Chemical peels remain a fundamental and highly effective modality in aesthetic practice for addressing skin concerns, from texture irregularities and dullness to pigmentation and wrinkles. While superficial peels treat mild issues, addressing more pronounced aging often requires a deeper peel. The Filorga® chemical peel system includes the Filorga Time Peelrange, designed as medium-depth peels to stimulate significant epidermal and dermal regeneration. This guide explores the two variants – for normal and sensitive skin – clarifying their composition, application, and role in tailored skin rejuvenation protocols.

This information is intended for trained medical professionals. Adherence to proper technique, patient assessment, and manufacturer guidelines is mandatory. Not a substitute for formal hands-on training in medium-depth chemical peeling.

Understanding Filorga® Time Peel: Stepping Up in Depth

The Filorga (now part of FILLMED) approach to chemical peeling often involves multi-acid formulations and a focus on optimizing the skin’s condition before and after the peel itself. The system is designed to allow practitioners to select a peel strength and composition suited to the patient’s skin type while using preparatory and post-peel products to enhance efficacy, improve tolerance, and support healing.

Comparing the Two Variants: Normal vs. Sensitive Skin

The Filorga Time Peel is available in two formulations to accommodate different skin tolerances while targeting similar signs of aging:

• FILORGA® TIME PEEL (Normal Skin):
  • Target Audience: Specifically formulated for sensitive skin types or those presenting with mild texture irregularities, dullness, or early signs of photoaging.
  • Composition: Typically utilizes a lower concentration of exfoliating acids, often including Mandelic Acid, which is known for its larger molecular size and slower skin penetration, making it generally less irritating. May also include Glycolic Acid and Gluconolactone.
  • Expected Results: Aims for gentle exfoliation, improving skin texture and radiance, reducing superficial fine lines, and providing a healthy glow with minimal downtime. Considered a superficial peel.
• FILORGA® BRIGHT PEEL (Normal Skin):
  • Target Audience: Designed for normal skin types addressing concerns like pigmentation irregularities (e.g., sun spots, mild melasma), lack of radiance, and more pronounced texture issues.
  • Composition: Often contains a higher concentration of exfoliating acids, frequently including Glycolic Acid and Phytic Acid, along with Citric Acid. This combination targets pigment and provides more significant exfoliation than the Light Peel.
  • Expected Results: Aims for brightening the complexion, improving skin tone evenness, reducing hyperpigmentation, and providing noticeable exfoliation with potentially slightly more downtime than the Light Peel. Considered a superficial peel.

Both variants are designed to function as medium-depth peels, penetrating into the stratum corneum and epidermis. The choice between them depends on careful patient assessment.

Mechanism of Action: Triggering Regeneration

Medium-depth chemical peels work by causing a controlled chemical injury to the skin. This injury triggers a cascade of biological events:

• Epidermal Turnover: Causes shedding of the damaged epidermis and stimulates rapid proliferation of new epidermal cells.
• Dermal Remodeling: The controlled inflammation in the dermis stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen, elastin, and ground substance. This neocollagenesis helps to improve skin firmness, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and improve textural irregularities.

This regenerative process leads to improvements in skin quality that can be more pronounced and longer-lasting than those achieved with superficial peels alone.

Clinical Applications & Patient Selection

Utilizing Filorga Time Peel effectively requires careful patient assessment and selection, particularly given its medium depth:

• Targeting Aging Signs: Time Peel is suited for patients with moderate facial wrinkles, noticeable photoaging (sun damage), significant textural changes, dullness, and potentially some types of atrophic scarring.
• Skin Type (Fitzpatrick): Medium-depth peels carry a higher risk of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), especially in patients with darker skin types (higher Fitzpatrick phototypes). Careful consideration, meticulous pre-treatment, and strict post-peel sun protection are paramount for these patients.
• Patient History: Assess for history of abnormal scarring (keloids, hypertrophic scars), recent isotretinoin use, active cold sores (requires antiviral prophylaxis), active inflammatory conditions (acne, rosacea flare), or recent facial procedures (waxing, laser, other peels).
• Pre-Treatment Preparation: Often, pre-treating the skin with topical agents (e.g., retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, hydroquinone or other lightening agents for darker skin types) for several weeks prior to the peel is recommended to optimize skin condition, promote even penetration, and reduce PIH risk.

