From dermatologist in South Delhi to beauty influencers, everyone has been raving about the effectiveness of chemical peels and how they help improve your skin quality and texture. If you are completely new to the concept of chemical peels and how they help your skin, we are here to give you all the information you need.
For starters, a chemical peel is a dermatological treatment that acts as a natural exfoliant to clear the pores on the face, neck and hands to prevent the risks of acne and pimples. They help smoothen the skin’s texture and make the skin feather-soft to touch.
Applying a high-quality and dermatologist-prescribed chemical peel works on the deeper parts of your skin, exfoliates the dirt and oil, and makes the skin eventually peel off. Once the upper and dirty layer of the skin peels off, it leaves the skin underneath feeling smoother and less textured.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
1. When Do We Need Chemical Peels?
2. Who’s A Good Candidate for A Chemical Peel?
3. Types of Chemical Peels
4. Which Type Is Right for You?
5. Benefits of Chemical Peels
When Do We Need Chemical Peels?
There are several types of chemical peels for the face that are available in the market. However, given how little knowledge people have about chemical peels, it is often common for individuals to use the wrong chemical peel and for the wrong reasons too.
You might need to get chemical peels for getting rid of:
- Sun damage
- Acne scars
- Hyperpigmentation
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Age spots
- Scars
- Uneven skin tone
- Melasma
Who’s A Good Candidate for A Chemical Peel?
As we mentioned, chemical peels aren’t for every person, especially if you haven’t consulted a dermatologist about it. You might be an ideal candidate for a chemical peel if:
- Have recurring complaints of acne and acne scars
- Have a previous history of abnormal skin scarring
- Have complaints about hyperpigmentation
- Have a highly sensitive skin
- Have clogged pores because of excessive oil secretion
Types of Chemical Peels
When it comes to the types of chemical peels for the face, there are three primary options. They include:
Superficial peels – The superficial peels are the first option you can test out when starting with chemical peels. These include mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate the outermost or the superficial layer of the skin.
Medium peels – These are a slightly stronger exfoliant than the superficial peels and are composed of trichloroacetic or glycolic acid in the composition that helps penetrate into the superficial and the middle layers of the skin.
Deep peels – These chemical peels are the strongest of them all and include phenol and trichloroacetic acid to dissolve and eliminate the damaged and dead skin cells for good.
There are a few other subcategories of chemical peels, depending on the ingredients in them. The most popular of them all include:
Salicylic peels – Salicylic is a BHA that targets the sebaceous glands in the skin. If you struggle with acne-prone skin or congested skin, this is the type of chemical peel you need to invest in. It penetrates the deeper layers of the skin and the pores and gets rid of the dirt and the oil. It is also ideal for individuals who struggle with inflammation that come with acne breakouts.
Which Type Is Right for You?
If you want to reap the benefits of chemical peels, choosing the right type of peel is crucial. It is common to be confused about which peel would work for your skin, so make sure that you either consult a dermatologist or do proper and detailed research on your part.
For example,
- The Light or Superficial chemical peels are ideal for beginners who haven’t used chemical peels before. They are comparatively a safer option that gently exfoliates the top layer of the skin and prepares it for more concentrated acids. It is also ideal for individuals who struggle with rough skin texture, acne scarring, or sun damage.
- Medium chemical peels are ideal for fine lines and wrinkles. It is also ideal for users who struggle with acne, age spots, and sun damage. Since these peels are comparatively stronger, you need to consult a dermatologist before applying them to the skin.
- The Deep chemical peels contain the strongest acid concentration and should only be applied with a dermatologist prescription. They are ideal for removing wrinkles and pre-cancerous growths on the skin. They also seep into the deeper layers of the skin to eliminate the severe signs of sun damage and hyperpigmentation.
Benefits of Chemical Peels
The benefits of chemical peels are quite profound if used in the right concentration. Here’s what you can expect after applying chemical peels:
Treats Acne – Chemical peels seep into the pores and the layers of the skin to unclog the pores and eliminate the dirt and dead skin cells to reduce the occurrence of acne.
Minimizes the Appearance of Pores – One of the leading reasons behind the textured appearance of the skin is due to larger pores. Chemical peels dissolve the outer layer of the skin and exfoliate the skin to minimize the pores too.
Slows down Aging Signs – Fine lines and wrinkles can be a Debbie downer, especially if you are already insecure about your appearance. Chemical peels help get rid of these after a few consecutive uses.
Treats Uneven Skin Tone – Discoloration and hyperpigmentation on the skin is often a sign of severe skin damage. If you are struggling with the same, the application of chemical peels can effectively even the skin tone.
Reduces Textured Skin – If your overall skin texture is uneven and filled with scarring, chemical peels help reduce the scarring and make the skin look and feel smoother and softer to touch.
Non-invasive Procedure – Not only are chemical peels one of the most effective exfoliants, but they are also non-invasive. This reduces the complications that come with other cosmetic surgical procedures.
Soothes Scarring – Acne often leaves behind scarring and uneven skin tone and texture on the skin. The acids in the chemical peels help reduce the appearance of these scars over time.