WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CHEMICAL PEELS

About:

chemical peels are used to remove damaged skin cells, revealing healthier skin underneath
there are different types of peels: light, medium, and deep

Safety:

when conducted by a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon, licensed healthcare provider, or
trained skincare specialist, chemical peels are exceptionally safe
It’s essential to follow your provider’s postop instructions carefully

Convenience:

light chemical peels do not require much downtime
medium and deep chemical peels can require two to three weeks of recovery time
the procedures can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes

What are chemical peels?

Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that can be applied to the face, hands, and neck. They’re used to

improve the appearance or feel of the skin. During this procedure, chemical solutions will be applied to the

area being treated, which causes the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off. Once this happens, the new

skin underneath is often smoother, appears less wrinkled, and may have less damage.

There are a number of reasons people may get chemical peels. They may be trying to treat a variety of

things, including:

wrinkles and fine lines
sun damage
acne scars
hyperpigmentation
scars
melasma
uneven skin tone or redness

What type of chemical peels can I get?

There are three different types of chemical peels that you can get. These include:

Superficial peels, which use mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate. It only penetrates the outermost layer of skin.
Medium peels, which use trichloroacetic or glycolic acid to reach the middle and outer layer of skills. This makes it more effective for removing damaged skin cells.
Deep peels, which fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged skin cells; these peels often use phenol or trichloroacetic acid.

Light peel

During a light peel a cotton ball, gauze, or brush will be used to apply a chemical solution like salicylic acid to the area being treated. The skin will start to whiten and may have a slight stinging sensation. Once complete, the chemical solution will be removed or a neutralizing solution will be added.

Medium peel

During a medium chemical peel, your doctor will use a gauze, special sponge, or a cotton-tipped applicator to apply the chemical solution to your face. This may contain glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid. A blue color may be added to the trichloroacetic acid, commonly known as a blue peel. The skin will begin to whiten, and your doctor will apply a cool compress to the skin. You may feel stinging or burning for up to 20 minutes. No neutralizing solution is needed, though they may give you a hand-held fan to cool your skin. If you’ve had the blue peel you will have a blue coloring of your skin that may last for several days after the peel.

Deep peel

During a deep chemical peel, you will be sedated. The doctor will use a cotton-tipped applicator to apply

phenol to your skin. This will turn your skin white or gray. The procedure will be done in 15-minute portions,

to limit the skin exposure to the acid.

How do you prepare for a chemical peel?

Before your procedure, you’ll first have a consultation with the skincare specialist. During this visit, they’ll help you determine what the best treatment option is for you. They’ll let you know the details about the specific peel you’ll be getting, and they’ll ask about anything that could interfere with the peel. This may include whether you’ve taken acne medication and information about whether or not you scar easily.

Before a chemical peel, you must:

not use any type of retinol or Retin-A topical medication for at least 48 hours
inform your skincare specialist about any medications you take
not have been on Accutane for at least six months

We may also recommend that you:

take an antiviral medication if you have a history of fever blisters or cold sores to prevent a breakout around the mouth
use special lotions to improve treatment, like glycolic acid lotion
use a retinoid cream to prevent skin darkening
stop waxing, epilating, or using depilatory hair removal products the week before the peel. You should also avoid hair bleaching.
stop using facial scrubs and exfoliants the week before the peel.
arrange for a ride home, especially for medium or deep chemical peels, which will require you to be sedated.

What are the risks and possible side effects of a chemical peel?

Common side effects are temporary and include redness, dryness, stinging or burning, and slight swelling.

With deep peels, you may permanently lose the ability to tan. Chemical peels can, however, have more serious risks and dangerous side effects that can be permanent.

These include:

Darkening or lightening of the skin color. These can be more common in people with darker skin.
Scarring. This can be permanent.
Infections. People with herpes simplex may experience flares following a treatment. Very rarely, chemical peels can cause fungal or bacterial infections.
Heart, liver, or kidney damage. The phenol used in deep peels can actually damage the heart muscle, kidneys, and liver, and cause irregular heartbeats.

What to expect after

Recovery time varies depending on which chemical peel you received.

Light chemical peels

Recovery time is about four to seven days. Your skin may temporarily be lighter or darker.

Medium chemical peels

Your skin will recover about five to seven days after a medium chemical peel, though you may have redness

that persists for months. Your skin will initially swell, and then form crusts and brown blotches before

revealing new skin.

Deep chemical peels

Deep chemical peels will cause severe swelling and redness, with burning or throbbing sensations. It’s

common for the eyelids to swell shut. It will take about two weeks for the new skin to develop, though white

spots or cysts may last several weeks. It’s common for redness to last for several months.

During recovery, follow your doctor’s postop instructions faithfully. They’ll give you specific instructions for

how often to wash your face and moisturize, and which products you should use to do so. Try to stay out of

the sun until your skin has healed, and avoid using makeup or other cosmetics until your doctor gives you

the go-ahead. You can use ice packs for 20 minutes at a time, or a cool fan, to help relieve discomfort at

home.