WHAT IS CHEMICAL PEELING?
Chemical peel is an in-office procedure performed by a certified dermatologist. A chemical agent is applied on the skin, after which the top layer of the skin peels off eventually. The new skin is usually more even and smoother. Chemical peels are done on the face, neck or hands. They are aimed at improving your skin’s overall appearance and are usually made of chemicals like glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid (phenol). The 3 basic types of chemical peels are:
Superficial peel: A mild acid is used to penetrate only the top layer of the skin. It is used to treat slight skin discoloration and rough skin. A superficial peel is also called lunchtime peel.
Medium Peel: Middle layers of the skin are exfoliated using acids like glycolic acid. It can be used to treat age spots, wrinkles, fine lines, freckles and skin discoloration.
Deep peel: An acid like trichloroacetic acid is used to deeply penetrate the middle layers of the skin. Deep peels can have a great impact on the skin. Scars, freckles and age spots can be treated with deep peels.
BENEFITS OF PEEL
You’ll be surprised to know that chemical peels are more than just skin exfoliators. Besides removing dead skin cells, chemical peels can also reduce fine lines around the eyes and mouth and address wrinkles caused by sun damage. The procedure fades away acne scars, age spots, freckles, dark patches, melasma and dark spots as well.
PROCEDURE
During a chemical peel, the therapist or doctor applies the solution to small areas on the skin. During the procedure, most patients experience a warm to somewhat hot sensation that lasts about 5 to 10 minutes, followed by a stinging sensation. Cool compresses may be applied to help alleviate this stinging.
