Chemical peel is a cosmetic procedure which applies chemical solutions to the skin in order to correct its appearance and health. During the procedure the outer layer of skin is removed with the help of the chemical solutions.

The solutions used in the chemical peels usually include phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) and betahydroxy acids (BHA).

There are many benefits of chemical skin exfoliation. It makes your skin younger, free of wrinkles and blemishes, acne and uneven pigmentation and other imperfections. Chemical peel treatment is a very simple cosmetic procedure which can improve your skin appearance and health.

There are different types of chemical peels and each one has its own benefits and risks.

Chemical peels benefits:

AHAs (mild chemical peels):
• Make your dry skin smoother
• Improve skin impaired by the sun
• Control acne
• If combined with bleaching agent AHAs eliminate pigment problems
• Can be used as TCA pre-treatment
• Don’t need long recovery period

BHAs (mild chemical peels):
• Make your dry skin smoother
• Control acne
• Clean pores and helps to get rid of blackheads
• Good for oily skin treatment, sun damaged skin and pigmentary disturbances.
• Don’t need long recovery period

TCAs (medium-depth peels):
• Remove thin facial lines
• Eliminate skin flaws and birthmarks
• Improve skin pigmentation

Phenol (deep peel):
• treats blemishes
• Removes deep skin lines
• Removes birthmarks
• Corrects acne scars and treats acne
• Provides long-lasting effects
• A single treatment is needed

Risks of chemical peels:

All methods of chemical skin exfoliation and chemical peels have some risks and possible complications. These risks include unpredictable scarring, irritation and infections and are associated with individual characteristics of the sin. The risk of complications is minimal when the procedure is performed by qualified person.

AHA and BHA treatment may cause skin irritation, redness and burning. AHA and BHA treatment require several sessions and your skin may need some time to adjust to this discomfort.

Middle-depth TCA chemical peel may cause unexpected discoloration of the skin. You will be advised to avoid sun exposure for several months and use strong sunscreen.

Phenol deep chemical peel can make your skin lighter in color or may cause discoloration of the skin when some areas become lighter than others. People with heart problems shouldn’t use phenol peel because it can cause undesired effects. This type of chemical peel is also not recommended for dark skin treatment.

If you have any questions or anxiety about the chemical peel procedure, it’s better to consult your doctor before the procedure.