Posts Tagged ‘glycolic cleanser’

Jessners: What is it?

What is Jessners PeelChemical peels are used to remove and thus improve the appearance of areas of damaged, extremely wrinkled or discolored skin. The Jessner’s peel uses a special acid solution, which causes the top layer of the skin to fall off, revealing the younger, healthier skin beneath. Several peels are needed to achieve the full results, as a Jessner’s peel is designed to only affect a very thin layer of the skin each time. Usually a peel is carried out every two weeks to one month, depending on the skin type and the type of damage that the peel is aimed to improve. Preparation Prior to applying a Jessner’s peeling solution, for the majority of skin types a preparation of Retin-A should be applied nightly for two weeks. This is relatively simple, but there are some minor side effects – spots and similar blemishes will tend to come to the surface so may appear worse, although they will in fact be more easily reduced and removed by the peel because of this. Sunlight should be avoided as Retin-A makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Other than this there is little skin preparation required but skin should not be sunburned or seriously damaged, so other healing preparations may be necessary in order to be able to progress with a peel safely. Immediately prior to the peel a deep skin cleansing using a glycolic cleanser is recommended to ensure an even action of the peeling solution. Application The actual method of applying the peel is relatively straightforward, but takes some practice and experience to get exactly right. It is not recommended to carry out this procedure yourself, and a professional should carry out a Jessner’s peel especially for the first time. The solution is usually applied with small gauze squares, evenly over the whole area to be treated. The eyes must be avoided and care must be taken around all particularly sensitive areas. After around 10 minutes maximum, depending on the strength of the solution, whether it is a first peel and the depth of peel required, the solution is removed by washing off with cold water. After Care After each peel, the skin must be kept out of direct sunlight for four days to a week. This is extremely important as the newly revealed skin will be extremely photo-sensitive and considerable damage can be caused. Many specialists recommend treating the skin with plain Vaseline for three or four days after the peel, as a means of protection. Jessner’s solution can be used to peel skin of almost any part of the body, but particularly sensitive areas such as the genitals should be avoided. Any chemical peel will work best on areas with the most damage such as the face, arms and neck. Skin Improvement Because a Jessner’s peel will remove the surface layers of the skin, many beauty treatments which have been regularly used with diminishing results may start to work again more effectively. There are many products which cause the top layer of the skin to become resistant to them, either because they are working or because they keep inhibiting absorption. Learn more on how Jessner\'s Peel works