What Is Chemical Peeling Of The Skin? – What You Should Know!
Does the thought of a chemical peel fill you head with all kinds of horrific scary images? For some people they think of it as peeling off a layer of their skin and taking all the bad things with it, revealing a new them beneath and they can’t get enough of them but for others it sounds like the stuff nightmares are made of.
Maybe it’s something you’re interested in but would like to know more, so what is chemical peeling of the skin? Does it really hurt? Are you going to loose half your face and come out looking like something of Nightmare on Elm Street! Read on to find out all you need to know.
What Is A Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is a treatment used to improve your skins texture and tone.
An acid is applied to your skin to lower the PH, which loosens the connections between dead skin cells, inducing exfoliation and stimulating new cell growth.
This process causes superficial layers of dead skin to peel off, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion.
Chemical peels can also thicken the epidermis, (the top layer of our skin) increase dermal volume (the middle layer of our skin) and stimulate collagen.
Chemical peels have been used dating back to ancient Egypt when Cleopatra used sour milk to improve the appearance of her skin, according to some sources.
Lactic acid(an alpha hydroxy acid) is the active ingredient in milk.
What Chemicals Are In A Chemical Peel?
Some common peeling ingredients include alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and retinol.
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) include glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and mandelic acid.
Salicylic acid is the only beta hydroxy acid BHA.
The strength of a chemical peel is determined by the type of ingredients used, their concentrations and the PH of the formulation.
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids)
These acids work on breaking down the bonds that hold the dead skin cells together, they increase cellular turnover, simulate collagen and elastin production leading to firmer looking skin.
Lactic acid derives from milk and helps reduce skin inflammation.
Glycolic acids naturally found in sugar cane penetrates rapidly into the skin.
BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) Salicylic Acid
Related to aspirin is anti inflammatory, oil soluble and great for oily acne skin.
Trichloroacetic Acid TCA
This can come in various strengths and any TCA peel above 10% is considered a medium to deep peel, this should only be performed by a medical professional.
Phenol
This is a deep peel and requires anasthetic and sometimes sedation.
Is Chemical Peeling Good For Your Skin?
As we age our skins natural cellular turnover slows down, having regular chemical peels is a great way of speeding this up.
They exfoliates the dead surface cells bringing the healthy new cells to the surface.
Peels also boost the skins natural collagen and elastin production which slows down as we age thickening the skin.
What Are The Different Types Of Chemical Peels?
Chemical peels are classified as light (superficial), medium, or deep, depending on the depth of penetration of the ingredients used.
Light peels exfoliate to various levels of the epidermis.
The skin may gently peel for a couple of day but you can wear makeup as normal the following day.
Medium depth peels penetrate through the papillary dermis and deep peels to the mid reticular dermis.
You will experience red/brown scaling of your skin that will peels away over a week sometimes more depending how deep.
Deeper peels require more down time and increase the chances of side effects. Recovering from a deep peel can take weeks.
What Are The Benefits Of Chemical Peels?
Peels can improve skin texture and firmness, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles.
Peels also even out skin tone, improve acne prone skin and reduce the appearance of pore size.
What Are The Side Effects Of Chemical Peels?
Following a chemical peel it is normal to experience
- slight redness
- mild flaking
- tightness
- dryness
- itching
Possible Complications
- Extreme swelling
- Allergic reaction
- hyper pigmentation
- hypopigmentation
Can Anyone have A Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are not recomended for anyone;
- Currently taking Roaccutane
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- That has a coldsore or herpetic breakout
- Skin infection
- Open wound
- Sun burn
- Had a chemical peel in last 14 days
- had laser hair removal in last 14 days
- Had Botox® in last 7 days
- on prescription retinoids
- Fitzpatrick IV (may need pre treatment)
Why is your skin colour classification important when having a chemical peel?
Instead of classifying skin as oily or dry, the Fitzpatrick Skin Classification uses skin colour and hereditary background to determine a persons tolerance level and what treatments will work best on their skin type.
While a lighter skin type at the top of the scale is more sun sensitive, they are more resilient to exfoliating treatments because their skin produces less melanin than darker skin types.
This means skin types at the top of the scale can generally tolerate more aggressive treatments, whereas skin types at the lower end of the scale require more gentle treatments to prevent hyper pigmentation.
It would also be advisable to avoid too much sun exposure, use a high protection SPF and products containing melanin suppressors before and after a chemical peel if you have a skin type of Fitzpatrick IV or above.
How Long Does A Chemical Peel Last?
Results from a superficial peels can give an instant glowy, dewy appearance but you may need to repeat every 3-4 weeks to maintain, a medium depth will last longer and a deep peel although will have a long recovery time results should be long-lasting.
Are Chemical Peels Painful?
A superficial to medium depth peel shouldn’t be painful, you might experience a warm feeling on the skin which soon subsides.
Deep Phenol Peels and deep TCA peels on the other hand are in a completely different league and these do require an anesthetic and even sedation.
Can You Chemical Peel From Home?
You can do your own chemical peels from home and there are some pretty goods ones, if you are looking for a natural way to make your own chemical peel click here for more information.
