Supplements for Acne, better than Chemical Peels?

I've had many readers send me questions about using chemical peeling agents, such as glycolic acid
and salicylic acid, to clear acne. Well, the biggest problem with using chemical peels on open acne lesions is that the peeling agents STING like crazy!

The best thing to do is to get the lesions healed first, and then start the chemical peels--and do them regularly--to keep the skin clear. This can be done in several ways: get a prescription of tetracycline or some other pharmaceutical from the doctor or try the natural path to healing open acne lesions.

As I was researching natural alternatives to tetracycline, I found this VERY interesting study that shows the supplement gugulipid to be more effective than tetracycline: "with tetracycline, the percentage reduction in the inflammatory lesions was 65.2% as compared to 68% with gugulipid."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7798429?dopt=Abstract

Another supplement I found that appears to not only clear lesions but also reduces oil is pantethine. There's just too many links to list here; you can google "pantethine acne" and read thousands of pages on personal experiences and research to see if it's something you'd like to try.

As always, you should consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplements!

I also want to add that supplements are great for many things, but just like medications, they can cause side effects and should be limited. Get your acne lesions under control and then start your chemical peels to keep your skin clear. Chemical peels are a great way to keep your skin clear of acne and to keep those pesky wrinkles away at the same time!

So the answer is that supplements are NOT better than chemical peels, unless there are open lesions, in which case I would find a supplement to clear my lesions first then I would continue my chemical peels.

Complete Mole Removal with TCA Chemical Peel

I've had several people ask if my nose mole returned after my last treatment...it did NOT return. Since a few people have asked, I decided to re-post the process and include some pictures that I left out last year.

Mole Before TCA Chemical Peel

This mole had been growing for several years and had finally gotten to that place where I could see it every time I looked forward (so irritating). So I had my dermatologist use a laser to remove it. Hundreds of dollars and a few short weeks later, it was back!

After awhile, it started getting pigmented; there are only two small dots of color here, but it was starting to turn darker, and I was just imagining myself with a big black mole on the tip of my nose! VERY SCARY.

I decided to try the TCA Chemical Peel to see if that would get rid of it. It took FOUR separate peels, the last of which was 100% buffered TCA chemical peel. I don't recommend that people use this high of a strength; I almost got myself into a really bad situation with it.

I started out at 25% TCA chemical peel. It helped, but after it healed, it was still there.

Mole - 1st TCA treatment

Mole after 1st TCA chemical peel

I moved up to 50% TCA chemical peel...but it still came back. I did TWO treatments at this strength:

After 50% TCA chemical peel treatments

I don't have a picture, but I could see that the mole was still there (just barely), so I decided to go up to 100% TCA chemical peel, and I nearly ruined my nose! I accidentally got the solution on a larger area of my nose, but I was ready and immediately neutralized the surrounding areas.

Final TCA chemical peel treatment of mole

It took several weeks for this to heal, but it was easily hidden with a dab of concealer--after the scab fell off!

Mole Finally Removed with Chemical Peel

It's been nearly a year, and the mole has not returned.  Here's my nose today:

My Mole-less Nose Today!

Goodbye mole.

Speed Up Chemical Peel Healing

Lindsay posted a good question the other day, and one that needs a proper post (Thanks Lindsay):

"Do you do anything to speed up the process?"

I replied to Lindsay's post, but there are actually several things I have done to speed up the healing process, but there are also some general guidelines that I try to follow to get the best long-term results as well

To accelerate a chemical peel, there are several things I have done:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2024986
http://mychemicalpeel.blogspot.com/2010/10/accelerated-chemical-peel-acne-spot.html


And here are some general guidelines I try to follow for each chemical peel to promote faster healing:
1. Prep for several weeks with tretinoin (retin-a), but don't use at least one week prior to peel application;
2. Avoid drinking alcohol for several days before the peel and discontinue alcohol until the skin is completely healed;
3. Decrease sugar intake, which includes carbs, where possible: try to eat whole foods, primarily vegetables and plant protein, such as beans, legumes, tofu, and whole grains;
4. Get lots of sleep and drink lots of water;
5. Keep skin moisturized throughout the day, but before I apply moisturizer (or oil), I dampen the skin with water;
6. Always wash my hands before I touch my face when it's healing;
7. Avoid the sun, and use a 30+ SPF (and hat where possible) if I must be outside or driving;
8. Avoid all harsh products and use only a mild cleanser, such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
9. Cleanse facial skin very gently, no more than twice daily, and use non-abrasive cloths;
10. If any scabs appear, use an antibacterial ointment and/or vinegar compresses;
11. Do NOT pick at or pull loose skin or scabs;
12. Try to keep stress levels down and avoid strenuous exercise (let the body use its energy to heal);
13. I take some supplements that are thought to promote healthy skin regeneration, including vitamin C; and
14. Although I don't smoke, I try to stay away from areas where there is smoking.

