Chemical Peels are an accelerated form of exfoliation using chemical ingredients to remove layers of tired skin. It works by inducing injury to the epidermis and the superficial dermis resulting in elastotic, aged and photo damaged skin being removed and replaced with a new collagen-rich layer. Therefore, is a very popular treatment for skin rejuvenation.
CHEMICAL PEELS ARE INDICATED TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF:
- Fine to medium wrinkles
- Moderate photodamage
- Discoloration problems
- Superficial acne scars
- Rough skin
- Freckles
- Greasy and acne prone skin
There are many types of chemical peels preparation, the choice of the appropriate peel depends on the specific indications, the depth of the desired peeling, your skin phototype and your expectations.
The most common chemical peels are:
- Tricholoracetic Acid (TCA) – is used as an intermediate to deep peeling agent in concentrations ranging from 20-70%.
- Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) such as:
- Glycolic acid(derived from sugar cane)
- Citric acid (citrus-derived)
- Lactic acid(found naturally in the body and fermented milk)
- Malic acid (derived from apples)
- Tartaric acid (derived from grapes), etc
- Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) such as:
- Salicylic acid(closely related to aspirin, which is acetyl-salicylic acid)
Multiple compounds may also be used depending on the targeted problem. An example of a combined peel is Jessner’s peel (i.e. 14% salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol in an ethanol base)
