Click on any of the subjects below to find questions and answers on some of the most popular issues our patients ask us about. If you have a question about a topic, issue or concern that doesn’t appear in this section but you would like to know more about, please email us info@bbdermatology.co.uk
Do feel free to ask Dr Brazzini for more information in your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
I suffered from acne as a teenager and have been left with terrible scarring on my cheeks, shoulders and back. What options are available to me to help lessen the scarring and are they painful?
There are a number of cosmetic treatments available to alleviate the impact of acne scarring although it cannot be eliminated altogether.
Dr Bazzini has found that N-Lite laser treatment has produced excellent results when treating patients with all forms of acne. It works by targeting the bacteria that causes acne and works well on all skin types. The N-Lite laser emits a unique light which stimulates the natural repair mechanism of the skin and kills spot-causing bacteria. It also increases the production of collagen, helping to reduce any pitting and scarring. It can be used on the face, neck, back and chest. It produces little or no side effects and there is minimal recovery time after a treatment session.
Each N-Lite treatment takes around 30 minutes and most patients require around three to four sessions over a three month period though that can vary slightly.
Acne can also be dramatically improved with chemical peeling, often carried out in conjunction with or at the end of, a course of laser therapy.
Peels are chemical solutions which allow the skin of the face to be improved and smoothed by removing its outer layers damaged by pathological events (scars, acne, precancerous lesions, etc.), by hyperpigmentation or by the effects of the ageing process (wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity or tone, etc.).
The treatment with superficial and intermediate peels do not require anaesthesia, while deep peels need local anaesthetic with sedation and are performed in outpatient care or with one-day hospitalisation.
There are a number of cosmetic treatments available to alleviate the impact of acne scarring although it cannot be eliminated altogether.
Dr Bazzini has found that N-Lite laser treatment has produced excellent results when treating patients with all forms of acne. It works by targeting the bacteria that causes acne and works well on all skin types. The N-Lite laser emits a unique light which stimulates the natural repair mechanism of the skin and kills spot-causing bacteria. It also increases the production of collagen, helping to reduce any pitting and scarring. It can be used on the face, neck, back and chest. It produces little or no side effects and there is minimal recovery time after a treatment session.
Each N-Lite treatment takes around 30 minutes and most patients require around three to four sessions over a three month period though that can vary slightly.
Acne can also be dramatically improved with chemical peeling, often carried out in conjunction with or at the end of, a course of laser therapy.
Peels are chemical solutions which allow the skin of the face to be improved and smoothed by removing its outer layers damaged by pathological events (scars, acne, precancerous lesions, etc.), by hyperpigmentation or by the effects of the ageing process (wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity or tone, etc.).
The treatment with superficial and intermediate peels do not require anaesthesia, while deep peels need local anaesthetic with sedation and are performed in outpatient care or with one-day hospitalisation.
How often should chemical peels be performed?
The number of sessions depends on the type and severity of the condition to be treated.
I’ve heard about the VI peel. What is it and how is it different from other peels?
The Vi Peel (Vitality Institute) is a gentle yet powerful medical-grade chemical peel for the treatment of acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, age and sun spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, rosacea and it also helps to make the skin more radiant.
The Vi Peel is safe and effective on all skin types and colours and can be used on the face, neck chest, arms, back, and legs, and is the only peel safe for the under-eye area. It is also painless and requires minimal downtime. With the Vi Peel, the magic is in the formula. A blend of Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA), Tretinoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phenol, Vitamin C, and other minerals work together to safely remove the damaged layers of the skin, promote cellular turnover, and refine the surface layer for a smoother, clearer, firmer skin.
Is it important to prime the skin before a chemical peel?
It is very important to prime the skin before medium and deep peels. Before very superficial and superficial peels it is not always necessary to prime the skin.
Skin priming is prescribed by the doctor during the consultation and usually consists of the application of AHA and retinoid based creams for about 15 days prior to the treatment.
Can chemical peels be used in dark skin individuals?
Yes. Expert doctors can use chemical peels on patients with dark skin. Very superficial and superficial peels have a very low risk of transitory hyperpigmentation.
However, patients with dark skin must bear in mind that when their skin goes dry it often becomes darker. Therefore should expect a slight darkening and patchiness of the skin for 5-7 days after the peel.
Medium and deep peels may be performed on dark skin individuals as long as the patient accepts the risk of transitory hyperpigmentation for 3-9 months after the peel.
Do significant after-effects occur after the treatment with chemical peels?
After very superficial and superficial peels the skin is pink for a few hours. The skin then becomes dry and exfoliates during the following 5-7 days.
After intermediate peels the skin is pink for 1-2 days then becomes violaceous-tanned for 2 days and on the 4th-5th day the exfoliation begins and lasts for max 10 days. It is advisable to take 5 days off work.
After deep peels the skin will be red and the area might be swollen for 2 days. On the 2nd or 3rd day the skin will become violaceous-tanned for 2 days and on the 4th-5th day the exfoliation begins and lasts for max 10 days.