I can't control all of these factors, but I try.

If you have any other suggestions that I can add to the list, please post a comment.

Removing Age Spots or Sun Spots with Chemical Peels

After doing the 18% TCA chemical peel last week, I decided that those age spots or sun spots on my temple need to come off. The 18% TCA chemical peel didn't do much to them, but I still have a few applications remaining of that concentration, so I decided to apply it every week until I do my next facial chemical peel to see if I can get any results at this percentage with weekly applications.

Here are the age spots or sun spots during the first 8% TCA chemical peel. I applied the TCA chemical peel in a large circular motion on the age spots (there are 3 very small ones and 1 larger); I should have simply dabbed it on the age spots. 

1st 18% TCA frost

This is day 3 of the 1st 18% TCA chemical peel on the age spots:

Day 3 of 1st 18% TCA chemical peel

 This is day 4 after the 1st 18% TCA chemical peel on the age spots. The area has completely peeled, but the age spots don't appear to have lightened at all.

Age spots after 1st 18% TCA chemical peel

Here's the 2nd application of 18% TCA chemical peel, seven days after the first application. I tried to apply the 18% TCA solution only on the age spots, but I used a cotton swap, so more of the solution ended up on my skin than I had intended.

2nd Frost of 18% TCA chemical peel

This is the morning after the 2nd application:

Day 1 of 2nd 18% TCA chemical peel

I think I'll end up having to go to a higher percentage of TCA to eliminate these age spots, but I've read that multiple applications of lower-percentage TCA peels can accomplish the same results as a single higher dose, and I intend to find out if it's true.

18% TCA Chemical Peel - Before and After

This post is day 4 of the 18% TCA chemical peel. It's been the easiest peel I've done yet, so I'm going to plan to do this mixture once a month until spring arrives, and I'm really excited about it.

I can't wait to compare my before and after pictures from this season's peels, especially since I turn 48 this year and I've spent the last year focusing on eliminating some of the mess I created the first 46 years of my life!

Here are the before and after pictures from this peel only. This picture was taken the day before I applied the 18% TCA chemical peel:

Before 18% TCA chemical peel, no SS or powder

This picture is from day 4 after the 18% TCA chemical peel - before sunscreen and powder:

After 18% TCA chemical peel, no SS or powder

This picture is from day 4 after the 18% TCA chemical peel - after sunscreen and powder:

After 18% TCA chemical peel, with SS & powder

18% TCA Chemical Peel - Day 3

Day 1 was a breeze, as usual, but day 2 was really just like day 1, with the exception of few minor flakes just before bed, which is so different from my usual day 2 of itching, tight, leathery feeling skin!

Day 3 was pretty typical: lots of peeling, followed by moisturizing, then more peeling. Here's a picture after waking and cleansing:

Day 3 of 18% Chemical Peel - AM

Most of my peeling today was above my lip and just below my mouth. I've learned that the mouth area heals first for me (actually, the eyes heal faster, but I don't apply chemical peels there because I'm a chicken).

The sides of my face peel last, so it's no surprise that by my evening cleansing, the sides of my face were really just starting to peel but lip and chin areas had finished. The age spot area that I applied four layers to also peeled during the day, but I forgot to take a picture:

Day 3 of 18% Chemical Peel - PM

No, the open mouth is not gasping...just not sure what that was about, but that's all I got, as they say.

This has been such an easy peel. I think there are several factors at work here: I rinsed as soon as the frost appeared, so the depth was minimal; I prepped for a longer time this year with Retin-A whereas last year I used only glycolic acid to prep; I'm eating healthier this year than last year; and I tried to follow some of my basic guidelines, those things we should all do to speed up the healing process.

I'm working on a list of suggestions or guidelines for accelerating the healing process, and I plan to post that before Thanksgiving.

I'll post pictures tomorrow of before and after this first real peel, although I'm not sure I'll be able to see much difference after my first real peel of this year. Mantra: slower is better (but I just wish I could be more aggressive)!

18% TCA Chemical Peel - day 2

WOW, I love the 18% TCA chemical peel. I wish I would have gone with this strength on my patch!  Day 2 is usually so tough: tight, itchy, redish/brown, leathery!  But at 18%, it was barely noticeable BEFORE I put on a bit of concealer, and it didn't look hideous at all, like it usually does on day 2.

