What are Chemical Skin Peels ?

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Chemical Peels are skin-resurfacing procedures used to improve and smooth the texture of your skin on the face, neck, hands and body.

A chemical solution is applied to the skin that causes it to exfoliate and peel off. The new regenerated skin is smoother, more even in skin tone and rejuvenated.

Chemical Skin Peels can be done alone or in combination with other cosmetic procedures.

There are three basic types of peels:

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1. Superficial or lunchtime Peel: A light (superficial) peel removes the outer layer of skin to gently exfoliate it. The treatment is used to improve the appearance of rough skin, mild skin discolouration, skin texture, acne and fine wrinkles. Due to the mildness of this peel, regular treatment is needed to maintain its effect. You can have a light chemical peel as often as every two to four weeks, depending on your desired results.

2.  Medium Peel: A medium chemical peel is applied to penetrate the the outer layer of skin (epidermis) as well as the upper part of your middle layer of skin (dermis). Acne scars, deeper wrinkles and uneven skin colour can all be treated with a medium depth peel. We often use agents like Jessner's solution, Glycolic acid or TCA ( trichloroacetic acid ).

3. Deep Chemical Peel: This peel is ideal for deeper facial wrinkles, sun damaged skin and even pre-cancerous growths. A stronger chemical called phenol or TCA is used to penetrate down to the lower dermal layer of your skin. For this type of peel, you may need a local anaesthetic and a sedative to manage any discomfort. A deep peel usually involves a pretreatment for up to eight weeks that will prepare your skin for the peel and speed up the healing process. This procedure can only be performed once and has a longer downtime.

 

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What are Chemical Peels used for?

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• Acne

• Acne scars and atrophic scars 

• Lifting and rejuvenation

• Reducing wrinkles and fine lines

• Pigmentation and sun damage

• Melasma

• Age spots

• Wrinkles

• Skin laxity 

• Minimising pore size

• Skin texture

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What should first be done before considering a Chemical Peel?

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Before you move forward with completing your peel a  thorough skincare evaluation will be carried out by your practitioner in order to determine if you are suitable for the procedure and that it will fulfil your expectations. This involves a physical exam of your skin and getting all your questions answered before you decide to proceed.

At this exam, you will need to disclose all health conditions and any medication that you take.

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You are not suitable for the treatment if:

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There are certain conditions that may prevent you from being a candidate. Some of these conditions include:

• Unusual skin pigmentations

• A keloid scarring history

• Severe nodulocystic acne or Acne 

• Recent sun exposure

• Any heart, kidney or liver conditions if you are considering a deep chemical peel.

• Promotes scar-less healing and natural collagen reproduction

• Tightening, lifting and rejuvenation of the skin

• Induces natural collagen production

• Heals scars caused by acne and wounds

• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines around the face and other areas.

• Reducing stretch marks incurred during pregnancy or due to obesity

• Improves overall skin tone and texture

• Improves skin texture on the neck

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After the procedure:

 

After a chemical peel of any depth, follow your practitioner''s directions for cleansing, moisturizing and applying protective ointments to your skin.

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After a light chemical peel, treated skin will be red, dry and mildly irritated — although these effects might be less noticeable with each repeat treatment. 

Treated areas take about one to seven days to heal after a light chemical peel. New skin might temporarily be lighter or darker than normal. A sunblock should be used daily.

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After a medium chemical peel, treated skin will be red, tight and swollen. You'll feel stinging.

Use ice packs or the breeze from a fan for comfort. Over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, such as ibuprofen may help reduce any discomfort. You'll likely schedule a checkup soon after your treatment so that your practitioner can monitor your healing.

As swelling decreases, treated skin will begin to form a crust and might darken or develop brown blotches. Treated areas take about 7 to 14 days to heal after a medium chemical peel and high factor SPF is non-negotiable .

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After a deep chemical peel, you'll experience severe redness and swelling. You'll also feel burning and throbbing, and your eyelids might swell shut.

Your doctor will apply a watertight dressing to treated skin. He or she might also prescribe painkillers. Sleeping in a semireclined position may help reduce swelling.

Treated areas will develop new skin within about two weeks after a deep chemical peel, although cysts or white spots might appear for several weeks and redness might last for months. Treated skin might become darker or lighter than normal or lose the ability to tan.

You might prefer to remain at home while you're healing from a chemical peel. Once new skin completely covers the treated area in about two weeks, you can use cosmetics to conceal any redness.

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Results

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A light chemical peel can improve skin texture and tone, as well as decrease the appearance of fine wrinkles. The results will be subtle at first, but will increase with repeated treatments. After a light chemical peel, avoid sun exposure until new skin completely covers the treated area.

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If you have a medium chemical peel, treated skin will be noticeably smoother after the procedure. Your practitioner will recommend avoiding sun exposure for several months.

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After a deep chemical peel, you'll see a dramatic improvement in the look and feel of treated areas. You'll need to protect your skin from the sun permanently to prevent changes in skin color.

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Keep in mind that chemical peel results might not be permanent. As you age you'll continue to acquire lines by squinting and smiling. New sun damage also can reverse your results and cause changes in your skin color.

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What Chemical Peels we offer at Spectra Clinic?

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• BioRePeel

• Black Peel (acne)

• Melasma Peel

• Glycolic Peel

• Acne Peel