Chemical peel

Chemical peeling is an effective procedure to address various skin concerns, offering improvement in the following conditions:

1. Fine lines and wrinkles (rhytids) on the skin's surface.
2. Hyperpigmentation, characterized by skin discoloration or age spots.
3. Enlarged skin pores due to inadequate skincare.
4. Mild photodamage caused by sun exposure.
5. Minor scars resulting from previous skin issues.

Chemical peeling can be applied to different areas, including the face, arms, legs, neck, chest, and hands.

There are distinct types of chemical peels available:

1. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA): These water-soluble acids, derived from sugary fruits, include glycolic acid (from sugarcane), lactic acid (from milk and vegetables), citric acid (from citrus fruits), tartaric acid (from grapes), and malic acid (from apples). AHAs facilitate superficial exfoliation, leading to the replacement of old skin cells with newer, more uniformly pigmented cells.

2. Beta hydroxy acids (BHA): Being fat-soluble, BHA, particularly salicylic acid, can deeply penetrate hair follicles, effectively removing excess oil and dead cells from skin pores. BHAs are commonly used to treat acne and photodamage, helping to reduce redness and inflammation.

3. Retinoic acid: A retinoid derivative of vitamin A, retinoic acid offers deeper exfoliation than BHA, making it effective in addressing scars, blemishes, and fine lines.

4. Phenol: This potent chemical is employed for deep skin exfoliation.

Chemical peels are categorized based on their depth of skin penetration:

1. Superficial exfoliation: This method targets the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. It involves a lower risk of complications and faster skin recovery. Healing usually takes 1 to 7 days, and the procedure can be repeated every 2 to 5 weeks.

2. Medium depth peels: Recommended for minor acne scars, fine wrinkles, partial hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. Healing requires 7 to 14 days, and sun exposure should be avoided during recovery.

3. Deep exfoliation: Typically reserved for moderate to severe hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and wrinkles. This method involves a longer recovery period, typically taking 14 to 21 days.

During the chemical peeling procedure, specialized chemicals are applied to the desired area, often the entire face. The compounds initiate exfoliation, removing the outer layer of dead skin cells and stimulating the production of new, healthier skin cells.

Preparation for chemical peeling involves thorough cleansing of the face, removing makeup, creams, dead cells, and bacteria. Post-treatment care includes following the doctor's instructions, avoiding sun exposure and makeup for two weeks, and using SPF15+ sunscreen when going outside.

However, chemical peels may not be suitable for everyone, especially in cases involving isotretinoin usage for acne in the past six months, dark complexion, red hair or freckled skin, existing skin scars, abnormal skin pigmentation, facial warts, or a history of herpes. Caution is necessary in these situations.

A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that removes the top layer of your skin. It can help reduce wrinkles, dullness, hyperpigmentation and scarring. It may also help with skin disorders such as acne and rosacea

Application of chemical peeling

Chemical peels can improve the appearance of the following skin problems:

    Fine lines and wrinkles of the skin
    Hyperpigmentation (skin discoloration or age spots)
    Large skin pores caused by insufficient skin care.
    Mild sun damage
    Small scars
    Chemical peeling can be done on the face, arms, legs, neck, chest and hands.

Types of chemical peels

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)

These acids include a group of water-soluble acids that are usually extracted from sugary fruits. The most famous AHAs are:

    1-Glycolic acid is extracted from sugarcane.
    2-Lactic acid is found in milk and some vegetables.
    3-Citric acid found in citrus fruits.
   4- Tartaric acid that is present in grapes.
    5-Malic acid is extracted from apples.

These acids help to remove a layer from the skin of the face so that new and more uniform cells in terms of color take the place of the old cells. Compared to other acids used for skin exfoliation, AHAs have a more superficial function.

Beta hydroxy acids (BHA)

These acids are fat-soluble and can penetrate deep into hair follicles and remove excess oil and dead cells from skin pores. Beta hydroxy acids are mostly used to treat acne and sun damage. The most famous BHA is salicylic acid, which is mainly used in the treatment of acne; But it is also useful for improving redness and general inflammation of the skin.

