Chemical Skin Peel — A Painless Solution to Beautify Your Skin

A chemical skin peel is a skin removal and renewal technique that works to remove old skin so that fresh new layers of skin can grow in place. This procedure is a popular treatment for skin conditions like acne, allowing for a controlled removal of problematic skin, that can range in strength and extend, from superficial peels with mild acids to deeper and more penetrating peels that reach down several skin layers. The result is the improved appearance (and health) of the treated skin, as it regenerates into smoother and healthier layers.

Chemical skin peel solutions vary in strength, from superficial glycolic acid peals to medium depth peels and deeper phenol peels. Some medium-depth peels and even lighter peels can achieve similar results to a one-time deep peel treatment, through repeated sessions. This is a safer and more painless approach to skin treatment for those who want less risk and much shorter recovery time between treatments.

Different types of chemical peels often contain TCAs or trichloroacetic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, or phenol. Depending on the solution contents and concentration, your dermatologist can control the peel depth and the number of layers of skin that the treatment will remove.

In a TCA chemical skin peel, trichloroacetic acid is applied to the skin area being treated (e.g. the face, hands, neck, or other exposed skin areas). TCA is commonly used for spot peeling of particular skin areas and in cases where less bleaching is required. Depending on the method of application and the concentration of the solution, TCA skin peels can be used for light, medium, or deep peeling.

A popular deep chemical skin peel comes in the form of the phenol peel. Phenol is usually recommended for severely sun-damaged and wrinkled skin. While this chemical treatment is useful in treating deep wrinkles in common problem areas like the area around the mouth, it permanently bleaches the skin, which leaves an obvious line of demarcation between treated and untreated areas.

Other chemical skin peels come in the form of lactic acid lotions, which help treat conditions like keratosis pilaris, which is typically caused by keratin buildup. There are also at-home chemical peels which are much less concentrated than what dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons use. Just the same, always make sure to consult with your doctor before using any over the counter product or undergoing chemical skin peel treatment to address different kinds of skin problems.