If your skin has age spots, acne, fine lines or excessive oiliness, and your condition is getting in the way of your social life, making you depressed or taking your confidence away from you, then a chemical peel might be just the thing for you.
Some types of chemical peel can even be self-administered in the home, but it is recommended to consult with your doctor first.
A Chemical Peel is a process that causes the skin to blister and eventually peel off. he idea is that by taking off this top layer of skin, all the age spots and fine lines on that layer will peel off with it. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled.
There are 3 main types of chemical peel:
1. Alpha Hydroxyacid Peels
The mildest of the chemical peels, this is derived from sugar cane juice and lactic acid, found in sour milk and tomato juice. It
does not work as deeply or as intensively as the other peels, so can be mixed with
moisturizer in a
daily skin-care regimen. Best for
fine wrinkles, age spots and adult acne.
2. Trichloroacetic Acid Peels
This is a deeper peel that is always administered by a licensed professional. Overuse, or use of a very high concentration, can result
in scarring. Trichloroacetic Acid Peels are often used for darker skin patients, and will also treat all the skin conditions that
Alpha Hydroxyacid peels can treat.
3. Phenol Peels
The strongest of the chemical peels, Phenol peels penetrate deep into the skin and must be used very carefully. Improvements in skin
condition can be dramatic though, and can last for years. They can remove sun spots, deep wrinkles and even precancerous growths. They also
require patients to stay out of the sun though, and sometimes take months to heal fully.
If you have wrinkles, age spots, adult acne, dry areas, uneven pigmentation or sun damage, a chemical peel could work for you. Some deeper peels pose risks for patients with heart problems, so be sure to tell your doctor your full medical history.
Recovery from a chemical peel depends on the type of peel. A basic Alpha Hydroxyacid peel requires no recovery time and patients can continue their lives as before the peel. However, a stronger, Phenol peel will require to wear sun block for months afterwards, or even for the rest of their life. Full healing in the skin can also take up to 6 months.
Patients with heart conditions should avoid all but the gentlest of chemical peels. Patients should also be aware that a deep peel can lighten their skin pigmentation on a permanent basis, as well as permanently removing freckles.
