Treatment, age and preexisting medical conditions of the potential patient are all deciding factors that influence if, how and when a chemical peel procedure can be performed. The age of the patient and the results expected after treatment are key factors in selecting the most suitable peel to use for treatment, and the medical history of the patient will be crucial to ensure the safety of the procedures.
When Not to Administer Chemical Peel Treatments
If the patient currently has any of the following conditions, treatment with any type of chemical peels will be hazardous and should not be administered at all:
- Open wounds or lesions, including herpetic lesions, on target skin area
- Active bacterial, viral or fungal infections on target skin area
- Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and other inflammations on target skin area
- Currently or have a history of taking medication that induce photosensitivity
- Within 6 months of the last plastic surgery
- Have a history of abnormal scarring and any type of skin dystrophy
- Mentally unstable or uncooperative patients
Patients Who Are Smokers
Smoking will not only increase the severity of swelling and puffing after treatment, but also prevent the regeneration of new skin tissue and worsen the occurrence of wrinkles. For current smokers, it is necessary to quit smoking completely before the application of chemical peels, and patients should not smoke again until they fully recovery after treatment.
Patients with Heart, Liver and Kidney Conditions
Phenol, the active compound used for deep peel treatments, is highly toxic. Therefore, patients need to be in a state of good health for them to be eligible to receive this type of treatment. Phenol can induce the onset of cardiac arrhythmia, and thus, phenol peels can be especially dangerous for people with a history of heart disease. People with liver and kidney conditions are also high risk groups and are not good candidates for phenol treatment. These patients will not be able to efficiently detoxify their system, and a high potential for severe damage can occur.
