I recently had the special honour of taking part as a speaker in an international webinar organised by the International Peeling Society (IPS) – a professional society dedicated to scientific exchange and the further development of peeling medicine. I was particularly pleased to be able to present this webinar together with Dr Marina Landau from Israel – an internationally recognised expert in the field of phenol peels and founding member of the IPS.
The interest in the event was overwhelming: over 750 participants from all over the world followed the webinar – a clear sign of the current relevance and the great interest in well-founded further training in the field of chemical peelings.
Phenol peeling – the 10 most important facts
My presentation was dedicated to the systematic processing and presentation of this highly effective but also demanding treatment method. I focussed on the following topics:
Mode of action of phenol and croton oil: insights into the biochemical mechanisms and the special deep effect that distinguishes phenol peeling from others.
Differentiation from other procedures: I explained how phenol peeling is positioned against other chemical peels and also against laser treatments – particularly with regard to indications, penetration depth and risks.
Indications – useful or risky? Not every patient is suitable for a phenol peel. I explained in which cases it makes sense to use it – such as sun damage with pronounced actinic elastosis – and in which cases it is not advisable.
Complications and how to avoid them: Patient safety was a key topic of my presentation. I spoke about possible undesirable effects – from pigmentation disorders to scarring – and explained how these can be avoided through careful preparation, precise execution and structured aftercare.
Practical case study: The presentation of a real case was particularly impressive. A patient presented to my practice with pronounced scars after an unsuccessful phenol peel – the original peel was not performed by me, but I took over the subsequent, demanding scar treatment. The case impressively emphasised how crucial experience and expertise are for the safe use of this method.
Finally, I focussed in particular on the complete phenol peeling treatment process – from the selection of suitable patients to structured pre-treatment, the actual procedure taking into account all safety aspects, through to optimal aftercare.
It was a great pleasure to share my knowledge with colleagues during this webinar. The lively professional discussion with Dr Marina Landau and the numerous participants showed that the exchange between experts is an indispensable component for the further development of our specialist field.
I look forward to continuing the dialogue with colleagues and to future IPS events.
