Why do Dermatologists Recommend Chemical Peels?
Chemical peels have long been used in dermatology due to their ability to treat various skin issues. These treatments provide a non-invasive yet very effective solution for acne scars, wrinkles, and other symptoms of aging. But why do dermatologists recommend chemical peels? Our skin specialists have discussed the science behind chemical peels, their benefits and risks in detail. Keep reading!
What Are Chemical Peels?
A chemical peel is a dermatological procedure that exfoliates and removes the outer layers of your skin using a chemical solution. This method encourages skin renewal, giving your complexion a smoother, more balanced tone. Chemical peels can be moderate to deep in their depth, depending on the ingredients and your desired results.
How Do Chemical Peels Work?
Chemical peels are a reliable skin toning procedure to remove your dead skin cells and freshen the skin. These peels work by triggering your body’s healing response. They cause controlled damage to your skin, which starts the body’s healing process. As your damaged skin peels off, it reveals new, healthier, and smoother skin. In the peeling process, different acids are used to achieve different degrees of exfoliation and treat specific skin conditions.
Benefits Of Chemical Peels
Dermatologists recommend chemical peeling treatments for several reasons. They help your skin look brighter, healthier, and smoother. Below are the key advantages of chemical peels.
Improve Skin Texture and Tone
Your skin physician may recommend a chemical peel because it can improve the texture of your skin. Peels leave your skin looking younger by minimizing fine lines, reducing bumps, and shrinking the pores.
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Minimize Acne and Acne Scars
If your skin has chronic acne, or acne scars, chemical peels can help you get rid of these problems. Solutions like salicylic acid cleanse your pores, reduce irritation, and regulate your oil production. This reduces the triggers for the production and development of pimples, helping your skin get rid of acne. Peels can also reduce your acne scars by stimulating the production of collagen and speeding up your skin renewal.
Reduce Hyperpigmentation and Sun Damage
Your dermatologist may recommend a chemical peel if you suffer from hyperpigmentation, which includes dark patches and melasma. Chemical peels like glycolic acid, lactic acid, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can break down your excess pigment and improve your skin tone. They also help to reverse the UV damage of your skin by removing the damaged skin cells.
Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Your skin can show fine lines and wrinkles as your collagen and elastin levels decline with aging. If you get a medium or deep chemical peel, it will increase your collagen formation, making your skin firm with less wrinkles .
Improved Absorption of Skincare Products
Chemical peels improve the absorption of your skincare products by removing your dead skin cells and clearing your clogged pores. This means that serums and moisturizers can penetrate your skin more deeply, providing a better effect.
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Types of Chemical Peels
Chemical peels come in three main types: superficial, medium, and deep peels. Each peel type targets different skin concerns. Superficial or light peels use mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to gently exfoliate the outer layer of your skin. This improves the texture and brightness of your skin with a downtime of 2-3 days.
Medium peels often use trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to penetrate deeper into your skin layers. These peels can reduce your wrinkles, sun damage, and uneven skin tone, with a few days of recovery. Deep peels use phenol and they can provide you with the most noticeable results. Your dermatologists can recommend you to get deep peels if you have severe wrinkles, scars, and sun damage. Do remember though, that you can need a longer healing process if you get a deep chemical peel. Below we have discussed all the three types of chemical peels.
Light or Superficial Peels
Light chemical peels exfoliate only the outermost layer of your skin using mild solutions. Acids like salicylic and glycolic acid lighten your complexion, improve your skin texture, and remove the dark spots.
Medium Chemical Peels
In medium-depth peels TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is used, which penetrates deeper into the skin. These peels can help you treat minor acne scars, fine wrinkles, and severe pigmentation on your skin.
Deep Chemical Peels
Deep peels produce the most noticeable results. Phenol peels, for example, can penetrate your skin’s deepest layers and treat severe wrinkles, deep scars, and UV damage. However, deep peels have a longer healing time than the other peeling procedures.
Are Chemical Peels Safe?
Chemical peels are generally safe if you get them done by a qualified professional. A certified dermatologist will recommend a peel based on your skin type and the problems you want to treat. Superficial and medium peels have minimal risks, with mild redness or peeling that reduces within days.
Deep peels are very effective for severe skin issues, but they require a longer recovery time. These peels also have a higher risk of scarring, infection, or pigmentation changes, especially if you have a darker skin tone. To make sure that your peels are safe, it’s important to follow preoperative and post-treatment care.
Who Can Have a Chemical Peel?
Most people can safely undergo chemical peels, but a dermatologist will check your skin type and condition before recommending a procedure. If your skin has a current infection, severe rosacea, or extreme sensitivity, your doctor may suggest some other treatment.
Side Effects and Risk
Chemical peels performed by a professional are generally safe, but there can be some possible side effects. You can experience redness, peeling, irritation, and, in rare cases, scarring or hyperpigmentation. Follow the post-treatment care guidelines to reduce the risk of complications after a chemical peel.
How Does Chemical Peeling Compare to Other Treatments?
Depending on the depth of your peel, chemical peels can treat many skin problems and refresh your skin. Here is how a chemical peel compares to other skin treatments.
Chemical Peels vs. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a mechanical exfoliation technique that removes dead skin cells with a device. Chemical peels provide deeper skin renewal and more noticeable results than moderate exfoliation.
Chemical Peels vs. Laser Treatments
Laser treatments use light energy to address specific skin issues. They work well for deeper pigmentation and collagen production but are more expensive than chemical peels. You can choose between the two procedures depending on your personal skin issues and budget.
Chemical Peels vs. Skincare Products
At-home skincare products do contain exfoliating acids, but their concentration is much lower than that in professional chemical peels. Dermatologists recommend chemical peels to provide more visible and long-lasting effects for your skin.
Chemical Peel Prep and Postoperative Care
Pre-operation and post-treatment care are very important to get the best results and avoid complications after your chemical peel operation.
Preoperative Care
- Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight before the operation.
- Stop using active ingredients or exfoliating acids a week before the treatment.
- Stay hydrated and keep following your skincare regime in the days leading up to the procedure.
Postoperative Care
- Use sunscreen every three hours to protect newly exposed skin.
- Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
- Don’t peel or pick at your skin as it can cause scars
Bottom Line
If your dermatologist has recommended a chemical peel treatment, it can help improve your skin texture, remove pigmentation, and treat your skin problems. Chemical peel is a safe treatment and is helpful in brightening your complexion, fighting acne, and reducing wrinkles. If you’re considering getting a chemical peel, talk to a certified dermatologist for expert advice.
Get Your Dream Skin With Jim Brantner M.D.
If you are considering chemical peels to achieve your dream skin, speak with Jim Brantner, M.D, Johnson City, Tennessee’s best board-certified plastic surgeon.
With decades of experience, we have helped thousands of people feel their best with successful chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and dermal fillers. So if you are in Tennessee, visit us or call 423-328-9000 to book a consultation!
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