Chemical Skin Peels
Chemical peels can be used on the face, as well as on the neck and hands, to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sunspots and discoloration. The chemicals cause exfoliation and the eventual peeling of layers of skin. How much skin is removed depends on which chemicals are used, and the chemicals used depend on your needs.
Superficial Chemical Peel
This type of chemical peel is designed to exfoliate only the outermost layer of skin, which is usually comprised of mostly dead skin cells. This can make your skin appear much brighter while it also smooths away rough skin usually caused by dry, dead skin cells. It can also make light discoloration less visible. The gentle exfoliation can be achieved with alpha-hydroxy acid or another mild acid or exfoliant.
Medium Chemical Peel
A medium chemical peel utilizes acids or chemicals that are a bit stronger and penetrate the middle layers of skin. When these layers are exfoliated, it takes with them skin cells that are damaged and discoloured. Rough skin is also removed, along with any small, precancerous growths. A medium chemical peel is a form of preventative skin cancer treatment. Age spots and freckles, along with fine lines and deeper wrinkles, can also be lessened or removed completely with a chemical peel like this. Two commonly used acids in this process are glycolic or trichloroacetic acid.
Deep Chemical Peel
If the issues go deeper into the layers of facial skin, then a deep chemical peel may be necessary. It is important to remember that a chemical peel this deep can only be done once, no matter how much time has passed if you have had one previously. While other chemical peels can treat the neck or hands, this can only treat the face. Stronger chemicals such as trichloroacetic acid or phenol can penetrate deep into the middle layer of facial skin and remove damaged skin cells as well as deeper wrinkles and even shallow scars like those left behind by acne. A deep chemical peel can produce dramatic results.
Note: Before any chemical peel is recommended, it is important that your skin is thoroughly evaluated by Dr Rupali.
