Alternatives to the fountain of youth: chemical peeling
Between the ages of 35 and 40, the elasticity and smoothness of the face begin to change. The production of elastin and collagen is no longer the same, and smiles, frowns, winks, and even grimaces begin to leave a mark on the skin.
The fountain of eternal youth has not yet been located, but it is possible to obtain some extra freshness thanks to medicine.
Dr. Margarita González-Onandía, a graduate in Medicine from the Complutense University of Madrid, specializing in General and Digestive System Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine, is part of the Plastic Surgery Unit of the Juaneda Healthcare Network. According to her experience, "common sense should be used and treatments should not be abused" as this is the key to achieving the best results.
What is a chemical peel?
The literal meaning of peeling is "to peel". As the doctor explains, it is about "sweeping away all the oxidized skin with spots and degenerative defects. It is an exfoliation in the first layer of the skin that causes first an acute inflammation, and then a consequent cellular regeneration and, therefore, cutaneous repair."
The skin rejuvenates because it has been renewed, and appears new, with closed pores, without spots, and with a greatly improved quality and texture.
The miracle is produced by trichloroacetic acid, a colorless and crystalline solid that dissolves in a liquid solution. "The acid dissolves in two concentrations, 15% or 30%, depending on the type of skin it is to be applied to."
This is how a chemical peel is done
As Dr. González-Onandía explains, each person has a type of skin and conditioning factors, such as spots from photo exposure, facial expressions, skin oxidized by tobacco or the patient's age.
The chemical peel applied at Juaneda Hospitals always takes into account the particular characteristics of each skin type.
The treatment is very simple. First, a protective cream is applied to the mucous membranes and most sensitive areas of the face, and then the trichloroacetic acid solution, made at the appropriate percentage for the patient, is administered with the help of a brush. The procedure is repeated up to three times and ends with a soothing and moisturizing hyaluronic acid treatment that will act for ten minutes.
"This treatment is excellent, it contains active agents that counteract the acid's side effects, has protective antioxidant agents against free radicals and stimulates collagen production at a very deep level," explains the doctor.
The danger of peels is that they sometimes cause burns. But in the case of the chemical peel carried out at Juaneda Hospitals, the acid is formulated in such a way that it counteracts erosive effects without losing effectiveness.
Once the session is over, the patient can resume normal activities. In a period of three to five days, the skin on the face will experience progressive peeling that will lead to cutaneous regeneration. It is at these times that, more than ever, sunscreen should be applied so that the new skin that is born remains smooth and luminous.
At Juaneda Hospitals, several different types of treatment are carried out to alleviate the effects of aging. This entry provides more information on the subject.
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