Enzyme peels can be great to do yourself from home.
Like a chemical peel an enzyme peel is also used to improve skin texture and appearance.
Enzymes are applied to the skin which loosen the connections between dead skin cells, inducing exfoliation and stimulating new cell growth.
Enzyme peels both nourish and exfoliate the skin and are usually made from fruit enzymes like papain found in papayas and bromelain found in pineapple.
==>> YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE BEST ONES HERE >>==
Final Thoughts
If getting a chemical peel is something you’ve been considering, I hope this has helped, never go to a practitioner that isn’t properly trained in the procedure and find out what their credentials are prior to your appointment.
Anything deeper than a superficial peel should be carried out by a health care professional.
If you’re wanting to avoid the Nightmare on Elm Street look, I’d probably steer clear of the Phenol peel but a superficial to medium depth isn’t at all scary or painful.
Please leave me your thoughts and experiences, have you had a chemical peel before or are you considering having one? Let me know in the comments below.
I have always been curious about chemical peels due to my acne scarring. I have seen some great results that other people have had in reducing the appearance of acne scars by using chemical peels so I am glad I found this post. I have really learned a lot and am definitely looking into doing this although I am not sure if I would want to do it at home. It seems like there are some great “at home” chemical peels though. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Shyla, I have also suffered from acne scaring so I can sympathise with you on that one, micro needling is excellent for acne scars, I alternate every 2 weeks between chemical peels and micro needling and my acne scars have almost gone.
Thanks for commenting and hope this helps https://beautifulskinguru.com/is-microneedling-a-scam-what-are-the-benefits-of-having-it/
Chemical peels do sound scary by title but you have done an awesome job of breaking everything down in a way to help me understand the amazing benefits. I was always curious as to what went into a chemical peel and why would be a good reason to get one done. I will check out your other post for the best peels you can do at home. Thanks for this info!
Thank you Mellisa, they do sound so much scarier than they have to be, I much prefer the progressive not aggressive peels!
Thanks for your lovely comment.
Hi Amy
Thanks for your insights on chemical peeling of the skin. A good skin appearance is every woman’s dream, especially as we age. The past five years I started developing some dark spots on the face but they seem to be slowly fading since I’ve changed my diet.
Your article has provided me with some tips to consider to boost my skin appearance but as Shyla mentioned I’ll rather not try it at home and yes as you adviced one needs to do a background check on the doctor who will be performing the treatment.
Thanks for sharing the article.
Hi Maggie, so glad you found it helpful, dark spots are usually caused by exposure to UV so a good high factor SPF worn daily should help prevent you getting an more, even on dull cloudy days and when indoors as UVA can penetrate glass and is at a constant all year round.
Thanks for your comment.
In this day and age obviously depending on where you live, urban or suburbs with the amount of pollution, I can see the benefits of a chemical peel.
I guess though if you are a frequent user of them that your natural body defences might be affected.
Do you know if that could possibly be the case?
However, for people who suffer from a skin complaint then that has to benefit them.
Thank you for sharing
Hi Mick, you are absolutely right that people living in areas with increased levels of pollution do suffer from more skin complaints, this is due to oxidative stress caused by free radical damage.
Chemical peels can really help reverse some of the damage caused to the skin by such aggressors.
Frequency however tends to improve skin quality and theres no evidence that the body natural defences are affected by having chemical peels in any way as long as care is taken to maintain the skins hydro lipid barrier to maintain its function.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article and comment.
That is some powerful stuff. Maybe being a guy my skin is more rough and I think this would be extremely helpful. My wife uses a lotion that has helped her skin but not like this. I think this might work even better. How long have you been using this?
Hi AJ, I regularly have professional chemical peels every couple of weeks and my skin has never been better! I do also really like the Dr Gross daily peel for in-between, this has been part of my regime for about 5 months!
Hi Amy, great article about chemical peelings. I personally prefer old fashioned physical exfoliation. I don’t tend to say it’s better, as we all have different tastes and surely you can scratch your skin with this one. What I like about chemical one is the fact you only do it once a month and it really works. I used to do chemical one in the past and my skin looked always smooth and beautiful. What I don’t like it’s a fact it’s chemical and that pregnant women should’t be using it.
Hi OlaBee, it is just personal preference, a chemical peel is a much deeper exfoliation whereas scrubs tend to just polish the skin and can be a little abrasive, however you’re right you can’t have a peel when you’re expecting whereas there are plenty of pregnancy safe scrubs.
Thank you for your comment.
Great info here on What Is Chemical Peeling Of The Skin? – What You Should Know! I should be doing chemical peels for my skin as I age. When I do them it sure helps. How often do you suggest doing a chemical peel?
Hi Alyse, so how often you chemical peel all depends on the types of peel and your skin, also whether your having a professional peel or at home.
Professional peels you can usually have monthly but in some cases every 2weeks is fine, most at home peels can be used anything from daily, weekly or monthly depending on the strength so always follow the instructions on the individual product.
Sorry this wasn’t a very straight forward answer, good question though.