What is
the use of chemical peels in dermatology?
Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that involve applying an acidic solution to the skin on the face, hands, and neck. The chemicals cause the skin to exfoliate, eventually peeling off to reveal a fresh layer of smooth skin below. As a result, the signs of aging and sun damage vanish, giving you a more youthful look. There are three types of chemical peels:
- Superficial or Light
This is the mildest and the most popular chemical peels for face, hands, and neck today. In this case, an esthetician uses glycolic or salicylic acid on the area being treated. This type of peel is usually well-tolerated which is why it is also known as the “lunchtime peel”, meaning that it requires zero downtime and causes only mild redness. It is good for reducing pigmentation and exfoliating dry skin as well as removing small lesions. With superficial peels, it is the consistency that counts the most. You need to repeat the procedure 2-3 times to see a significant improvement.
- Medium
These are great chemical peels for wrinkles, acne scars, blotchy pigmentation, sunspots, and freckles. For this type of peels, trichloroacetic acid is usually used. Medium peels require 1-2 weeks to recover. Expect that the affected area will be red, swollen, and crusted for at least a week. This type of chemical peel for the face can be quite painful, so it is usually performed under light sedation.
- Deep
In severe cases, an aesthetician may recommend a deep chemical peel with phenol, but it is rarely used these days due to high risks of scarring and because of phenol toxicity.
