Chemical peels are highly effective at reducing a number of different skin concerns including acne, wrinkles, sun spots, and other blemishes.
What are chemical peels?
Skin peels use a variety of different acids to exfoliate dead and unwanted skin, usually around the face, allowing fresh, blemish free skin cells to grow in their place.
Peels are so effective because the acid removes damaged skin in a uniform manner meaning that as the skin heals, the area is consistent in tone and texture, reducing the signs of scarring.
Depending on the strength of the peel in question, this treatment will impact upon two separate layers of your skin; the epidermis and the dermis.
The epidermis, which will be targeted by even the most mild of chemical peels is the visible outer layer of skin, whilst the dermis which will be targeted more by deep fades is the layer beneath.
Deep peels are more likely to lead to side effects such as tenderness and burning sensations as they target the dermis which contains a number of nerve endings.
Why use Chemical peels?
Chemical peels can be used by dermatologists to treat a number of different skin concerns that their clients may be experiencing.
These include:
- Removing scars
- Reducing signs of acne
- Easing redness
- Eliminating sun spots
- Tackling hyperpigmentation
How does a chemical peel work?
When you attend a cosmetic clinic to have a chemical peel, your dermatologist will apply an acid based gel to the thick or dying areas of skin around the face.
This dead skin will then be replaced by the fresh growing skin cells hidden beneath that will be free of the blemishes and marks that have bugged you for so long.
After the treatment has been applied, you may be recommended a cold compress or face cream to ease any minor irritation and promote healing.
You should avoid showering or applying makeup to your face immediately after the treatment.
Chemical peel types
Chemical peels are categorised based on their ingredients and how deeply they will penetrate the skin.
In general, the three main types of chemical peel that are used by cosmetic clinics include:
– Superficial/mild peels
Mild peels only tend to affect the epidermis, the top layer of skin.
For this reason, the risk of side effects is remarkably low and a mild peel is considered one of the least invasive cosmetic procedures.
In just a week after having the peel applied, all skin should have fully healed, the effects will be visible and you will be able to enjoy your clean fresh new look.
During this time your skin will be pretty sensitive, however, so make sure to wear sun cream when outside. To prevent the need for repeat treatments such precautions are always advisable when UV levels are high.
– Medium peels
Medium peels are less invasive than the deepest peels that required several treatments to be effective but do penetrate deeper than a mild peel and can take up to 14 days to fully recover.
Medium peels are used to tackle wrinkles, acne scars, minor hyperpigmentation and fine lines on the face.
You may experience some swelling in the 48 hours following treatment and blistering may occur although this will quickly subside with the assistance of a solution provided by the dermatologist to help the skin heal.
– Deep peels
Comparable to laser therapy due to the dramatic impact it can have on severe sun damage, severe wrinkling and severe hyperpigmentation, deep peels will impact upon both the epidermis and dermis layers of your face.
The results from a deep chemical peel glasgow Luxe can be life-changing but this is a much more intense process than a mild or medium peel and significant recuperation can be required.
It can take as long as 3 weeks to recover from a deep peel, during which time the customer may need to take antiviral medication, wash using a special solution, and take some time off work to recover.
Professional chemical peels vs home chemical peels
There are some chemical peels that can be bought and applied at home but these products contain much weaker solutions than can be applied by a trained dermatologist.
If you have a severe skin condition, professional treatments are always recommended as not only will they be more effective but the advice and after-care products provided by trained dermatologists could be invaluable in ensure the best possible results, reducing side-effects, and aiding recovery.
No-one should ever consider using a product containing a strong acid at home as without the correct knowledge and skill set, the application process could be very dangerous.
However, if you are only looking for a simple cleanse, a shop bought mild chemical peel could be everything you need.