Administration Technique & Protocol

Performing a medium-depth peel like Filorga Time Peel requires meticulous technique and strict adherence to the protocol:

• Aseptic Technique: Maintaining strict aseptic technique throughout the preparation and application process is mandatory to prevent infection.
• Pre-Peel Preparation: Cleanse and degrease the skin thoroughly using the **Filorga Pre Peel** solution or a similar degreasing agent to ensure uniform application.
• Application: Apply the peel solution evenly across the treatment area using appropriate tools (brushes, gauze). The number of layers and application time are based on the specific protocol and desired endpoint (e.g., uniform erythema, mild frosting).
• Monitoring Endpoint: Carefully monitor the skin’s reaction and the intended endpoint of the peel.
• Neutralization: Unlike some superficial peels, medium-depth peels like Time Peel require immediate and complete neutralization to stop the acid’s action and prevent further penetration. Use the **Filorga Post Peel** neutralizing solution generously across the entire treated area for the recommended time.
• Post-Procedure Care: Provide clear, detailed, and strict instructions for post-peel care. This includes gentle cleansing, using bland moisturizers to support the skin barrier, avoiding picking/peeling, and, most importantly, absolute, diligent broad-spectrum sun protection (SPF 30 or higher) with reapplication. Sun exposure is a major risk factor for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Safety Profile, Side Effects & Risk Management

Filorga Time Peel is generally safe when performed correctly by trained professionals, but carries a higher risk profile than superficial peels:

• Common Expected Effects: Significant redness and swelling are expected immediately and for a day or two. Peeling and shedding of the skin typically begin within 2-3 days and can last for several days (often 3-7 days), depending on the individual. Tightness and dryness are also common.
• Potential Complications:
  • Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): A significant risk, especially in darker skin types (higher Fitzpatrick phototypes) if not properly pre-treated or if sun exposure occurs post-peel. Careful patient selection, pre-treatment preparation (e.g., topical retinoids, hydroquinone where permissible), and strict sun protection are crucial.
  • Infection: Rare with superficial peels, but possible if aseptic technique is compromised during application or if post-peel skin is not cared for properly.
  • Scarring: Extremely rare with superficial peels, but theoretically possible with improper application or patient factors.
  • Prolonged Erythema: Redness that lasts longer than expected.
  • Allergic Reactions: Rare.

Patient Assessment is Key: Conduct a thorough skin assessment (including Fitzpatrick type), history of herpes simplex virus (requires antiviral prophylaxis), history of keloid scarring, and recent use of retinoids, waxing, or other procedures in the area. Ensure no active infection or inflammatory conditions (like active acne or rosacea flare) at the treatment site.

Post-Peel Care: Provide clear, strict instructions for post-peel care, emphasizing gentle cleansing, hydration, and absolute, diligent sun protection (broad-spectrum SPF 30+). Sun exposure is a major risk factor for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Sourcing Authentic Filorga® Time Peel

The safety and efficacy of medium-depth peels like Filorga Time Peel are directly dependent on the product’s precise acid concentration, pH, and quality. Using counterfeit or improperly stored peel solutions may have incorrect acid concentrations, contamination, or altered pH, leading to unpredictable penetration, ineffective treatment, or adverse reactions. Always purchase genuine Filorga products, including the Filorga Light Peel and Filorga Bright Peel (as part of the system), from reputable, licensed suppliers who guarantee authenticity and proper handling.

Conclusion: The Filorga® Peel System for Targeted Skin Rejuvenation

The Filorga® Time Peel system, with its specific formulations for normal and sensitive skin (alongside the essential PRE and POST PEEL solutions), offers practitioners effective medium-depth chemical peels. These peels provide a valuable tool for addressing more significant signs of aging, photoaging, and textural concerns by triggering significant regeneration. Successful and safe utilization requires a high level of expertise, including careful patient selection, meticulous adherence to protocol and aseptic technique, comprehensive post-peel care instructions, and, fundamentally, sourcing authentic, high-quality product. Leveraging this system allows practitioners to address diverse patient skin quality concerns effectively and safely.

Doris Dickson

About the Author: Doris Dickson is a specialist writer for Health Supplies Plus, focusing on the aesthetic medicine industry. She diligently researches cosmetic treatments and products to provide clear, concise information relevant to licensed medical professionals. Her work supports Health Supplies Plus’s commitment to being a reliable informational resource and trusted supplier for the aesthetic community.

 

Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and is directed towards licensed medical professionals. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it constitute an endorsement of any specific product or technique. Practitioners must rely on their own professional judgment, clinical experience, and knowledge of patient needs, and should always consult the full product prescribing information and relevant clinical guidelines before use. Health Supplies Plus does not provide medical advice.