Green Peel
Marketers are smart. They know when women hear words like "herbal," "natural ingredients," and "plant extracts" there is an assumption that the skincare product is better, and safer. Let's not forget, there are some things in nature we don't want to rub on our face. Extract of poison ivy anyone?
So is a Green Peel better than a chemical peel? Like so many cosmetic and medspa procedures, the answer is unique to the individual. If you know you have a sensitivity to a compound in the chemical peel, then absolutely you will want to try a Green Peel or even an Obagi Blue Peel. Your aesthetician or doctor can help you determine if any pre-existing allergies or sensitivities rule out a particular face peel for you.
One troubling aspect of the Green Peel is a general lack of information about the product. Green Peel was developed by Dr. Christine Schrammek-Drusio of Germany, but there are not any credentials listed on her professional website. There are also provider websites that state Green Peel is FDA approved, which is misleading. The Food and Drug Administration does not require cosmetics to go through an approval process, and there is no mention of Green Peel on their official website.
Green Peel claims to remove wrinkles, acne, cellulite, and scars through a slow absorption of botanical extracts that will remove the top layers of skin. Customers also use Green Peel to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and strengthen sagging abdominal walls. Here's the thing: wrinkles, scars, and acne are all diminished with any product that removes the top few layers of skin. After all, this exfoliation process is the body's way of healing itself.
Dr. Schrammek's website also makes the claim that Green Peel will increase blood circulation, and improve collagen production. This is likely true since collagen is part of the healing process of exfoliation, and blood flow improves with stimulation to a body area. Without a clear list of ingredients, there is now way to know if the Green Peel itself improves circulation or if it is the stimulation from application.
Prices for Green Peel applications range from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand. The price greatly depends on the relative affluence in your area; a Green Peel in Charleston, SC costs less than one at a celebrity favored salon in New York. The pain associated with Green Peel is likened to a mild to moderate sunburn, similar to a regular chemical peel. Also, clients can return to work, but skin will be red, shiny, and possibly peeling for a few days.
The majority of complications resulting from Green Peel are related to the skin of ethnic men and women, as removing the top layers of skin can affect pigmentation. This is a common problem for cosmetic skin treatments, only because skin of people with various ethnic backgrounds may have darker complexions that show greater contrast. The most common complaint for all clients is a lack of results. However, since our skin is our first barrier for immunity, clients with compromised immune systems should discuss all cosmetic procedures with their doctors.
