Our skin sustains a lot of damage on a regular basis. Whether it’s because of acne, sun exposure, or just general aging, skin can easily end up looking less than its best.
Maybe there’s no need for an invasive cosmetic surgical procedure, but a little regeneration and renewal beyond basic facial care would be nice. In these situations, people have come to rely on chemical peels—a treatment whereby a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or skin care specialist places a chemical solution on a person’s facial skin that, when peeled off, reveals smoother, less wrinkled skin underneath.
Chemical peels are a great option for treating things like age spots, hyperpigmentation, some mild scars, sun damage, fine lines, freckles, and acne damage. It’s important to remember that more significant skin problems, such as sagging, bulges, or deep wrinkles, aren’t as easily treated by chemical peels and are more appropriately treated with procedures like facelifts or tissue fillers.
Wondering whether you’re a good candidate for a chemical peel? Only your doctor can say for sure, but chemical peels are a generally safe option for most candidates. The major exception is for those with a history of herpes outbreaks, as chemical peels can potentially cause cold sores to reactivate. People with lighter skin tend to see better results, as darker complexions can sometimes see discoloration.
Interested in undergoing a chemical peel? There are three levels you can choose from depending on your needs:
Superficial Peel
Also called a “lunchtime peel” because of how fast and easy this peel can be (that is, it can be done in the course of a lunchbreak), the superficial peel fixes mild skin discoloration and leaves your face and neck feeling refreshed. The superficial peel uses a mild acid like alphahydroxy acid to penetrate the outer layer of the skin. After a superficial peel, the skin usually takes about a week to heal, during which time you need to apply lotion every day.
Medium Peel
The second level is the medium peel, which is intended to smooth rough skin and improve wrinkles, fine lines, and mild to moderate skin discoloration. The medium peel involves glycolic or trichloroacetic acid, which penetrates the outer and middle layers of the skin to remove damaged skin cells. A medium peel often requires up to two weeks to heel, during which you’ll need to avoid sun exposure and treat your face to daily soakings. A lotion or ointment application may also be necessary.
Deep Peel
The most thorough level is the deep peel, which is intended to give you a significant difference in the appearance of your skin. With a deep peel, trichloroacetic acid is applied to penetrate beyond the middle layer of the skin and remove damaged cells, ultimately fixing moderate lines, shallow scars, and things like freckles and age spots. Because a deep peel is so intense, it will usually require the treated skin be bandaged afterward and soaked up to six times a day. For the first few weeks, ointment or thick moisturizer will likely need to be applied, and full recovery will likely take up to three weeks.
