What is skin peel?

Skin peel (also referred to as skin exfoliation) is one of the most popular and effective skin care procedures of improving the skin appearance and health. Peel process relates to any method which can be used to remove dead cells layer from the skin surface. Besides removing dead cells from your skin, skin peels also can help to detoxify the skin, improve blood and lymph circulation and treat numerous skin problems. It makes your skin healthier and smoother, improves its color and texture and helps to treat such imperfections as acne, some kinds of scars, fine lines, clogged pores, brown spots, stretch marks and others.

How does skin peel work?

The dirt and dust may clog pores and glands and can result in skin problems, making skin look unhealthy. The sun, wind and other negative factors also cause some skin problems; moreover, one can have such problems as wrinkles, age spots, stretch marks, scars etc. Including skin exfoliation at your regular skin care program, you can get rid of the majority of these imperfections by scrubbing away the very thin layer of dead cells from your skin and revealing young and healthy skin. Regular skin peel can help you to keep your skin young, smooth and clean and to avoid numerous skin problems.

Types of skin peels:

To exfoliate your skin you can choose any method which helps to remove dead cells layer and dirt from the skin surface. There are several general methods you can use:
Mechanical skin peel. Mechanical peel can be performed with different types of substances which contain exfoliating particles. These scrubbing particles can be made from the different kinds of natural and synthetic materials.
Chemical skin peel. Chemical peels usually contain natural acids which are derived from fruits or milk and help to dissolve the “glue” between skin surface and dead cells layer. These acids usually are Lactic acid (derived from sour milk), Glycolic acid (derived from sugar cane), Malic acid (derived from apples), Salicylic acid (derived from sweet birch), Tartaric acid (from grapes) etc.
Enzyme peel. These peels work by dissolving dead cells layer without friction and don’t irritate the skin like mechanical and acid peels. Enzyme skin peels usually contain Papain enzyme found in Papaya, Bromelain enzyme derived from Pine apple and Pumpkin proteolytic enzymes.
Laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing is a procedure made by physician with the help of beam of the light. It usually uses the high-intensity light emissions which are vaporized around the skin sunken imperfections such as wrinkles and scars. During the procedure physician takes off dead skin sells from the surface of your skin, layer by layer.
Dermabrasion. Uses a high-speed brush or fraise to remove the surface skin and dead cells layer.
Microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a new form of dermabrasion, which uses a stream of fine crystals or diamond covered microdermabrasion tips in order to peel the skin and stimulate cell
renewal. The procedure improves skin clarity, minimizes glow and blocked pores, helps to treat acne, scars, fine lines and other imperfections.

Mechanical skin exfoliation can be performed at home with different types of exfoliating masks, scrubs, gels, lotions or a soft washcloth. Chemical and enzyme peels in low concentrations can also be used at home and more strong chemical peels are usually used under the medical control. Laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion procedures are usually performed by specially trained persons at day or med spa. Using any one of these methods you should always consider your skin type.

Why do we need skin peel?

Our skin is permanently eliminates toxins and regulates the temperature of our body with the help of the pores, sebaceous glands and sweat glands, also it constantly absorbs and secrets different substances. The dirt and dust may clog pores and glands and can cause skin problems and make skin look unhealthy. Using skin peels you can get rid of the majority of these imperfections.

How often to exfoliate?

Our skin is regenerating permanently, so dead cells are always present on the surface of the skin, that’s why skin peel should be performed regularly. Peeling scrubs, masks, gels and other peeling products for home use should be used according to instructions on the package. Usually you can use a gentle peel daily or a stronger peel 1-3 times per week considering your skin type:
- for normal skin you can use peel 1 time per week.
- oily skin - 2-3 times per week.
- dry skin - 1 per week.
- combination skin - 2-3 times per week.
- sensitive skin - once or twice per week

Which skin peel to choose?

To exfoliate your skin you can choose any method which helps to remove dead cell layer and dirt from the skin surface. Abrasive substances are the most common one and are usually used in order to clean clogged pores as well as to eliminate the dead cells. Skin peels can also include chemical peels, microdermabrasion treatments and laser peels, but these methods are usually used under the medical control. Also there is a wide choice of different skin peels you can use by yourself, for example some peeling masks, scrubs, peeling gels and lotions, cloths and gloves. It’s better to use them after the steam bath because it opens the pores, so the exfoliation will be more effective.

Even the most simple skin peel method can help you to:
- Smooth your skin surface
- Make your skin look fresher
- Clean clogged pores
- Improve skin’s thickness
- Improve skin cell renewal
- Clear off the dead skin layer and allow the active ingredients in skin care products reach the inner layers of your skin to do more good.

The things to remember while skin peel procedure:

Despite the fact that skin peel can help you to solve a great number of the skin problems, one should be very careful using skin peels. First of all it concerns strong peels, which can injure skin surface, reaching not only dead cells layer but also new young cells. The idea that stronger peel is more effective than soft one is completely wrong. It’s better to use gentle peels regularly than use hard one from time to time, in this way you will keep your skin young and clear without injuring it.

And finally the skin peel has to be always followed with washing face with cold water, good moisturizer and sun protection.