CHEMICAL PEELS
A technique that is used to improve the texture and appearance of the skin on the face, neck or hands is known as chemical peels. It is known as a non-surgical way to make your face complexion radiant and more appropriate for the neck. There is a chemical solution that is applied to the skin which causes it to exfoliate and eventually peel off. This new regenerated skin is much smoother and also less wrinkled than the before old skin. Temporarily the new skin is more sensitive to the sun.
TYPES
Chemical peels is again of three types:
Light peel
Light peel is used to improve the appearance of mild discoloration of the skin. In light peels an Alpha-hydroxy acid or another mild acid is used to penetrate only the outer layer of the skin to gently exfoliate it. It also improves the appearance of rough skin as well as to refresh the face, neck, chest or hands. Generally light peel is recommended to be done once in a month to keep the ideal glowing results.
Medium peel
This peel is a one used to penetrate a level deeper into the skin. The chemicals used to penetrate are glycolic or trichloroacetic acid. This treatment is specifically used to improve fine lines, age spots and wrinkles, also freckles and moderate discoloration. Medium peel also helps to smoothen the rough skin.
Deep peel
This procedure is the strongest among all the three peels. It requires the chemicals to penetrate deeper than the medium peels. Trichloroacetic acid or phenol is often used for this procedure so that it penetrates deeply to the middle layers of the skin to remove the damaged skin cells. Moderate lines, freckles, age spots, and shallow scars can be removed through this treatment. This peel might leave the skin itchy and swollen for about 2-3 weeks. This deep peel procedure can be performed only once and has the lengthiest recovery time.
RECOVERY
It takes one to seven days to heal a light peel. The treated area maybe red. Lotion or cream and also a sunscreen should be applied to the treated area.
Medium peels take 7 – 14 days to heal. Treated skin will be red and swollen. Avoid all sun exposure until healing is complete. Mild lotion or cream maybe applied.
Deep peels require 7 – 14 days to heal. An ointment should be applied for 14 days also; the treated area will be bandaged. In this case, avoid sun exposure for three to six months. Follow up appointments will be necessary for improvement.
RISKS
Temporary or permanent change in skin color, scarring and reactivation of cold scores are some of the risks associated with chemical peels procedure.
COST
The exact cost depends on the individual and varies from case to case. It is suggested to take a personal consultation with the surgeon to get the exact cost.