Retinoic acid

Retinoic acid is a type of retinoid and is considered a derivative of vitamin A. These exfoliators are usually used in clinics and are less commonly used in the production of home exfoliating products. Retinoic acid does a deeper exfoliation than BHA and is effective in removing scars, blemishes and fine lines.

Phenol

This strong chemical is used for deep exfoliation of the skin.

Types of chemical skin peeling methods

There are three types of chemical peeling according to the depth of skin peeling, the correct choice of which type and amount depends on the problem in question:

Surface exfoliation

This method is used to affect the upper layer of the skin or epidermis. Considering that surface exfoliation does not penetrate into the deep layers of the skin, it is associated with a lower probability of complications and a faster recovery of the skin. Superficial peels require 1 to 7 days to heal. It is also very important to use sunscreen at this time. Considering that this method is the mildest type of exfoliation, it requires 5 treatment sessions to see the results. Surface exfoliation can be done every 2 to 5 weeks.

Peeling with medium depth

The use of this method is recommended for the following cases:

    Minor acne scars
    Fine wrinkles
    Partial hyperpigmentation
    Sun damage

Medium depth peels require 7 to 14 days to heal. This procedure is associated with swelling that worsens up to 48 hours and may cause blisters. In this situation, the doctor offers methods to improve the skin. Also, exposure to the sun should be avoided until recovery.

Deep exfoliation

Usually, professionals do not use this method. In fact, laser therapy is often more effective than deep peeling for effectiveness on deep layers of the skin, however, this method is used for the following cases:

    Moderate to severe hyperpigmentation
    Moderate to severe sun damage
    Moderate to severe wrinkles

In this method, for the strength of the deep layers of the skin, 14 to 21 days are needed for recovery.

Steps to perform chemical peeling of the skin

Chemical peels can usually be done in a doctor's office. Deeper peelings also require anesthesia; But there is no need for surface types. The frequency of treatment varies according to the conditions of each person, and the final result often appears a few months after the treatment. The chemical is applied to the desired area, which is usually the entire face. With this, the chemical compounds begin peeling. First, the outer layer of the skin, which usually contains dead skin, is removed. Then the chemical compounds begin to stimulate the production of new skin cells.

Procedures before chemical peeling of the skin

As with the skin routine, first clean your face so that the remains of cosmetics, all kinds of creams and fat, dead cells and bacteria are completely removed from the skin. Depending on your skin type, use products specific to your skin type to get the best results and clean your skin well. Then, using a variety of tonics and toners, remove deeper impurities from the skin so that your facial skin is ready for exfoliation.

Care after chemical skin peeling

In order to speed up recovery and reduce the risk of complications, it is necessary to carefully follow the doctor's instructions and avoid makeup and exposure to the sun for two weeks. If necessary, sunscreen with spf15 or higher should be used when leaving the house.

Contraindications for chemical peeling of the skin

Chemical peels are not suitable for everyone. In the presence of certain diseases and the use of certain medications, skin exfoliation should be done with caution:

    Use of isotretinoin for acne in the last six months
    Having a dark complexion
    Having red hair or freckled skin
    Having scars on the skin
    Abnormal skin pigmentation
    Facial warts
    Having a history of herpes

Side effects of chemical skin peeling

Chemical peeling of the skin can have different side effects. Among the side effects of skin peeling are:

    Redness: The normal process of recovery from chemical skin peeling is the improvement of the red parts of the skin after peeling. Skin redness after deep peeling may last for several months.
    Scars: It is rare for chemical peels to cause scars or scars (usually on the lower parts of the face). Antibiotics and steroid drugs can improve the appearance of these scars.

Change in skin color: Chemical skin peeling can cause the treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation) or, conversely, the treated area to be lighter than normal.
(Hypopigmentation): Hyperpigmentation is more common after superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after deep peels. Changes in skin color are also common in people with darker skin and can be permanent.
Infection: Chemical peels can cause herpes virus activity (the virus that causes herpes or cold sores). It is rare that a chemical peel can lead to a bacterial or fungal infection.

Damage to the heart, kidney and liver: Deep peeling of the skin is done with the chemical carbolic acid, which can damage the heart muscles and cause irregular heartbeats. Carbolic acid or phenol can also damage the kidney and liver. To limit the amount of exposure to phenol, deep exfoliation of the skin is done in 10 to 20 minute intervals.