What is Chemical Peeling?
Chemical peeling is a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin. A chemical solution is applied to the skin which causes it to separate, peel off,and allows new skin to regenerate. The new skin is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin,and may also be more ever in color.
What can a chemical peel do?
- chemical peeling is used to treat fine lines,especially under the eyes and around the mouth, wrinkles caused by sun damage,aging,and hereditary factors can be reduced or even eliminated with this procedure. However,sags,bulges,and more severe wrinkles don’t respond to peeling and may require other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures.
- Mild scarring and certain types of acne may also be treated with chemical peels.
- Pigmentation of the skin in the form of sun spots,age spots,liver spots,freckles,blotchiness due to taking birth control pills,and skin that is dull in texture and color may be improved with chemical peeling.
- Areas of sun-damaged skin and scaling patches may improve after chemical peeling as well.
How are chemical peels performed?
The procedure may be performed on the face,neck,chest,hands,arms,and legs. Superficial,medium,or deep chemical peels may be used to improve damaged skin. As a rule,the deeper the peel,the longer the recovery time. The beauty therapist will recommended the best peel for your skin problems.
Prior to treatment,instructions may include stopping certain medications and preparing the skin with preconditioning cream.
During the procedure,most patients experience a warm to hot sensation that may about five to ten minutes,followed by a stinging sensation. A deeper peel may be more painful and require medication during or after the procedure.
What should be expected after treatment?
Depending upon the type of peel,there may be a mild to severe sun burning sensation. Superficial peeling usually involves redness,followed by scaling that lasts three to five days.
Medium-depth and deep peeling can sometimes result in swelling and blisters that may break,crust,turn brown,and peel off over a period of 7 to 14 days or longer.
Its is important to avoid overexposure to the sun immediately after a chemical peel since the new skin is fragile and more susceptible to injury. The Beauty Therapist will prescribe appropriate follow-up care to help the skin heal.
What are the possible complications?
In certain skin types,there is a risk of developing a temporary color change. Birth control pills,pregnancy,or a family history of brownish discoloration on the face may increase the possibility of developing abnormal pigmentation. Persistent redness may also occur and can last for month.
What is the limitations of chemical peels?
Chemical peels can not remove loose or sagging skin since they cannot eliminate the gravitational forces with produce the loose skin. A facelift,brow lift,laser/light-based skin rejuvenation,or other procedures may be required.
Chemical peeling does not remove deep scars. Dermabrasion,laser resurfacing or non-ablative laser therapy,punch grafting,punch elevation,scar excision,or soft tissue fillers may be much more effective for scars and should be discussed with your cosmetic surgeon.
While chemical peels can not change pore size or remove broken blood vessels on the face,the procedure may improve the appearance of this conditions.
