for the marketing hype. Find out which ingredients are effective and those that can actually damage your skin.

Bad Ingredients - Part 1

It's unfortunate that so many skin care and anti wrinkle products on the market contain a range of constituents that can potentially harm you over a period of time, some being carcinogenic. The following are ingredients to be aware of:

Mineral Oil

The moisturizing effects of anti wrinkle creams are commonly achieved by the mineral oils in them. Companies use mineral oil because it cheap. Call it what you will (mineral oil, petrolatum, liquid paraffin, paraffin wax), they are all bad for your skin.

After a single application of an anti wrinkle cream containing mineral oil, your pores will become blocked and your skin won't be able to breathe. Consequently, your skin may form pimples and rashes. And after continued use, your skin will stop producing it's own oils. When this happens, it will become dry and scaly.

This common ingredient in creams can actually do the opposite of giving you younger looking skin.

And what's worse is the result from a recent study on mice that found the application of commercial anti wrinkle creams containing mineral oil and sodium lauryl sulphate significantly increased the frequency of skin cancer.

That brings me onto the next ingredient to avoid...

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

This inexpensive detergent is commonly used in cosmetic cleansers, shampoos and bath/shower gels to enhance penetration and absorption of other active ingredients. It is arguably the most dangerous ingredient used in skin care products. SLS is used for industrial cleaning of workshop floors, engine degreasers and car wash detergents. It is highly corrosive and attacks oils and greases.

Sodium lauryl sulphate is harmful to skin as it cleans by corrosion. It dries skin by stripping the external protective lipids, which help control skin moisture.

Another serious dilemma is the association of SLS with nitrate contamination. SLS reacts with many ingredients used in skin products to form nitrosomines. These nitrates are potentially carcinogenic.


There are several more bad ingredients discussed in Part 2 of this post.

Ineffective Ingredients

Have you ever wondered why anti wrinkle products don't work when they are meant to be chock full of active ingredients, each with a "proven track record" of providing wonderous benefits to your skin?

Well, one reason is that the ingredients just can't penetrate the epidermis. Creams containing collagen and elastin are good examples. They never reach the dermis layer of the skin because their molecules are too large to be absorded into the skin. Therefore, no matter what the advertisements say, these anti wrinkle creams will do little for skin rejuvenation.

The cosmetic manufactures know about this - they're not fools. They also know that if they use words like 'collagen' and 'elastin', then people will be very tempted to purchase their product.

Another reason as to why creams are ineffective is that most of them have a large water component and only minimal active ingredient. So when you apply the products to your skin, your body heat drives off the moisture. It appears that the creams are penetrating the skin, but this is not the case.

And yet another reason for creams not working as you would expect is due to them not containing natural ingredients. Nature ingredients are more active, but also more expensive, to include in anti wrinkle products than their artificial equivalents. The downside to this, however, is that the synthetic constituents do very little to help you get younger looking skin.

Peptides - The Good, The Bad And The Disappointing

Well actually, it's mainly disappointing!

Peptides That Inhibit Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are things that make your muscles work when your brain tells them to. We're familiar with Botox and it's properties - Botox injections block the release of neurotransmitters to, in effect, paralyze the muscles. Thus, after Botox injections between your eyebrows, when your brain tells your eyebrows to squint, nothing happens.

There are anti wrinkle products being marketed to take advantage of the fact that everyone knows and accepts that Botox works. These anti wrinkle creams contain peptides, but do they really work like Botox?

Peptides are proteins consisting of small chain amino acids. Argireline is the name given to a certain peptide (a lot easier to say than acetyl-hexapeptide-3) that slows down the release of neurotransmitters. In wrinkle cream containing up to 10% Argireline, laboratory tests show that it provides some benefit towards the appearance of having younger looking skin. However, the jury is out about whether the peptides can actually go into the skin and through to the muscle level, which they would need to do to replicate Botox. Some have suggested that it's the product's accompanying moisturizing ingredients that reduce wrinkles by hydrating the skin. Also, if the product worked like it claimed, any muscles that came in contact with the cream (face, neck, finger tips) should cease working - but they don't.

Peptides That Stimulate Collagen

Another peptide (palmitoyl-pentapeptide-3, also called Pal-KTTKS or Matrixyl) is reported to encourage the manufacture of collagen and other proteins that are found in the skin's dermal layer. Sounds promising, but how does it compare with Botox?

Well, tests have been conducted. Unfortunately, it didn't do any better than the plain moisturizer it was being compared against.

Peptides For Stabilizing Copper

Copper plays a vital role in living organisms. For us, collagen and elastin creation rely on the presence of copper. In theory, peptides can be used to stabilize copper, transporting the element to locations in the skin to improve the appearance of wrinkles. In practice, trial tests on people have shown only minimal benefits.

Forms Of Aging And Possible Treatments

There are three main types of skin aging. And each one needs to be treated in a different way from the others.

