What is a facial peel and how does it work?
The standard chemical peel is a treatment that uses a chemical solution to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. It is helpful for individuals with facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation. The precise formula that is used can be adjusted to meet each patient’s needs. Chemical peels can also remove precancerous skin growths, soften acne facial scars, and even control acne. It is not a treatment that closes up enlarged pores.

A chemical skin peel involves the application of a solution to the entire face or to specific areas to peel away the skin’s top layers. Several light to medium-depth peels can often achieve similar results to one deeper peel treatment, with less risk and shorter recovery time. Peel solutions may contain alpha hydroxy acids, tricholoracetic acid (TCA) or phenol as the peeling agent, depending on the depth of peel desired and other factors.

• TCA Skin Peels use trichloroacetic acid for peeling of the face, neck, hands and other exposed areas of the body. It has less bleaching effect than phenol peels, and is good for “spot” peeling of specific areas. It can be used for deep, medium or light peeling, depending on the concentration and method of application.
• Phenol is used for deep chemical peels. Phenol offers full-face peeling when sun damage or wrinkling is severe. It can also be used to treat limited areas of the face, such as deep wrinkles around the mouth, but it may permanently bleach the skin, leaving a line of demarcation between the treated and untreated areas that must be covered with makeup.
• Lactic acid lotions like Lac-Hydrin can help to treat keratosis pilaris and lighten brown spots at the same time.

What does it treat?
With almost immediate results, this skin treatment is used to improve skin’s appearance on the face, chest, hands or other areas. The medical-grade chemical peel is an effective treatment to improve skin conditions and issues including acne, uneven skin texture, uneven tone, fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring, sagging skin, age and sun spots, enlarged pores and hyper pigmentation. Peels can also result in a more youthful look by brightening the overall appearance of the skin and improving collagen production.

What is the procedure like?
A chemical peel takes anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours. The peel is applied to the designated location, where it produces a controlled wound-healing process that enables new, regenerated skin to appear. Some people report mild pain. Most people report a warm to hot sensation that lasts about five to 10 minutes and is followed some stinging. A deeper peel can be more painful and may require medication during or after the procedure.

What is the recovery time?
Recovery time after a chemical peel is largely dependent on the depth of the peel. The deeper the peel, the longer the recovery. The depth varies based on the chemical agent, strength or concentration, and other factors. Your face may be red, scabby and peeling for several days to two weeks after your treatment. Your skin may also crack after treatment. It is very important to follow your physician’s skin care instructions after a peel to avoid scarring.

Broadly speaking, superficial peel recovery takes a couple of days; a medium depth peel is a couple weeks, and deep chemical peels take several weeks. Healing continues for months, but one may wear make-up after the initial healing period.

Chemical peel side effects can include:

• Infection
• Abnormal healing
• Allergic reactions
• If prone to herpes, possible eruption
• Raised or thickened scarring
• Unanticipated skin color changes or skin blotchiness

How permanent is the result?
Light peels that affect only the superficial layer of the skin called the epidermis can be expected to show improved texture and tone for about 1-2 months. Medium peels can have effects lasting anywhere from 2-6 months because they affect the epidermis and a portion of the underlying dermis. The results from a deeper peel can be seen for a year or longer depending upon skin type and maintenance after the peel.