Are Deeper Chemical Peels

Yes, there are many incredible benefits to doing chemical peels as long as they are tailored for your skin type. It’s important first to understand how chemical peels work.

A chemical peel is a treatment that uses a chemical solution to exfoliate skin and improve its appearance. Old skin peels off, replaced by new, healthy skin. A peel accomplishes this by disrupting the bonds between dead skin cells and speeding up your skin cell turnover rate. Peels also cause your body’s fibroblast to increase collagen production, which improves skin firmness, evens out skin tone, helps prevent acne breakouts and causes acne scars to fade.

Peels are beneficial for many skin conditions, including hyperpigmentation, post inflammatory acne discoloration, and scarring left behind by pimples. Acne scarring occurs when internal inflammation attacks the bacteria inside the pores as a means of defense, which leads to post-inflammatory scarring. Furthermore, the more inflammation, the more likely the breakout can leave scarring.

When treating acne and acne scars, the optimal treatment option often incorporates a comprehensive skin care regimen, and the right skin care regimen will not only reduce the possibilities of future breakouts, but lessen the chances of future acne scarring. Although a series of chemical peels will offer improvement, incorporating other treatment options like micro-needling and laser resurfacing, when added to your skin care treatment plan, can promote better results. However, keep in mind multiple treatments are usually necessary for the correction of treating acne and acne scars.

Another common post acne condition is redness. Post acne discoloration typically is caused by an increase in blood vessels acting as a repair mechanism for your skin. By speeding skin cell replacement, peels help diminish inflammation and the rash-like appearance it causes.

Additionally, chemical peels are used to lighten and fade away hyperpigmentation. Some skin tones, particularly darker complexions, are inherently prone to hyperpigmentation, which leaves behind dark spots or splotches on the skin. Your dermatologist may recommend a topical hydroquinone- or other skin brighteners like Kojic or Glycolic Acids with Retinol- to lighten hyper-pigmentation. A series of superficial chemical peels like Salicylic Acid peels are also helpful for this particular purpose.

Chemical peels come in light, medium to higher percentages of strength. Swelling, redness, flaking and peeling are common after effects of all skin peel treatments. But once healing is complete, you’ll see an overall improvement in the texture and color of your skin.

For acne and other issues, a series of chemical peels work in tangent with other in-office treatments like laser resurfacing treatments. This combination can be very beneficial, but it’s imperative to talk to your dermatologist about your particular skin type and any concerns about different skin care regimens. Both treatments focus on regenerating the skin and can minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and texture.

Deeper chemical peels and laser resurfacing are treatments that penetrate further into the skin, thereby removing more of the outer layers of the skin. Although the more in-depth treatments may leave your skin with a fresher, healthier-looking skin once healing is complete, these treatments increase the recovery period. It is important that your skin tone and texture, as well as the depth and elevation of your scars, must all be taken into consideration when looking at different treatment options.

Your dermatologist may also prescribe topical products like hydroquinone to lighten pigment, as well as a retinoid to speed skin cell turnover and a steroid to prevent inflammation. Therefore it’s crucial that the provider administering these treatments is an experienced skin care practitioner.

Here is a variety of some types of chemical peels for your reference:

1. Glycolic Acid Peels- an alpha hydroxy acid-based chemical used for light peels.

2. Salicylic Acid Peels- a chemical used for light to medium peels. It is also an ingredient found in a Jessner’s Peel.

3. TCA-based Peels- a medium peel. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels treat more noticeable skin texture and tone issues.

4. Phenols- are deeper chemical peels. They are one of the strongest types of chemical skin peels available. They penetrate deep into the skin to treat severe wrinkles, sun damage, lines, and wrinkles. Phenol peels provide the most dramatic results because the skin creates new, thicker collagen. These peels are useful for treating deep wrinkles, lines, acne scars and more severe skin damage.

5. A Jessner’s Peel- this is a common name often used for a deeper chemical peel solution made from resorcinol, lactic and salicylic acids.

Although these peels may not be appropriate for all skin types with active breakouts, they can significantly stimulate new collagen production (depending on the strength). Regardless of the kind of peel, it’s always important to consult with a dermatologist to achieve a complete understanding of any possible side effects or complications to make sure you receive optimal results.