Firstly, we have the effects from gravity. With any loss of skin elastin or collagen or disappearance of subcutaneous fat, gravity sees an opportunity to step in and take away our younger looking skin. This results in droopy wrinkles and skin folds about the eyes and neck. Surgical procedures for facelifts (essentially, skin tightening) and cosmetic fillers such as collagen and hyaluronic acid are used to undo the effects and provide some degree of skin rejuvenation.

Secondly, with time, facial expressions from frowning, squinting and smiling leave everlasting wrinkles and furrows. Cosmetic fillers such as botox and collagen can be injected to help decrease these type of wrinkles.

Finally, there is damage caused by UV rays, or photoaging. Gradually, this affects the skin, causing fine lines and wrinkles and skin roughness. We also experience pigment changes resulting in age spots and freckles. Some anti wrinkle products can help, and include creams that contain tretinoin, AHA (alpha hydroxy acids), antioxidants and peptides.

Alternatively, skin resurfacing by using acid or laser wrinkle removal techniques are available.

Tretinoin - A Skin Rejuvenation Product

There are hundreds of anti wrinkle products on the market, from facial wrinkle cream to gels that fix under eye wrinkles. But, alas, not many of them work. If they did, we would all have younger looking skin and a lot of extra money in our pockets.

Retin A and Renova are the best known brands of tretinoin. It is derived from vitamin A and is only available by perscription. Tretinoin is one of the few anti wrinkle products whose skin rejuvenation effects have been tested and proven in skin studies. It is found to reduce fine wrinkles and roughness of skin, increase thickness of the epidermis and promote growth of collagen.

Tretinoin works by setting off processes in the skin that includes cell growth, production of collagen, elastin and sebum. It also slows down certain enzymes that damage collagen and elastin. These enzymes become increasingly active as we get older.

But Beware!

Side effects can be common and include irritation of the skin, dryness, peeling and sensitivity to the sun. It is recommended that tretinoin is used sparingly. If the side effects don't go away with continued use, it may lead to skin damage - certainly NOT the aim of the treatment!!

Cosmetic Fillers

Sometimes, in the process of getting younger looking skin, you may consider cosmetic fillers (also known as wrinkle fillers). Cosmetic fillers are used to correct minor facial imperfections, such as lines, skin folds, pitted scarring, skin depressions or to correct hollowness beneath the eyes.

Most cosmetic fillers involve an injection, although some may be administered by incision. Cosmetic fillers can be used to return fullness that is naturally lost as subcutaneous fat is lost. The simplest and least costly process is by injecting temporary filler. Collagen may be used for this, however some products are made from hyaluronic acid. This temporary cosmetic filler can last from 2 to 12 months. Eventually, the filler is absorbed by your body.

Another category of cosmetic fillers involves injection of a permanent material, such as silicone. But as these fillers are non biodegradable, they will stay in your body forever. This is not a recommended route as the long term effects on your body are unknown. Some of these products may ultimately turn out to be toxic.

Personally, I don't like the thought of getting stick by any more needles that I need too. I would therefore recommend, especially for fine lines and moderate wrinkles, you try anti wrinkle products and creams before signing up for cosmetic fillers.

Smoking Causes Wrinkles

Smoking certainly won't give you younger looking skin. This is because smoking causes wrinkles.

Have you ever noticed that people who smoke are likely to have more wrinkles than non-smokers of the same skin type, age and exposure to UV rays? The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you've been smoking, the more wrinkles you will get. Early skin damage may be difficult to see, but be rest assured, it is happening. Skin changes are more prominent in smokers after about the 10 year mark.

How Does Smoking Cause Wrinkles?

Smoking speeds the aging process of your skin due to the nicotine in cigarettes. The nicotine causes the skin's blood vessels to narrow. This reduces the amount of blood getting to the skin. Less blood flow, less essential oxygen and vital nutrients. And then there are also the hundreds of chemicals in the cigarettes that are detrimental to collagen and elastin. So, consequently, wrinkles begin to form.

And it's not only facial wrinkles. Smoking is also the cause of wrinkles to other areas of your body, such as the arms and neckline. While the skin wrinkles may not be reversible (at least, not without anti wrinkle products), giving up smoking is likely to prevent the them from prematurely getting worse.

So if you are searching for a reason to stop smoking, add the untimely appearance of wrinkles to your motivation list.

Eating Sea Weed Helps Wrinkle Reduction?!?

Aha! But not just any sea weed!

There is a kelp that has been used for eons in Japan, primarily as a food but having a great side effect of encouraging younger looking skin. It's name is phytessence wakame.

The reason that it is so healthy is because it's full of vitamins and minerals. Phytessence wakame contains B group vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. And it has lots of iron, sodium, calcium and potassium. This all means that it's really good for your skin.

This special sea kelp blocks a harmful enzyme called hyaluronidase from reducing the quantities of hyaluronic acid in your skin. In other words, it assists collagen and elastin fibers in making the skin firmer.

