Chemical Peels

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Chemical Peels

Part 1: What are chemical peels?
Part 2: Where to get them?
Part 3: Chemical peels as an acne treatment
Part 4: Side effects and warnings

Part 1: What are chemical peels?

Chemical peels exfoliate the outer layer of your skin rather quickly. They are not necessary treatments, but do give you results a tad bit faster than using, say, a light acid serum every night.

Some of the more common chemical peels include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and TCA (or trichloroacetic acid) ranging from 10% to 75% peels. Which percentage is right for you depends on what your doctor recommends, how your skin responds, and whether you have gotten chemical peels before.

Here's a breakdown of the different types of available chemical peels:

TYPES OF CHEMICAL PEELS
Glycolic Acid Peel	Good for fading acne marks; harsher than lactic acid; considered a light peel (For my experience, check here.)
Lactic Acid Peel	Good for hyperpigmentation; considered a light peel
Salicylic Acid	Good for acne-prone skin; helps to unclog pores; considered a light peel
Enzyme Peel	Usually made from fruits; exfoliates the surface of your skin without being as harsh as other chemical peels; good for those with skin sensitive to acid; considered a light peel
Jessner's Peel	Good for those with oily skin; usually based in alcohol, so can be drying for some people; considered stronger than glycolic acid peels, but weaker than TCA peels
TCA Peel	Good for acne marks, light wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation; this is a medium-depth peel that requires several days of downtime.

Depending on the type and strength of the peel you get, chemical peels can help improve light wrinkles, fade acne marks/scarring and hyper-pigmentation, and improve overall skin tone. They can't get rid of moles (try lasers for those) but do help minimize the appearance of skin tags.

First time peel-users should always start off with the lowest percentage peel and gradually increase as skin adjusts. Using a strong percentage on your skin the very first time can cause burns and maybe even permanent damage! You might even be allergic to the particular acid used for the peel, so whenever you're thinking about getting a peel done, be sure you do your homework and read up on it.

Chemical peels are generally used all over the face (except around the eyes) but you can also use them to spot treat certain areas of your skin as well. They can also be used on your hands and neck.

Just keep in mind that more than one peel is necessary to get your desired results, so don’t expect a single peel to work any miracles!

Move onto part 2 to find out where you can get chemical peels.

Next » Part 2