Sciton BBL vs Chemical Peel to Improve Skin Texture and color?

Both intense pulsed light IPL (also known as broad band light BBL) as well as chemical peels refine the pores. Chemical peels work by exfoliating the pores, as well as stimulating collagen. IPL/BBL work by generating heat in the dermis to stimulate collagen and shrink the pores. There are many effective chemical peels.

The result of these procedures is best when combined with a maintenance program like retinoids. The procedures will need to be repeated every few months or years as we can temporarily alter pore size, but we cannot do it permanently. Best to pick a qualified board certified dermatologist experience in skin issues for best results.

The Sciton broadband light is useful for sun-damaged skin, brown spots, blood vessels (telangiectasias) and to a lesser degree, skin texture. Chemical peels are useful for improving skin texture, fine lines, and sun-damaged skin. Neither treatment can actually make pore size smaller, but can help improve the appearance of large pores and your overall complexion.

Chemical peel are an less expensive way and faster way to treat the skin then BBL or and great as skin maintenance after BBL treatment. We love the I'm Fabulous Cosmetics Gorgeous Peel because it is a gentle TCA chemical peel that down not give downtime. 

The Gorgeous Peel has a proven theory of abrading just enough of the stratum corneum to cause the skin to send valuable protein to the surface. 

When you frost the skin too deeply, your body goes into wound repair mode where it creates antibodies, scar tissue, melanin and other secretions, which may easily cause the skin to age faster!

What should I expect after a BBL treatment?

You may experience some redness, a “sunburned feeling” or extreme heat depending on where the procedure is on your body and how much sun damage you have.  These  symptoms generally resolve within a few hours-48 hours. Pigmented lesions will darken and gradually flake off and fade over the next 7-10 days on the body it can be up to 30 days. 

Often your treated skin will feel smoother, fine lines and pores will begin to be less noticeable, and sunspots or uneven pigmentation will fade. Results depend on your skin’s condition, the number of treatments, and the area being treated. Your clinician will provide you with complete information about the post-treatment care and results.

How long will it take to recover? This is a noninvasive and gentle procedure with virtually no downtime compared to other cosmetic procedures. 

Face and neck have moderate downtime and can usually be covered with make-up. Body areas can take 30-45 days or more to resolve pigmentation depending on the severity of the sun damage on top of the skin and beneath the skin. 

Remember we are delivering a “burn” to the skin to stimulate healing and restoration. There is no way to tell how much damage is beneath the skin and occasionally you can have a more significant reaction.