What is important during the post-peel period?
It is very important to follow the instruction the doctor will give. It is also very important not to pick the skin and tear it. No sun-exposure for 2 weeks up to 2 months according to the depth of the peel. No saunas (and similar) and no swimming pool for 5-10 days according to the depth of the peel.
What are the risks and the complications of this treatment?
Chemical peeling is normally very safe. However, it is a delicate procedure, complications (such as hyperpigmentation, flushing, infections and scars) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved if the situation is closely followed up by a specialist in dermatology or plastic surgery.
The number of sessions depends on the type and severity of the condition to be treated.
I’ve heard about the VI peel. What is it and how is it different from other peels?
The Vi Peel (Vitality Institute) is a gentle yet powerful medical-grade chemical peel for the treatment of acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, age and sun spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, rosacea and it also helps to make the skin more radiant.
The Vi Peel is safe and effective on all skin types and colours and can be used on the face, neck chest, arms, back, and legs, and is the only peel safe for the under-eye area. It is also painless and requires minimal downtime. With the Vi Peel, the magic is in the formula. A blend of Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA), Tretinoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phenol, Vitamin C, and other minerals work together to safely remove the damaged layers of the skin, promote cellular turnover, and refine the surface layer for a smoother, clearer, firmer skin.
Is it important to prime the skin before a chemical peel?
It is very important to prime the skin before medium and deep peels. Before very superficial and superficial peels it is not always necessary to prime the skin.
Skin priming is prescribed by the doctor during the consultation and usually consists of the application of AHA and retinoid based creams for about 15 days prior to the treatment.
Can chemical peels be used in dark skin individuals?
Yes. Expert doctors can use chemical peels on patients with dark skin. Very superficial and superficial peels have a very low risk of transitory hyperpigmentation.
However, patients with dark skin must bear in mind that when their skin goes dry it often becomes darker. Therefore should expect a slight darkening and patchiness of the skin for 5-7 days after the peel.
Medium and deep peels may be performed on dark skin individuals as long as the patient accepts the risk of transitory hyperpigmentation for 3-9 months after the peel.
Do significant after-effects occur after the treatment with chemical peels?
After very superficial and superficial peels the skin is pink for a few hours. The skin then becomes dry and exfoliates during the following 5-7 days.
After intermediate peels the skin is pink for 1-2 days then becomes violaceous-tanned for 2 days and on the 4th-5th day the exfoliation begins and lasts for max 10 days. It is advisable to take 5 days off work.
After deep peels the skin will be red and the area might be swollen for 2 days. On the 2nd or 3rd day the skin will become violaceous-tanned for 2 days and on the 4th-5th day the exfoliation begins and lasts for max 10 days.
What is important during the post-peel period?
It is very important to follow the instruction the doctor will give. It is also very important not to pick the skin and tear it. No sun-exposure for 2 weeks up to 2 months according to the depth of the peel. No saunas (and similar) and no swimming pool for 5-10 days according to the depth of the peel.
What are the risks and the complications of this treatment?
Chemical peeling is normally very safe. However, it is a delicate procedure, complications (such as hyperpigmentation, flushing, infections and scars) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved if the situation is closely followed up by a specialist in dermatology or plastic surgery.
I’m 60, and small but quite deep wrinkles have appeared around my lips. I would like to know what the best treatment for this problem is.
The wrinkles that appear vertically above and under the contour of the mouth (perioral wrinkles) are frequent among thin-skinned people and among those who often tense the orbicular muscle of the mouth. This is common among those who smoke for example. In male skin, which is much thicker, this defect hardly ever occurs.
Perioral wrinkles can be improved (though not eliminated completely) by a combination of various treatments acting on all the factors that cause them to appear. More precisely, the skin should be treated with techniques that smooth its outer layer, such as dermabrasion, CO2 laser and intermediate (TCA) or deep peelings such as phenol.
The subcutaneous fat that has thinned out and can be replaced through the use of filling materials such as hyaluronic acid.
Your consultant would be able to discuss the most appropriate course of action with you based following an examination of your skin and current state of health.
The wrinkles that appear vertically above and under the contour of the mouth (perioral wrinkles) are frequent among thin-skinned people and among those who often tense the orbicular muscle of the mouth. This is common among those who smoke for example. In male skin, which is much thicker, this defect hardly ever occurs.
Perioral wrinkles can be improved (though not eliminated completely) by a combination of various treatments acting on all the factors that cause them to appear. More precisely, the skin should be treated with techniques that smooth its outer layer, such as dermabrasion, CO2 laser and intermediate (TCA) or deep peelings such as phenol.
The subcutaneous fat that has thinned out and can be replaced through the use of filling materials such as hyaluronic acid.
Your consultant would be able to discuss the most appropriate course of action with you based following an examination of your skin and current state of health.
