Chemical peel, Botox combination may optimize skin appearance outcomes

Key takeaways:

• Severity of wrinkles, pigmentation and tonality improved by 60%, 59% and 70%, respectively.
• 96% of participants said they would repeat the treatment and 100% felt their skin looked better.

Correcting skin pigmentation, tonality and texture with a combination of chemical peels and neurotoxins may maximize the benefits of both therapies, according to a study.

“Chemical peels and neurotoxins have been used cosmetically to improve patient concerns as monotherapies,” Wendy E. Roberts, MD, FAAD, and Nancy Miller, RN, MBA, both of Generational & Cosmetic Dermatology, Rancho Mirage, California, wrote. “This study aimed to confirm that the same day treatment combination creates no additional side effects, and that patient results and satisfaction are heightened as a result.”

Of the 24 patients aged 30 to 70 years that completed the study, more than 69% identified as having skin of color. At the beginning of the trial, participants received a VI Peel (Vitality Institute) that was applied in five to six layers at 1-minute intervals and then immediately followed by Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan).

Results showed that 30 days post-treatment, Wrinkle Severity Scale scores decreased from 1.46 to 0.59, indicating a 60% improvement. Uniformity of Pigment Scale scores dropped from 2.27 to 0.92, representing a 59% improvement, and Skin Tone Scale scores showed a 70% improvement with a decrease from 2.35 to 0.71.

These findings were supported by subjective reports as well. Participants were given a survey at baseline where they rated their satisfaction with their skin’s sun spots, wrinkles and texture on a scale of 1 (least satisfied) to 10 (most satisfied).

After 7 days on treatment, there was an increase in satisfaction from baseline with sunspots (4.5 to 8.25), wrinkles (4.53 to 8.39) and texture (4.97 to 8.62). By day 30, 96% of respondents said they would repeat the treatment and 100% felt their skin looked better.

According to the researchers, there were no adverse events or serious adverse events associated with this combination treatment and all outcomes were highly positive.

“VI Peel prepped the skin and provided the antiseptic cleanse needed before the botulinum toxin injections,” the authors explained concerning the treatment’s success. “Introducing novel standardized treatments in the aesthetic space not only allows for safer more effective treatments but engages consumers with results that continue weeks beyond the initial intervention.”