Don't get me wrong, I won't be planning any dinner parties on day 2 of any chemical peel, but I can do this and still function in the world!

Here's a picture of me without concealer. You may be able to see that there's just a bit of swelling, which I actually like!

18% w 2 layers, TCA chemical peel - Day 2 am

Here's the area where I applied 4 layers -- big difference!

18% with 4 layers - day 2

Here's the end of the day. You can see just a little bit of peeling starting just below my mouth, but if I had moisturized at all during the day, this probably would have happened until tomorrow am.

18% 2 layers - day 2 pm

More pictures tomorrow...

18% TCA Chemical Peel - day 1

I believe after a year of doing chemical peels, I have decided that 18% buffered TCA is the best for several reasons: the peel application is less painful, it includes very little downtime compared to a 25% TCA chemical peel, and there's very little cover up to do afterward since there's no redness. Remember: my personal experience should not replace medical advice or treatment!

This peel is already complete, but I post here according to the journal I keep, so here's a picture of my face yesterday morning (no sunscreen or makeup):

Before Chemical Peel

I applied 18% TCA chemical peel last night on the lower half of my face and on a small area that has sun spots or age spots. I applied two layers on my lower face and four layers on the spots. Here's a picture of the frost:

Chemical Peel Frost

Age Spot Frost

I decided to be more aggressive with the age spots since my hair covers this area.

I really had absolutely NO downtime today. My face actually had a bit of firmness that even made it seem younger (but I know that's the minimal swelling doing that). I had a normal work day, and I went out to dinner with friends! Here's a picture at the end of day 1:

Day 1 after 18% TCA Chemical Peel

I was wearing sunscreen and powder in this picture, but there's little evidence of a chemical peel application the night before! I think 18% (with only two layers) is going to be a good strength for me this year :-)

I'll post pictures of day 2 tomorrow. Day 2 is normally my worst day: tight, itchy, leathery, definitely not a day to go out with anyone or be seen--but the 18% TCA chemical peel was different ...

First TCA Facial Peel - Day 10

Although it probably doesn't seem like it, it's been 10 days since I applied the 25% TCA patch chemical peel. Here's a picture of my face from yesterday morning, so there's no sunscreen or makeup.

I applied an 18% TCA peel last night just before bed on the lower half of my face. I don't usually do the upper half because I don't feel it's a problem, and having to hide part of my face is easier--especially now that we've had our first snow: if I'm out and things look really bad, I can pull my scarf up.

Since I applied the peel on Thursday evening, I am hoping that I'll be finished peeling before work on Monday!

I'll post a picture tomorrow of my face at the end of today so you can see how it looks one day 1, the only day that has NO downtime!

First TCA Facial Peel - Day 4

TCA 25% Face Peel – day 4

This morning, most of the peeling is done.  I did NOT pull those pieces last night.  I’m back to using my shea butter today--and sunscreen. I am thinking of trying Neutrogena's liquid sunscreen; I've read that it's similar to Sofina's Lucent.

I'm still wondering why this application of 25% TCA Chemical Peel has finished so quickly compared to my hands.  I'll theorize tomorrow...

First TCA Facial Peel - Day 3

I was a bit under the weather this weekend, so I wasn't able to post, but here are pictures from last week:

I can’t believe my peel is starting to peel already!  I had read that the face recovers faster than other parts of the body, but the patch I’d done on my forehead at 12.5% took just as long as my hands to start peeling.  Maybe because it was a lower percentage, it took as long as the higher percentage on my hands???

The look is definitely not good girls, but I am resisting my urge to pick.

I applied the 25% TCA peel Sunday morning, and now Tuesday evening, most of the skin is peeling off.  It definitely needed a more occlusive moisturizer, so I applied the Cu3 Complex, and that  masked the peeling this evening.  This picture was taken before I applied that lotion.  After I got out of the shower, there were several pieces just hanging there…oh the urge to pull.

First TCA Facial Peel – day 3

Today is day 3 of my 25% TCA Chemical Peel.  As you can see, I applied the peel to only a section of my face because I decided I could deal with concealing part of my face at a time, if needed.

The skin feels dry to the touch, like I have a band-aid on it if I smile.  The redness is completely gone, and now it’s just slightly discolored, as if I had hyperpigmentation in that area.

Here’s a picture with makeup and sunscreen.  After cleansing, I started with Reviva Lotion, then I used La Roche-Posay 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid for Face, all over.  Then I stippled on GloMinerals Concealer and set it with L'Oreal Bare Naturale Face Powder.