As our skin ages, dead skin cells are not eliminated easily from the face as in the younger days making the skin appear dull. Chemical peels are a highly accepted non-invasive dermatological process employed to eliminate the top layer of the skin. This has proven results in improving the skin tone, sun damage, and pigmentation problems. Enhancing skin health will give a more youthful appearance to your skin while restoring a healthy, glowing, and attractive look.
Types of chemical peels:
There are three types of chemical peels depending on their strength and actions:
1. Superficial Peels: These are also termed as lunchtime peels as they have minimal to no downtime. These peels are known to enter the skin gently, exfoliate the skin, and are best suited for mild skin issues like discoloration or roughness. A mild acid will be employed to penetrate the top layer of the skin as it will only be used to treat minor issues.
2. Medium Peels: A slightly more strong acid will be employed in deeply penetrating the middle layers of the skin to have a slightly stronger impact than superficial peels. They penetrate to middle layers of the skin and target the damaged cells while best for moderate skin issues like fine lines, superficial scarring, discoloration, or age spots. Medium peels have also been used effectively in the handling of precancerous skin developments.
3. Deep Peel: As the name tells, these peels go deeper into the skin layers by targeting the damaged cells. It is used effectively against severe scarring, deep wrinkles, and skin discoloration.
Steps to a Successful Chemical Peel:
Below are 15 major steps involved in a successful chemical process:
- You will be advised to not scrub, wax, massage, or bleach for a week before the procedure and also stop using certain blood-thinning medications as per the advice of your doctor.
- Your treatment must be carried out by a qualified skincare specialist in a hygienic setting.
- The doctor will start by covering the hair and eyes and cleaning the face.
- The doctor may employ sedative or local anesthesia depending on the type of peel that is administrated. Light peels usually do not require any of these.
- Peels are applied to the target regions or the entire face depending on the type of skin issues. The experience of the skin doctor will be handy in such situations.
- The chemical solution is applied gently according to the requirement and procedure using a cotton pad, sponge, swab, or brush.
- There might be a minor tingling sensation during light or medium peel or a burning sensation during the deep peel. These sensations are very minimal for both light and medium peels but a bit harsh on deep peels. They are manageable and fade off in some time.
- Peeling solution is applied to the target region and allowed to settle for a stipulated time followed by a neutralizing solution. This depends on the type of chemical peel applied to the precise individual.
- The amount of settling time for the solution is dependent on the changes in skin appearances for every individual.
- Various types of chemical peels show their results depending on their included ingredients and their strength. The intensity of peeling is also reliant on the factors like how they act on a particular skin type and their application on the skin.
- There will be no downtime after a light peel hence no covering or after-peel lotions may be needed. It is dependent on the experience of the skin doctor and the skin type of the individual.
- But a deep peel will demand the usage of thick petroleum jelly coating or other suggested ointment over the target region. This is to safeguard the protective layer that forms over the treated region which remains for a couple of days.
- A bandage may also be needed in some cases like heavily wrinkled skin. This is mainly done if a deep peel is used in the treatment for severe issues.
- Skin will be highly prone to sun damage after the chemical peel. Hence it is important to safeguard the skin with a suggested sunscreen. Despite this, try to stay away from the sun rays especially during the middle part of the day.
- There may be some amount of redness and scaling for a week after the treatment, hence you may have to follow the guidance without fail.
What Age Is Good for A Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel can be started at any age as it also helps in keeping the skin healthy if performed at a young age. You will be thrilled to know that chemical peels are a bit more than skin cleansers. Along with the actions of eliminating dead skin cells, chemical peels can also decrease fine lines around the eyes and mouth and treats the wrinkles triggered by sun damage. It is a misconception that chemical peels are just for aging skin. Even younger individuals with acne issues can find a solution with them as they can open clogged pores and eliminate the blackheads.
Chemical Peel’s Side Effects:
- Side effects of chemical peels are usually observed if done by inexperienced professionals.
- People with facial discoloration instances may face the issues of a permanent change in skin tone. Even women who are pregnant or taking birth control pills are advised against this treatment.
- There is also a rare chance of scarring that may last for a lifetime.
- In some people, a chemical peel can trigger an infection like herpes, a virus that’s
- responsible for cold sores.
Bottom Line:
Are you worried about age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, or similar skin concerns? At-home skin treatments are good for the skin but sometimes aren’t sufficient to maintain fresh and glowing skin. RAW Aesthetics and Wellness offer a range of chemical peels to help remove dull, dead skin and reveal younger, brighter skin. They are precisely crafted by doctors and are effectively employed for skin resurfacing and anti-aging benefits.
