Jessner & TCA Peels

Jessner Peel

The Jessner Peel is a chemical peel used to treat pigmentation, fine lines, and enlarged pores. It can be applied as a superficial peel on its own or combined with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for a medium to deep peel, enhancing its effectiveness.

What Conditions Can a Jessner Peel Treat?

As a superficial peel, the Jessner Peel is effective in addressing various skin concerns including:

Sun Damage: Helps improve texture and quality of sun-damaged skin.
Mild Pigmentation: Reduces discoloration and evens skin tone.
Fine Wrinkles: Minimizes the appearance of fine lines.
Blackheads and Acne: The salicylic acid (a BHA) component penetrates oil glands, making it particularly useful for acne-prone skin.
Enlarged Pores: Improves pore appearance and reduces congestion.

Additionally, the lactic acid (an AHA) in Jessner Peel stimulates collagen production in the dermis and provides hydration to the epidermis, contributing to a smoother, more youthful appearance.

How Long Does It Take for the Jessner Peel to Cause Peeling?

The peeling process typically begins 2-5 days after application, depending on the number of layers applied and any pre-peel preparation. Complete healing can take up to 7-9 days, with redness potentially lingering for an additional week, particularly in individuals with sensitive skin.

Will I Notice Results After One Peel?

You will observe noticeable improvements after a single Jessner Peel, but optimal results are generally achieved after a series of 3-5 peels, spaced 3-6 weeks apart. Since sun damage and wrinkles accumulate over time, reversing these effects also requires time and multiple treatments.

Microneedling vs. Chemical Peels: Which is Better?

Microneedling and chemical peels serve different purposes and can complement each other. Chemical peels are generally more effective for superficial skin conditions, while microneedling penetrates deeper to tackle more challenging issues like acne scars. A combination of both treatments often yields the best results, especially for those with complex skin concerns.

Jessner with TCA Peels

TCA and Jessner peels are effective for treating a variety of skin concerns; while milder peels target acne, blemishes, and congestion, deeper peels address issues such as wrinkles, sun damage, and pigmentation. This type of peel is most suitable for fair-skinned individuals, offering a downtime of about a week. For those with darker skin tones, laser resurfacing is generally preferred to avoid complications.

Chemical peeling is a nuanced technique that targets different layers of the skin. The recovery time from a chemical peel correlates directly with its depth, with deeper peels requiring a longer downtime. Often, a combination of lasers and chemical peels is used to achieve enhanced results.

Medium-Depth Jessner and TCA Peels

Medium depth peels such as TCA or Jessner with TCA are effective for:

Sunspots and precancerous lesions like actinic keratosis
Fine lines, wrinkles, and elastosis (damaged collagen from sun exposure)
Upper lip wrinkles, often called smoker’s lines (frequently combined with laser treatment)
Superficial acne scars
Freckles and brown spots
Enlarged pores

How Jessner-TCA Peels are Performed

The procedure typically requires partial sedation and sometimes includes pre-peel skin preparation, such as a de-greasing scrub. The entire process takes about two hours, including one hour for anesthesia. During the peel, your comfort is maintained through skin cooling techniques.

Is the Peel Painful?

This procedure is generally well-tolerated, especially since it is performed after numbing the skin with the use of topical anesthetics and cooling measures.

Recovery Time

Healing from a medium-depth Jessner-TCA peel takes approximately 7-14 days as new skin forms. Residual redness can persist for 4-8 weeks or longer, depending on the depth of the peel.

Comparing Chemical Peels and Laser Resurfacing

Chemical peels can sometimes be more effective than fractional laser resurfacing because peels remove the entire surface layer of the skin, whereas fractional lasers only treat a percentage (usually 5-70%). For fully ablative laser resurfacing, deep peels have been shown to generate more collagen. The choice between a peel and a laser treatment is complex and depends on factors such as the type and extent of skin damage, patient skin type, and previous treatments. I will guide you through the decision-making process, explaining the pros and cons based on your specific needs.

Combining medium to deep peels with ablative CO2 fractional lasers often yields superior results compared to using each treatment independently.

How Do TCA-Jessner Peels Compare to Superficial Peels?

Medium tdepth peels, like TCA-Jessner, penetrate both the superficial and deeper dermal layers, stimulating collagen production in the reticular and papillary dermis. In contrast, superficial peels target only the upper layers of the outermost layer of skin, reaching a depth of just 5-20 microns. In comparison, TCA-Jessner peels penetrate over 250 microns accounting for the longer healing times associated with these deeper treatments.

Superficial peels are best for addressing surface-level concerns like blackheads, mild pigmentation, and general congestion. Medium depth peels address surface-level concerns as well as more significant dermal concerns such as wrinkles and severe sun damage.