There is a growing demand for clinical skincare treatments performed by aesthetic clinicians, as more and more people reverse the signs of aging with non-surgical procedures. Clinical skin care treatments improve the appearance of the skin by removing the thin top layer of dead skin cells to reveal younger, smoother skin.
Over time, even this new skin will become dull. This is because skin cells die and regenerate. Skin cells regenerate about every 30 days, so to keep skin looking rejuvenated skincare treatments must be repeated to exfoliate the dead cells. Treatment intervals depend upon the type of clinical skincare used.
Clinical skin care consists of chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
Chemical peels
Aestheticians offer light and medium chemical peel treatments to rejuvenate the skin.
- Light chemical peels: Alpha-hydroxy acids and Beta-hydroxy acids
Light chemical peels remove dead skin cells from the epidermis. The two main types of light chemical peels consist of Alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, fruit acids) or Beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic acid). Both these chemicals are water soluble, but Beta-hydroxy acids are also lipid soluble and therefore recommended for treating oily skin.
- Medium chemical peels: Trichloracetic acid (TCA)
Trichloracetic acid, sometimes in combination with glycolic acid, is used for medium chemical peels. This is a deeper treatment, which removes dead skin cells from both the epidermis and the upper part of the dermis.
Frequency of chemical skincare treatments
As with other clinical skincare treatments, chemical peel clients will see the best results after several treatments.
Light chemical peel treatments can be repeated monthly. Clients will see subtle improvements initially, and better improvement after several treatments.
Medium chemical peel treatments are more effective as they treat the dermis and epidermis. They can be repeated every few months to maintain rejuvenated skin.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion exfoliates the skin by removing dead skin cells from the upper layer of the dermis, revealing smooth younger skin beneath. Microdermabrasion also stimulates the production of collagen, causing an improvement in skin’s texture and volume.
Frequency of microdermabrasion treatments
Many aestheticians recommend a weekly microdermabrasion treatment until the client achieves their desired effect. This usually takes four microdermabrasion sessions. After this, monthly sessions should suffice to maintain smoother, younger looking skin.
Protection from sun damage
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Clients must protect their newly-treated skin from UVA and UVB rays. Broad spectrum sunscreen should be recommended, and for the first few days after treatments the clients should avoid direct sunlight, especially between 10am and 2pm. This sensitivity will decrease over time.
Sources used in researching this article include The American Society for Aesthetic Surgery: Chemical Peel and MedicineNet.com: Microdermabrasion