Overview:

Face peels/chemical peels can improve the skin’s appearance. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, which makes it blister and eventually peel off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.

It can be done on the face, neck, or hands. They can be used to:

• Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
• Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and ageing
• Improve the appearance of mild scars
• Treat certain types of acne
• Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or take birth control pills
• Improve the look and feel of skin

After a face peel/chemical peel skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so wear sunscreen every day. Also, it should be a physical sunscreen and be above SPF 30. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear a wide-brimmed hat. ease of sun damage may improve after chemical peeling.

Who Is a Good Candidate For a Chemical Peel?

• Generally, fair-skinned and light-haired patients are better candidates for chemical peels. If you have darker skin, you may also have good results, depending upon the type of problem being treated. But you also may be more likely to have an uneven skin tone after the procedure.
• Skin sags, bulges, and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels.

Procedure description:

During a light chemical peel:

• Your cosmetologist will use a brush, cotton ball, gauze or sponge to apply a chemical solution typically containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid. 
• You might feel mild stinging while the chemical solution is on your skin for up to 10 minutes.
• Your cosmetologist will apply a neutralizing solution or wash treated skin to remove the chemical solution.

During a medium chemical peel:

• Your cosmetologist will use a cotton-tipped applicator or gauze to apply a chemical solution containing trichloroacetic acid, sometimes in combination with glycolic acid. The treated skin will begin to whiten.
• After a few minutes, your cosmetologist will apply cool compresses to soothe treated skin. You might also be given a hand-held fan to cool your skin. No neutralizing solution is needed, however.
• You might feel stinging and burning for up to 20 minutes.

During a deep chemical peel:

• Your cosmetologist will use a cotton-tipped applicator to apply carbolic acid (phenol) to your skin. Treated skin will begin to turn white or grey.
• To limit your exposure to phenol, your doctor will do the procedure in portions at 10- to 20-minute intervals. A full-facial procedure might take 60 to 90 minutes.

How Chemical Peels Are Done

• You can get a chemical peel in a medispa centre. 
• The cosmetologist who does your peel will first clean your skin thoroughly. Then they will apply one or more chemical solutions -such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid (phenol) – to small areas of your skin. That creates a controlled wound, letting new skin take its place.

What To Expect After the Chemical Peel

The recovery period following a chemical peel will vary depending on the type of peel you opted for. However, in general, here’s what you can expect: 

• The duration of the recovery period can range from three to 14 days, depending on the type of chemical peel. 
• For most peels, you can expect a recovery time of five to seven days. 
• Following the procedure, your skin will dry out. During this time, you must drink plenty of water
• Avoid washing your face for at least 24 hours following your peel. 
• Over the next few days, your skin will begin to peel. The most intense peeling will occur during the middle days of your recovery
• You may also experience some irritation, crusting, or skin redness. However, if you notice any bleeding or oozing, you must contact your cosmetologist straight away.

Possible Complications

• Some skin types are more likely to develop a temporary or permanent colour change in the skin after a chemical peel. 
• There is a low risk of scarring in certain areas of the face. Some people may be more likely to scar. If scarring does happen, it can usually be treated with good results.

Myth vs facts:

MYTH 1: CHEMICAL PEELS ARE UNSAFE

Fact: Chemical peels have been around for a long time and for good reason. They’re a highly effective way to minimize scarring, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and even out skin tone. They can even work as an acne treatment. As long as chemical peel treatments are performed by a board-certified cosmetologist, they are safe. Even rare side effects should diminish within a couple of days post-treatment.

MYTH 2: SKIN WILL EXCESSIVELY PEEL POST-TREATMENT

Fact: The skin may or may not peel after a chemical peel treatment, depending on the individual’s response to treatment and the depth of the peel. Regardless, in almost all cases, a chemical peel does not produce heavy peeling. In fact, many of the peels available work at the cellular level, so physical side effects are minimal.

 MYTH 3: CHEMICAL PEELS CAN’T BE USED ON SENSITIVE SKIN

Fact: Even if you have sensitive skin, acne, rosacea, or eczema, you can still receive a chemical peel. Some peels are even formulated for sensitive skin or for skin that’s prone to rosacea. Some peels help to calm the skin, reducing inflammation. 

MYTH 4: THERE’S ONE TYPE OF CHEMICAL PEEL

Fact: If you haven’t gotten the picture yet, there are many kinds of chemical peels out there. There are various depths of chemical peels as well, which a cosmetologist can recommend based on the issues you’re seeking to target.

MYTH 5: I’LL ONLY NEED ONE PEEL

Fact: Generally speaking, while results like brighter, more youthful-looking skin tones are visible after one peel, you may need more treatments for greater results. For example, if you’re looking to work on deeper wrinkles, acne scars, or dark spots, you may need to receive a chemical peel treatment about every six to eight weeks.