Frequently asked questions about fruit acid peelings

FAQ

• What is peeling?

  “Peeling” is an external, aesthetic dermatological treatment of the skin with natural fruit acids, chemical acids or by mechanical removal.

  The peeling is suitable for improving or eliminating sun- or age-related skin changes, wrinkles, pigment spots and superficial acne scars and for tightening the skin. Since the discovery of the skin-improving properties of natural fruit acids, numerous procedures have been developed.

  With chemical peeling methods, a distinction is made between superficial peeling (fruit acid peeling), medium-depth peeling (PQAge peeling) and deep peeling (TCA peeling) – depending on how aggressively the skin is affected and removed. Mechanical exfoliation methods include dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. We use different types of peeling depending on the desired result.

• How does peeling work?

  In chemical peeling, fruit acids or other substances are applied to the skin. They penetrate the upper layers of the skin to varying depths, peeling away old horny layers and stimulating the epidermis to regenerate. Collagen fibres, basic substance and elastin are increasingly formed in the dermis, water is bound in the skin. Overall, the skin is restructured and thickened, the moisture content of the skin increases. The skin appears smoother and more youthful overall. Cell damage caused by the sun, pigmentation and fine wrinkles are reduced or eliminated if they do not go too deep. The more aggressive the acid, the better the skin rejuvenation, but also the higher the risk of side effects.

• How is the peeling done?

  Medical peeling is a highly effective procedure that should not be confused with peeling at home or at the cosmetician’s. The acids used are much more concentrated and effective. The skin therefore has to get used to the fruit acids step by step. After several weeks of pre-treatment at home, we start with a 10-20% solution – depending on the skin type and procedure – and increase weekly by 10% to about 50-70%. During the treatment itself, the skin is first degreased and cleaned. Then the fruit acid is applied. After the prescribed exposure time, the fruit acid is washed off or neutralized. During and after the treatment the skin may burn and feel hot. This feeling disappears after the neutralization of the acids. After hours or days, the skin peels more or less strongly, which lasts for several days.

• What should be considered after the peeling?

  In the first 3 hours after the peeling, neither water nor cosmetics should be allowed to get on the peeling areas. Afterwards, a moisturizing cream or sunscreen may be applied. During the peeling treatment, no vitamin A preparation may be used. Avoid the sun during and up to two weeks after the treatment or, if necessary, apply a highly effective sunscreen (sun blocker, at least factor 20, better higher). After the treatment, it is recommended to treat the skin with special care products (e.g. with low concentrated glycolic acid) to maintain the achieved success.

• What should be considered before the treatment?

  The correct pre- and post-treatment of the skin before the peeling is extremely important for the success of the treatment. If you are not prepared to undergo disciplined pre- and post-treatment, you should refrain from any kind of beauty treatment on the face, as no success can be expected. Please tell us if you smoke, have taken Roaccutane tablets in the past or suffer from internal diseases. The peeling must not be used in case of acute herpes infection or any other acute inflammation (danger of spreading).
  Before the peeling you will receive a private prescription from
  – a paraffin-based ointment
  – an anti-inflammatory cream
  – Moisturizer
  – Sun Protection Cream
  The skin is conditioned by daily application of Retin-A and/or hydroquinone cream for 4-6 weeks before the peeling. You should apply these creams evenly over the entire area that is to be exfoliated (do not dab on problem areas). You will also need to use a sunblock and a moisturising product as part of the preparation. Please do not apply make-up at all when you come to the practice for peeling. Please wash your skin thoroughly with soap and water.

• When is peeling the right therapy for me?

  With the peeling large areas can be treated effectively. Depending on the selected exfoliator, the complexion can radiate considerably more, wrinkles can be reduced and the appearance of scars can be improved.

• How long does the procedure take?

  This depends mainly on the size of the area to be treated. The explanation session lasts about 30 minutes. The treatment itself takes between 30 and 60 minutes, in individual cases even longer.

• Is the application of a peeling painful?

  This depends on the exfoliator used and the exposure time. A superficial peeling as with fruit acid peeling is often only felt as a slight burning sensation. In contrast, the PQAge peeling works in the medium deep skin layer and is not painful.

• How long does the effect of a peeling last?

  Depending on the peeling used and the intensity of the peeling process of the skin, the effects of a peeling last from months to years.

  With PQAge peeling, an immediate rejuvenation of the skin with a “glow effect” is already visible after the first treatment. In the long term, PQAge leads to an improvement of the skin structure.

• Can the peeling be combined with other methods?

  In many cases this is possible and also reasonable. A pre-treatment with botulinum toxin can be useful when using a peeling to smooth wrinkles. Wrinkle injections after a peeling can also further improve the result achieved.

• Which peeling is most suitable for me?

  This question can only be answered with an individual consultation. There are many different scrubs that are used depending on the intended use. A fruit acid peel only works on the uppermost layers of the skin, a PQAge peel on the middle layer of the skin, whereas the TCA peel also reaches deep skin structures.

  Like any cosmetic procedure, every peeling treatment must be embedded in a longer-term pre- and post-treatment programme. The specialist will select the right peel for you depending on the desired goal.

• When can I return to my usual activities?

  Depending on the peeling used, a break of different lengths is necessary. After a fruit acid peel or PQAge peel, you can go back to work immediately.

  In comparison, a regeneration period of a few days or up to 2 weeks is necessary after a deep TCA peel. Visits to the sauna and solarium should be avoided for a few weeks. Strenuous sport should be avoided immediately after the treatment. After a chemical peel, strict sun protection with suitable products is required for a certain period of time.

• What happens in the next few days after the peeling?

  Immediately after the peeling, the skin is red and tight. After a few days the peeling process of the skin begins. Under the detached skin layers a fresh and youthful skin appears, which is still very sensitive. Suitable care products support this regeneration process. You will only see the full effect of the peeling after a few days to weeks. When a chemical peeling is performed, 2 follow-up checks are carried out to monitor the regeneration of the skin. This is not necessary after a fruit acid peeling, as only very superficial effects are achieved here.

• Can you repeat a peeling?

  Depending on the peeling, a new treatment is very well possible after a few weeks or months and in many cases also useful to achieve further improvements.

• What are the possible side effects?

  The peeling itself can burn, ache and itch for a few minutes. The skin is then – depending on the method used – more or less strongly reddened. The redness after superficial peeling is hardly noticeable after a few hours. The peeling of the skin after the peeling is also one of the necessary effects. Therefore, no important social or professional meetings should be planned on the days immediately after the peeling. Other side effects are rare, such as fine scarring on very sensitive skin, pigment shifts (light or dark colouring of the skin), prolonged itching or tingling, skin infections. Smoking and sun exposure greatly increase the risk of side effects, so both should be avoided during and after the treatment.

• Risks and contraindications

  As with any procedure, peeling involves certain risks and has some contraindications. Chemical peeling should not be performed if there is a tendency to impaired wound healing, acute herpes infection, pregnancy, oral treatment with vitamin A acid preparations or recent cosmetic surgery.
  In general, the skin heals very nicely after a peeling. In very rare cases, despite all caution, inflammation or pigmentation disorders may occur, which must then be treated adequately.

• Aftercare

  The post-treatment after a peeling is mainly carried out by the patient himself. It is limited to the application of care and light protection products several times a day. In order to achieve an optimal result, patients are required to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions. In case of non-compliance with the light protection and premature exposure to the sun, the occurrence of pigment disorders must be expected.

• What does the consultation cost for a peeling?

  The first info call is free of charge. You will receive detailed initial information and a suitability check by our experienced specialists.