Chemical Peel Review
A chemical peel is one of the oldest treatments in cosmetic dermatology to give a patient revitalised skin tone. The reason being is that a chemical peel is going to be a powerful exfoliation therapy. When you exfoliate the skin effectively, you are removing layers of dead skin cells to reveal fresher, newer skin underneath. Skin that is ready to receive hydration, be brighter in tone, and smoother in texture are just a few of the benefits. This is a cosmetic therapy that is meant to be done on an ongoing basis. You can have this performed every 4-6 weeks at the most. If you don’t feel like going that often, you can see how your skin reacts to the procedure.
Chemical Peels Are Quite Popular
According to the Australasian Collage of Dermatologists, this is the number three procedure in all of the “non-invasive cosmetic” treatments. It follows Botox, and soft tissue fillers like Juvederm in popularity. In the treatment, different kinds of acids are used to gently exfoliate the skin. Depending on where you go to receive the chemical peel will determine what kinds of acids they use. More advanced treatments, use a variety of different combinations like, AHAs, beta hydroxy acids, and retinol based peels. They are all geared towards the same results, just with different chemical ingredients. Some are better tolerated than others, but it depends on your specific skin type. Your specialist will customise the right combination for you. Here are some other things you might not know about a chemical peel, one of the oldest cosmetic treatments available.
The History Of The Cosmetic Peel
Even the ancient Egyptians used some form of the chemical peel concept for their skin. This was obviously in the very early days of skin care therapy. The modern versions of chemical peels began to gain popularity in the early 1980’s in dermatology offices. They found that by using a combination of different acids, you could effectively remove dead skin cells with very little manual exfoliation. Plus, it was safe for the skin with very little side effects. Those mainly had to do with a person’s skin being a little red after the treatment. It’s similar to how a mild sunburn looks.
Different Types Of Chemical Peels
Peels are classified into three different types. The “lunchtime peel”, “medium peel,” or “deep peel.” You can tell by the names how intensive each specific type will be. Obviously a lunchtime peel is the most lightweight of all the peels. What the name designates is that you could feasibly have this peel at your lunch hour, return to work, and no one would really know because it causes minimal redness.
When you get into more advanced peels, there is going to be more redness afterwards and possible some flaking off of dead skin. This is a normal part of the process, so you shouldn’t worry too much about it.
What Does It Improve?
The chemical peel can target a litany of skin issues. Things like fine lines and wrinkles will be minimised, since the newer skin is going to be less dehydrated. It can also significantly improve the look of age, sun, or darker spots that are causing uneven skin tone. This is truly a great choice for someone that has been exposed to unprotected sun for years on end. Sun damage is the number one ageing factor in the skin. Chemical peels can erase some of that damage over a few treatments. It’s best to keep up with regular peels to maintain the results.
An Important Note
Due to the more sensitive new layers of skin that are revealed after a chemical peel, it’s vital to use sun protection daily. Try to use at least an SPF 30, or even higher if you are going to be outside for long periods of time. Skin can also be a little more sensitive to the sun when exposed to certain acids and retinoids. Taking care to make sure you wear a sun hat for added protection is a terrific idea. Your skin will thank you later for it with less sun spots, lines, and better texture.
