All You Ever Needed to Know About Chemical Peels

Time affects everyone. The natural aging process, the effects of gravity, sun damage and environmental pollution can cause our facial skin to wrinkle, sag and develop blemishes and lines.

If your face is beginning to betray your age, you may be considering facial rejuvenation treatments. There are many different types of treatments, and the ones you choose will depend on the amount of correction needed.

Chemical peels are an effective non-invasive procedure to rejuvenate the skin, improve skin tone and correct the signs of aging.

What do chemical peels treat?

Chemical peels are usually used to treat the skin of the face, neck and hands—the areas which betray our age.
Chemical peels:

• correct wrinkles caused by UV damage
• treat fine lines round the eyes and mouth caused by squinting or smoking
• reduce acne and other mild scars
• improve the appearance of freckles and age spots

How do chemical peels work?

Chemical peels are carefully formulated chemical solutions developed by dermatologists. They exfoliate the skin by reacting to the upper layer, which consists of dead or damaged skin cells, causing it to peel off.

There are light and medium chemical peels. Your cosmetic dermatologist will recommend the best peel for your own unique esthetic goals.

Light chemical peels

Light chemical peels exfoliate the dead skin cells from the epidermis: the top layer of skin. Light peels can usually be repeated monthly.

Medium chemical peels

Medium chemical peels are used to treat both the epidermis and deeper levels of skin, known as the dermis. Medium peels can be repeated every few months.

How long do chemical peels last?

Chemical peels rejuvenate the skin by promoting the creation of new skin cells. However, skin cells regenerate in about 30 days, which results in a new fine layer of dead skin cells. To keep the skin looking clear and fresh these dead skin cells must be exfoliated.

Your rejuvenated skin is temporarily more susceptible to sun damage, so you must wear sun screen and limit your exposure to the sun after a chemical peel.

Types of chemical peels

Your cosmetic dermatologist will recommend the most appropriate peel to for your skin. These peels include:

• PCA Peel
• Mandelic Acid Peel
• AFA Clay Peel
• Obagi Blue Peel
• TCA Peel
• Sensi Peel
• Retinol Peel
• Jessner’s Peel

Home chemical peels: less effective

You can purchase chemical peels to apply at home, but due these home kits are not as effective as the chemical peels applied by cosmetic dermatologists, as the home kits contain weaker active ingredients. Home peels also have a higher pH balance, which means they are less effective at reducing unwanted pigmentation.