UNDERSTANDING CHEMICAL PEELS

Chemical peels: what are they and how do they work?

                   

Chemicals and peeling does sounds like a scary combination, doesn’t it? When you think of chemicals on your skin, a lot of safety concerns arise and you wonder how is it going to affect your skin? If it is safe to use or if you could just be exposing yourself to something potentially dangerous. Hence, my interest in the whole concept of chemical peels.

Chemical is defined as a substance used in or produced by a reaction involving the change to atoms and molecules. Whereas, Peeling is the removal of the outer covering of an object by tearing or stripping it off. Therefore the definition of chemical peels is the use of a chemical solution to remove the outer layer and in this case, it is the technique used in the beauty industry to remove old skin layers that are damaged to encourage the regrowth of new skin that looks younger and smoother. The treatment is typically done on the face to resurface skin with acne, wrinkles, scars and discolouration or any other form of hyperpigmentation. It can also be used on the neck, arms and other parts of the body.

              

Chemical peels are done on different depths using different acidic chemical solutions depending on the condition being treated and the results desired from the treatment. Below are the different type of chemical peels:

•  Light chemical peel a mild diluted acidic chemical solution (alphahydroxy acid) is used superficially to remove the epidermis (top dead layer of the skin) usually to treat acne, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. Its mildness makes it suitable for most skin types and it can be done weekly to achieve the desired results without any adverse reaction to the treatment.

• Medium chemical peel in this type of chemical peel slightly strong chemical solution (TCA) penetrate deeply into the epidermis and dermis layers of skin causing a burn to the skin and blisters which eventually peel off as the skin heals. Used to treat stretch marks, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Recovery period necessary before a follow up treatment.

• Deep chemical peel a strong chemical such as phenol is normally used to penetrate several layer of the skin and cause second degree burns. It can takes approximately 2 weeks  for the burns to dry and peel off.  It is advisable to only this type of treatment yearly to allow all the skin layers (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) to fully recover. 

After the treatment, patients are advised to avoid the sun and apply sunscreen for several months to avoid sun damage to their sensitized skin.  The recovery period may be slow and it is important to follow the doctors’s instructions until full recovery to achieve the desired results.