Chemical Peels for Age Spots

Liver spots are medically termed 'Lentigos" and also known as age spots. They are sharply defined light brown to black flat patches of skin that appear oon the hands, face, back, and feet looking somewhat like a large freckle. They may measure up to 1 inch in size. The most obvious causes are skin damage from either age or exposure to the sun. Such skin damage can be treated with a chemical peel, a non-invasive procedure designed to promote cell growth and produce smoother, clearer skin.

A chemical peel is the application of a particular chemical (usually an acid) to the skin to achieve a controlled burn to the top layers of skin. The type and concentration of acid controls the depth of the burn used to achieve superficial, medium, and deep peels.

There are three primary types of chemical peels that successfully treat liver & age spots. They are "TCA" chemical peels, Glycolic Acid Peel, and the Jessner Peel.

TCA Chemical Peels
A "TCA" chemical peel is one such procedure that can be used to treat age spots & Hyperpigmentation. TCA, short for Trichloroacetic Acid, is a medium depth peel, strong enough to remove the 2 outermost layers of skin. However, the concentration can be reduced to treat less severe skin problems. TCA chemical peels provide an intermediate level of improvement at an intermediate cost and recovery period.

Glycolic Acid Peel
A Glycolic Acid Peel is another chemical peel commonly used to treat sun damaged skin. The Acids typically used in this type of peel are Natural fruit acids, otherwise known as alpha hydroxy acids. Glycolic Acid peels will lighten brown spots and even out other irregularities in pigmentation to give the skin a more uniform color. The Glycolic Acid Peel is thought of as a milder peel, thus side effects or downtime is practically non-existent.

Jessner Peel
The Jessner Peel is a chemical peel solution comprised of many ingredients, including resorcinol, lactic acid and salicylic acid. Jessner's peels can improve upon such skin problems as brown discoloration and blemishes, acne, and sun damaged and weathered skin. Although it can penetrate more deeply into the epidermal layers of the skin, the Jessner Peel is gentler than other chemical peels like the TCA peel. Thus, patients can return to normal activities more quickly

Side Effects of Chemical Peels
Side effects of chemical peels are infrequent, but potential complications include:
Scarring
Infection
Cold sore breakouts in patients who have a history of recurring blisters and cold sores, like herpes and shingles. (An anti-viral medication before the procedure can help prevent this.)

Cost of Chemical Peels
The national average of 1999 doctor fees for chemical peels was $743 (Source: The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Regional averages: New England states: $741; middle Atlantic states: $837; north central states: $728; south central states: $653; and mountain/Pacific states: $753. These fees do not include anesthesia, operating room facility, hospital stay and other related expenses.