Chemical Peeling
A chemical peel is a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin on the face, neck, hands or full body. A chemical peel uses a solution which consists of fruit derived acids in low concentrations with balanced pH to remove layers of skin, revealing the more youthful skin. Chemical peels can reduce or improve fine lines and wrinkles, acne, scars, uneven skin coloring and other skin imperfections. The new, regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.
Chemical peels are used to treat certain skin conditions or to improve your appearance by improving the tone and texture of your skin.
Chemical peels are most commonly performed on your face, neck or hands. They can help reduce or improve:
- Fine lines under your eyes or around your mouth and wrinkling by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors.
- Certain types of acne.
- Mild scarring.
- Sun spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles, uneven skin coloring.
- Precancerous scaly spots called actinic keratosis.
- Rough skin, scaly patches, dull complexion.
- Dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills.
Sags, bulges, deep scars, deep facial lines and deep wrinkles don’t respond well to chemical peels. If these are your concerns, other cosmetic surgical procedures, such as carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, a face lift, brow lift, eye lift or soft tissue filler will be better options.
You can get a chemical peel in a doctor’s clinic.It is an outpatient procedure,no overnight stay needed.
The doctor will first clean your skin thoroughly. Then will apply one or more layers of solution — such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid (phenol) — to small areas of your skin. That creates a controlled wound, letting new skin to occur.
After a chemical peel, skin is temporary becomes sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is must every day. “Broad-spectrum” sunscreen meaning it protects against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Also SPF should be above 30. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and cover your face.