A chemical peel is a body treatment technique used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the dead skin to slough off and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Thus the term chemical peel is derived. Some types of chemical peels can be purchased and administered without a medical license, however people are advised to seek professional help from a dermatologist, esthetician or a plastic surgeon on a specific type of chemical peel before a procedure is performed.
Retinoic acid Peels
Retinoic acid is a retinoid. This type of facial peel is also performed in the office of a plastic surgeon, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or a dermatologist in a medical spa setting. This is a deeper peel than the beta hydroxy acid peel and is used to remove scars as well as wrinkles and pigmentation problems. It is usually performed in conjunction with a Jessner; which is performed right before, in order to open up the skin, so the retinoic acid can penetrate on a deeper level. The client leaves with the chemical peel solution on their face. The peeling process takes place on the third day. More dramatic changes to the skin require multiple peels over time.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid Peels (AHAs)
AHAs are naturally occurring carboxylic acids found in fruits like glycolic acid and lactic acid.
AHAs can also be incorporated into daily skincare products to improve skin texture.
Although effective for skin texture improvement, AHAs are not typically used for treating wrinkles.
These peels are the mildest and are used for treating fine wrinkles, dryness, uneven pigmentation, and acne.
Common AHAs include citric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid.
Possible side effects of AHA peels include stinging, redness, mild irritation, and dryness.
Jessner’s PeelsIt is thought to break intracellular bridges between keratinocytes.It is very difficult to “overpeel” the skin due to the mild percentages associated with the acid combination, and does not penetrate as deeply as other chemical peels. The combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol in Jessner’s Peel is thought to work synergistically to exfoliate the skin & promote cellular turnover.
Beta Hydroxy Acid Peels It is becoming common for beta hydroxy acid (BHA) peels to be used instead of the stronger alpha hydroxy acid peels due to BHA’s ability to get deeper into the pore than AHA Studies show that BHA peels control sebum excretion, acne as well as remove dead skin cells to a certain extent better than AHAs due to AHAs only working on the surface of the skin. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid.
