When your skin starts to wrinkle a little and dead skin seems to prevail, it’s time to get a peel. The appearance of the skin on your face, neck, and hands is effectively improved with a chemical peel. Afterwards, skin looks smoother and has a rosy glow and improved texture.
What Is a Peel?
A chemical peel is a treatment that employs an acid-based chemical solution to remove the damaged outer layers of the skin. It is usually administered as a facial peel and enhances the smooth touch of the skin.
Uneven skin pigmentation, wrinkles, and facial blemishes are treated effectively with a chemical peel. These peels are known to exfoliate the outer layers of dead skin, revealing a new skin layer with improved tone, texture, and color.
It is one of the oldest cosmetic procedures and was used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. These days, chemical facial peels are popular because they provide almost immediate results and can be implemented as an outpatient procedure.
Why Are Chemical Peels Used?
A peel is essentially used to improve the appearance of the skin in the following ways:
• It helps in reducing fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth.
• It treats wrinkles caused by sun exposure and aging.
• It improves the appearance of mild scars.
• It addresses specific types of acne
• It reduces age spots, freckles, and dark patches formed after pregnancy or taking birth-control pills.
• It improves the look and feel of skin.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate?
Generally, people who are fair-skinned and light-haired are ideal candidates for chemical peels. Ideal candidates for the chemical peel are individuals who are unhappy with the appearance of their skin.
A perfect candidate for a chemical peel is someone who is physically and mentally healthy. The candidate understands the procedure and has realistic expectations from the treatment.
What Should You Expect During a Chemical Peel?
Your skin will first be cleaned thoroughly. After this, a chemical solution such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid will be applied to small areas of your skin. This creates controlled damage to the skin, causing it to gradually peel away and revealing new skin cells beneath.
There is typically no downtime required after a chemical peel, meaning you will be able to return to your daily schedule without any issues.
What Are the Results After the Chemical Peel?
Usually, a sunburn reaction will occur after the procedure. Your skin will be peeling, which involves redness followed by scaling. It will heal within three to seven days. You can repeat the use of mild peels at one-to-four-week intervals until you get the look you’re after.
After treatment, bandages might be placed on parts of the skin or all over the skin that was treated. These bandages will stay on for several days. You’ll need to avoid the sun for several months after a chemical peel and wear sunscreen, since your new skin will be fragile.
Which Peel Is Right for You?
To find out which chemical peel is the right choice for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lawrence Glassman by contacting our office. Dr. Glassman is an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon with numerous satisfied patients.