And you know the best thing? You can find phytessence wakame in many anti wrinkle products. Arigatou gozaimasu!

Tip 1 - Minimize Sun Exposure (Especially Sunburn)

Do you know the cause of difference in skin "quality" between your face or hands to that of, say, your thigh or butt? Well, the answer is the amount of sun exposure. Yep, that's right. Theoretically, your face/hands/arms/neck could be as smooth as a babies bum if it hadn't been for the many years of damage from the sun!

In the Western countries, suntans are viewed by many as being fashionable and desirable. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in ultraviolet radiation exposure, both from the sun and from sunbeds.

How does it damage our skin?

Besides the increased risk to skin cancer, over-exposure to UV rays damages the elastin fibers found in the dermis layer of our skin. This causes our skin to lose its flexibility and resilience. As a consequence, wrinkles begin to form.

Sunburn is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This radiation can come from natural sources (such as the sun) or artificial sources (such as welding or UV lamps used in solariums). The melanin in our skin converts the UV rays into heat. The redness from the heat is what we call sun burn.

When our skin senses high levels of UV radiation, our cells produce more melanin to minimize further damage. And, hence, our skin becomes tanned the more time we spend in the sun. But we still need to help the melanin by protecting ourselves from the sun. That's why we should wear sunblock and sunsmart clothes, such as a long sleeve shirt and hat, to stop us from getting excessive sun burn. Numerous episodes of bad sunburn can elevate our likelihood of getting skin cancer, especially when we get older.

The bottom line is that to maintain younger looking skin, you need to minimize your exposure to the sun.

The Basics Of Skin

Alrighty then! Out with the high school biology books. Well, maybe not quite. But I promised you a rundown of the basics of skin. So here it is. No apologies if I miss out some stuff as I'm not getting into the micro-cellular level of detail. My aim is to be just informative enough for you to grasp the fundamentals but not put you to sleep.

We usually don't think of our skin as an organ, but it is. And it's the largest organ of our body. It makes up about 15% of our body weight.

Our skin is made up of three layers, each playing it's own important part. The layer on the outside is called the epidermis. Underneath this is the dermis. And below this lies the third layer, the subcutaneous fat.

The World Sees Your Epidermis

The epidermis is usually about 0.5 to 1mm thick. At the bottom and lower sections of the epidermis, new skin cells are growing. These cells begin moving toward the top of your epidermis. The skin completely renews itself every 2 to 5 weeks. As the new cells move up to the surface of your skin, the old cells at the top die and flake off. It's estimated that every minute we lose about 35,000 dead cells (give or take a few hundred).

So when you look adoringly at your partner's face, you're really looking at dead skin. (Hmm, I'd better not ponder on this thought too long - I could come up with some very good wise cracks!... So, moving right along...)

While your skin is continually busy making new skin cells to replace the old ones, it is also making melanin. This gives your skin its color. I won't go into too much detail here as I'll be covering this in another post. However, when you go outside into the sun, additional melanin is made to protect you from getting sun burn by ultraviolet rays.

The Dermis Lies Below The Epidermis

The dermis consists of a taut lattice of collagen and elastin fibers. These are important skin proteins. Collagen is responsible for structural support and elastin gives flexibility and resilience to our skin.

It is the thickest of the skin layers and also contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands and sweat glands. The tiny blood vessels keep your skin cells healthy by supplying nutrients and removing waste. The oil glands, or sebaceous glands, produce sebum. This is the skin's natural oil and helps keep the surface of the epidermis protected.

The dermis is in charge of the skin's structural integrity. Wrinkles develop in the dermis. Thus, any anti aging treatment only has a chance of being successful if it can reach down to the dermis.

The Subcutaneous Layer

The third and base layer of the skin is called the subcutaneous layer. It consists mostly of fat and assists your body to stay warm. The subcutaneous layer also helps hold your skin to tissues beneath it.

The loss of subcutaneous tissue, primary due to age, leads to sagging skin and heightened wrinkles.


So there you have it. Now that we know the fundamentals of skin, we can move on towards a better understanding of what to look for in anti wrinkle creams and covering a few tips for achieving and maintaining younger looking skin.

Instant Wrinkle Reduction - Is There Such A Thing?

By the time you realise that you have wrinkles that weren't there last year (OMG!), it's probably too late to achieve "instant wrinkle reduction" using any number of the techniques, lotions, anti wrinkle creams or potions around. But fear not! Over the next days, weeks and months to come, there is going to be a wealth of terrific information available here. So stay tuned to this blog. It's going to be HUGE!

We're going to discuss topics like what makes up our skin, how to look after it, defending our skin against the elements, what's good and bad for skin rejuvenation and lots of wrinkle reduction advice. And we may even be bold enough to review some products and wrinkle reduction techniques currently on the market.

Before you know it, you'll have younger looking skin and be on the receiving end of more than a few compliments! Catch ya in the next post...