Chemical peels are a single, safe procedure that actually turn back the clock by peeling away the old skin to entice new, thicker and richer skin. This process promotes enhanced collagen and elastin synthesis in the dermis and epidermis where the initial aging signs are seen. The goal is to beautify the appearance, texture and homogeneity and eliminate uneven discoloration, brown spots, scars and fine wrinkles.

• Signs of aging
• Sun damage
• Reduce acne scars
• Shrink pores
• Skin dryness and blotchiness
• Gravitational changes of laxity and tightness of skin
• Eliminate brown discolorations
• Eliminate actinic keratosis
• Improve melasma
• Improve surgical or traumatic scars
• Renew skin appearance to a healthy glow
• Remove precancerous skin lesions

Chemical peels can be applied to the entire face or segment of the face, such as under the eyes only or scars on the face, along with deep furrows or specific aging lines. Our experience has shown it is better to peel the entire face so there is homogeneous change, without any skin tone discrepancy.

However, chemical peels are not just limited to the face and neck, although they are the most commonly peeled anatomical entities. The peel can also be applied to almost any other part of the body, most commonly the torso and anywhere stretch marks have developed.

There are many types and names of chemical peels, however simply put, peels can be divided into three categories depending on the depth of penetration (depth of penetration into the dermis — skin).

• mild
• intermediate
• deep

The stronger the acid, the deeper the is chemical peeling. Consequently, the deeper the acid penetrates the skin, the more intense the reaction, the longer the duration of the downtime and the more formidable the final result.

Since there are many kinds, as well as many concentrations of chemicals utilized in chemical peels, the art and science of chemical peeling is not as simple as it seems. However, a cosmetic practitioner with years of experience should be the only one trusted to recommend a peel, or a combination of peels, that fit your needs and goals.

Below are some general guidelines:

For Active Acne – Peels that contain salicylic acid are best indicated for active acne with blackheads and whiteheads.

For Acne Scars – Depending on the skin type, glycolic acid or TCA acid peels are best for treating acne scars.

For a Healthy Skin Glow – Glycolic acid, mandelic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or combination acids, such as in Jessner peel are best for that healthy skin glow. But, again, only trust experience medical professionals to come up with a combination of peels.

For Sun Damaged Skin – Glycolic acid, TCA, croton-phenol oil peel, or any combination of these are best for sun damaged skin.

For Skin Tightening – For the face, usually the deeper peels are the best, such as TCA or croton oil peels.

For Melasma – Melasma is a difficult condition to treat. Serial chemical peels with a mixture of formulas are the best, such as kojic acid, retinoic acid and glycolic acid peels.

For the Neck – The neck skin is thin, so it’s best to treat the neck with milder chemical peels. Milder and gentle appeals are preferred. Aggressive peels are contraindicated.

For the Body – There are various formulas for body peels, but the most common acid is glycolic acid.

For Feet & Hands – Signs of aging of the hands and feet can be treated by serial, gentle chemical peels with astonishing results. Keeping up with regular chemical peels can result in baby-smooth skin of the feet and hands.

What are some of the common MILD chemical peels?

Usually these are fruit/organic acids:

• Salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid extracted from citrus fruits
• Glycolic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid extracted from sugarcane
• Lactic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) extracted from sour milk
• Kojic acid, which is extracted from a special Japanese mushroom
• Azelaic acid, which is a dicarboxylic acid found in wheat
• Mandelic acid, which is a alpha hydroxy acid extracted from bitter almonds

It is important to note that these peels come in various concentrations. The higher the concentration, the deeper the peeling. For example, a 17% glycolic acid peel will have a much milder recovery course and outcome than a 70% glycolic acid peel.

Common intermediate chemical peels: The most common intermediate peel is the trichloroacetic acid, more commonly known as the TCA peel.

Common deep chemical peels: Deep phenol peels and croton-phenol oil peelsare the most common deep chemical peels.

What is a Phenol Peel?

Phenol peel, also known as croton oil peel. The combination of phenol and croton oil constitutes the strongest of the chemical solutions and produces a deep peel. It is used mainly to treat patients with coarse skin, advanced sun damage, skin discoloration, deep wrinkles and/or precancerous skin lesions. Even though the post peel redness usually lingers two to four weeks, the results are amazing and cannot be achieved with anything else.