A Blue Peel treatment rarely disrupts normal daily activities and routines. Prior to the day of the procedure, the doctor may prescribe a special skin cleansing routine. This is a medical outpatient procedure, performed by a licensed physician.
A blue dye is added to the trichloracetic acid (TCA.) Because of the dye, the physician is able to visually observe the absorption into the skin. Following the treatment, you may notice a blue tint to your skin. This usually disappears within 12 to 24 hours. You may experience some discomfort, accompanied by redness, mild swelling and itching. The doctor may prescribe over the counter pain relievers, if the discomfort persists. Generally, you will be able to return to work and resume normal daily activities as early as the day after the procedure, or you may choose to wait until the skin has healed before returning to work. This is a personal choice, but you must limit outdoor activities, as prolonged exposure to the sun should be avoided.
Recovery
Approximately 3 to 4 days after the treatment, the skin will begin to shed the old and damaged skin cells in a process that looks similar to the peeling from sunburn. The peeling will continue for the next 3 or 4 days. The peeling subsides and healing is fairly complete by day 10. You may experience some redness or pink tint to the skin for a longer period of time. Your skin will continue to heal, rejuvenate and improve over the next several weeks. The Blue Peel stimulates the skin into forming collagen for a period of 4 to 6 weeks after treatment.
Post Recovery
Your physician may recommend particular skin care cleansers, creams and lotions. The use of sunscreen during and after the recovery period is very important. Due to the chemical nature of make-up, application is generally not recommended until week 2 or 3. After the healing period, the doctor may also suggest different skin care products, or perform other skin rejuvenating procedures that were agreed upon during your initial consultation. Radio frequency skin rejuvenation or laser therapy can be combined with the Blue Peel treatment to produce a more youthful look. Therapies that firm and tighten the deeper tissue below the surface work well with Blue Peel to improve overall skin appearance, texture and tone.
Depending upon your particular needs, your doctor may schedule a second Blue Peel treatment 3 to 6 months after the initial procedure. Thereafter, the Blue Peel may be applied to target areas in the form of a micro peel. Blue Peel treatments can also be used to improve the appearance of skin on the chest, legs, back and hands.
