Chemical Peel Facts - Is It Right For You

Nowadays, there are a lot of options available towards getting that youthful glow for your skin. From the most complicated of plastic surgeries, to a simple face lift or chemical peel - there are about a hundred options that one can choose from to remove dead skin cells and get rid of that old, wrinkled look to give your spirits a lift and your morale a boost.

1. Skin Damage

When we go out and get exposed to sunlight, the outer layer of our skin gets damaged and dead skin cells remain embedded on our skin, resulting from the dirt that gets stuck to the pores. Thus, as we grow old, the skin looks more dull and lifeless. When you add the acne scars, freckles and other facial blemishes, you really would like to have an option to restore that youthful glow that only movie stars seem to exude on screen, no matter how old or young they are.

2. What Is A Chemical Peel?

If you would not like to go for the surgical and more complicated procedures such as face lift and plastic surgery, chemical peel is definitely an option for you. There are three basic types of chemical peel that you can choose from, depending your individual need and skin type. Basically, a chemical peel is a procedure wherein the dead skin cells and the damaged outer layers of the skin are removed. There is that chemical word in the term because a chemical solution is used to smoothen or even out the texture of the skin. Eventually, the chemical applied causes the skin to peel off, hence the term chemical peel. This is typically done on the face, neck or hands. The procedure also enhances your overall look by removing the damaged outer skin layers. This is applicable and recommended for people with uneven skin tones, for people with wrinkles and facial scars from pimple/acne, and for people who just need to improve their skin texture.

3. Mild Peel

This procedure removes the superficial skin layer. This is the most skin-friendly type of peel and may be performed on all skin types. It is used to treat simple acne and pimple scars and uneven skin pigmentation. The chemical peel involves a dilute acid solution, which normally stays on the skin for a few minutes. After the chemical has been applied, the skin is neutralized with water, then the solution is wiped off. This type of peeling procedure produces a light peel, and will result to a smoother and brighter-looking skin and improved skin texture.

4. Medium Peel

This procedure goes a little beyond the superficial layer of the skin. After the treatment, the person undergoing the procedure will experience a sun-burned look and the skin might look chafed. The chemical solution stays longer on the skin, as compared to mild peels. This is applicable for people with more sun-damaged skin types, and can treat wrinkles as well as uneven skin pigmentation.

5. Deep Peel (RARELY USED)

As compared to the mild and medium-depth peel, the chemical used for this type of peeling goes through several skin layers. This can treat more pronounced skin pigmentations and wrinkles, as well as pre-cancerous growths. Moreover, this has more medical complications and considerations so it is better to consult a medical professional before undergoing a deep chemical peel. The procedure will definitely take a longer time, about more than an hour, for the chemical applied on the affected skin to take effect. However, the results are more glaring than the first two types.

After the treatment, whether you opt to go for a mild, medium-depth or deep peel, the person who underwent the procedure will experience redness of the skin. This will be followed by scaling, then peeling. The number of days that the skin will peel depends on the strength of the treatment. It is also important to avoid sun exposure after undergoing the chemical peel procedure. Finally, it is always good to consult a medical professional before undergoing any procedure, to be on the safe side. It is better to know every detail about the treatment that you would like to undergo, so that you would know how your skin would be treated and what to expect right after the treatment.