MELANAGE PEEL
Mask of pregnancy, melasma, sun spots, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation -- there are many names for facial discoloration. One thing is true about all of the above and that is that brown discoloration of the skin can come at any age and can get better and/or worse with age and environmental exposure -- and is VERY difficult to get rid of. Then . . . . a group of wonderful chemists and physicians created the Melanage Peel. Having been in the industry for many, many years we have seen first hand what some of the other treatments used until now can (but most of all CAN'T) do to lighten pigmentation. In some cases we see patients come to us that have had pigmentation darken and get worse after treatment with a laser or other at home methods. That is why we were so excited to offer this easy, affordable and highly effective therapy for pigmentation sufferers.
How does the Melanage Peel work?
The Melanage Peel could be explained very scientifically and indeed the mechanism of action for this peel is quite detailed. We prefer to exlain it using a simple visual aid and terms that everyone can understand. To understand how the peel works you need to understand a few key terms. The skin in makde up of two main layers: The Dermis (the deepest layers of the skin) and the Epedermis (The uppermost, visible layers of the skin) . The pigmentation that is visible on the surface of the skin resides in the epidermis. The pigment/discoloration of the skin is caused by an excessive congregation of melanocytes - the tiny cells that give your skin it's natural color and what turns it 'tan' in the sun. What the Melanage peel does is break up these clusters of melanocytes using a powerful form of Vitamin A, or Retinoic Acid. Another mechanism of the peel (Hydroquinone) then loosens the uppermost layers of the skin and allows the skin cells to 'turn over' much faster than normally. This allows the broken up pigment to slough off and out of the skin and fresh, clear skin to be revealed.
What exactly does the Melanage peel treat?
The Melanage Peel is highly effective on treating melasma, or 'mask of pregnancy' that can occur not only with child birth, but from birth control medications and hormonal shifts throughout a woman's life cycle. This pigmentation has previously only been treatable with prescription skin lightening creams that are often ineffective or are misused and can worsen the condition and irritate the skin. Laser treatments can make this condition worse - as it only brings more pigment to the surface of the skin - and the skin isn't turned over quickly enough to actually slough off the unwanted discoloration. We see many patients who have been treated with lasers for melasma and they say that their pigmentation is 'worse than before the laser'.
How many Melanage Peels will I need?
The Melanage Peel is a simple in-office procedure, done often just once (although the treatment can be repeated every 6-8 months if further lightening is needed) which results in drastically lightened pigmentation. The mask is left on the face anywhere from 6-9 hours and healing time takes about 5 days, during which the patient looks slightly sunburned and has tiny, dry flakes on their face. The more severe and deep the pigmentation, the more likely you may want to repeat the treatment in 6-8 months. We also offer fantastic at-home maintenance products/ lightening systems for use about a month post Melanage peel. Many patients find this option appealing in the fall/winter when sun exposure is to a minimum.
Who can get the treatment done?
The Melanage Peel is safe for all skin types and tones. As you can see from some of the photos to the right, we can treat Hispanic, Asian and African American skin easily and safely with the peel system. The darker the skin tone, the longer the Melanage Peel mask must be left on the skin before removal. For this reason we often book darker skin tones earlier in the day for this procedure so that they can remove it just before bed. The mask comes in a clear gel color and other than looking moist, most patients have no other complaints or discomfort while the mask is left on throughout the day. Sunscreen is always recommended post treatment regardless of skin tone.
