Having been in the practice of dermatology for over 30 years, I realized that there was a void in the industry for an effective chemical peel designed to lighten, brighten and firm the skin with minimal side effects and downtime. The cosmeceutical industry had several peels on the market that addressed sun damage and produced improvement, but they were often associated with pain and side effects. The mild alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxyl acid peels available were less painful, with no downtime; but their results were not very dramatic. Chemical peels with strong, caustic acids, like high concentrations of trichloracetic acid and phenol, caused significant tissue destruction, downtime, risks and variable outcomes. The challenge to me was to create an entirely new type of peel that treated discoloration and sun damage with significant results, minimal downtime, and few side effects. I created the Poly-Organic Brightening Peel.
Poly-Organic Brightening Peel
Unlike the traditional exfoliating peels, Rx Systems PF’s Poly-Organic Brightening Peel uses a unique blend of safe, but effective, organic acids to cause natural chemical exfoliation of the stratum corneum and epidermis. The peel contains antioxidants and skin lightening and brightening ingredients, in addition to the combination of exfoliative and reparative organic acids (organic compounds are naturally occurring molecules containing carbon but may have other elements like hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen). The synergist effect of these ingredients creates a comprehensive reparative and rejuvenating chemical peel, which can be combined with other cosmeceutical products and treatments. This special formulation includes a unique, innovative blend of peeling agents:
- alpha-hydroxy acid (glycolic acid)
- beta-hydroxy acid (salicylic acid)
- dicarboxylic acid (azelaic acid)
- an aromatic organic molecule (resorcinol)
- hydroxyl-pyrone (kojic acid)
It can be combined with L-Ascorbic Acid or Retinoic Acid (physicians only) to individualize the benefits for certain patients.
While results are predictable and noticeable after just one 20-minute Poly-Organic Brightening Peel, more dramatic, optimum results are seen after a series of peels. The number of treatments needed by a patient depends upon the problem being addressed, but usually ranges from three to six treatments spaced two to four weeks apart. Other products and treatments can be used in conjunction with the peel, depending on the skin problems being treated.
Maintaining Peel Results
The changes that occur in the epidermis following a chemical peel last for years. In order to maintain the results, it is critical to avoid sun damage. As with any treatment, it is always important to protect the skin from harmful UV rays after the peel, as this can aggravate and cause damage to the skin. It is recommended that peel recipients use an SPF 30 or higher.
The patient’s skin type, skin care before and after the peel, the doctor's level of experience, and the patient’s lifestyle after the procedure can also affect the results. Some types of skin problems respond better to chemical peeling than others. People with lighter skin who limit their sun exposure after the procedure tend to have better results than those with darker skin and those who continue to spend lots of time in the sun.
Options for skin resurfacing
Chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing are the most commonly used techniques for improving the texture and appearance of the skin. Although these techniques use different methods, they have basically the same effect on the skin –they destroy and remove the upper layers of skin to allow for skin regrowth.
No one technique is necessarily better than the others. When done by an experienced surgeon, laser resurfacing may be slightly more precise than chemical peeling or dermabrasion. But the choice of technique is based on the site the patient wants to treat, the patient’s skin type and condition, the doctor's experience, the patient’s preferences and other factors. Some people may get the best results using a combination of techniques.