What is a Chemical Peel?

The method of chemical peeling is also referred to as derma peeling or chemo exfoliation. This is a non surgical cosmetic treatment which is being used to get rid of skin blemishes, acne marks, wrinkles, fine lines, uneven skin pigmentation, etc. Many people consider it as an alternative to plastic surgery. The best part of using chemical peel is that it gives fast results. Moreover, it does not require any hospitalization and a person is treated as an outpatient.

What is a Chemical Peel?

A chemical peel is a chemical based solution with acidic component. In chemical peeling treatment, this solution is applied on the affected part of the skin surface after thoroughly cleaning the area. It is then allowed to penetrate into the skin and separate the dead, damaged skin cells present on the uppermost layer of the skin from the underlying skin. The separated skin gets peeled off after some time and a healthy, clear skin is revealed which has a smooth texture and bright complexion. Chemical peels are mostly used on facial skin but it can be used on other areas like neck, arms, chest, legs, etc. There are three different types of chemical peels. They are:

Light Chemical Peel
This is also known as superficial peel. The chemical components of these peels contain either Alpha hydroxy Acid (or AHA) or Beta hydroxy Acid (or BHA). AHA peel mostly uses glycolic acid and BHA peels have salicylic acid. It is often used on dry, rough skin, acne prone skin and sun damaged skin. As it has a mild effect on the skin, it has to be reapplied after 6-8 weeks. The method of application of this peel is quite simple as it does not require any anesthesia. For this reason, you can use this chemical peel at home. If you are looking for what is the best at home chemical peel, then I would suggest a glycolic acid peel as it is derived from naturally occurring fruit acids. The most effective peel for acne prone skin is a salicylic acid peel.

Medium Chemical Peel
Trichloroacetic Acids (TCA) is the main ingredient of medium depth chemical peels. This peel is more suitable for those people who have dark-colored skin. It is used for the treatment of superficial skin blemishes, fine lines of wrinkles and abnormal skin pigmentation. If a concentrated form of this chemical peel is used for skin treatment, then anesthesia is needed. Otherwise, no anesthesia is required. Sometimes, more than one sitting are required after a gap of one or two months in order to obtain best results.

Deep Chemical Peel
This peel contains a strong chemical named phenol acid which readily penetrates deep into the skin and treat the skin problem. Just one session is enough to get best results from this treatment. If you ask me what is the best chemical peel for deep wrinkles or blotchy skin, then the answer is phenol peels. Sometimes, it is even used on pre-cancerous growths. This type of chemical peel has to be performed by a certified dermatologist only. It is carried out under anesthesia and recovery time for the treatment is much longer. This peel is not good for those with dark skin tone.

What to Expect After a Chemical Peel?

The selection of the chemical peel is based upon the skin condition of a person. Moreover, the medical history of the patient is studied before the treatment. This is because people with medical history of fever blisters, keloid, etc. tend to get some unwanted complications like permanent change of skin tone. Thus the chances of any adverse side effects are minimized. Still, some temporary chemical peel side effects such as pain, burning sensation, swelling, reddening of the skin can be observed soon after the treatment. These problems subside within few hours or days after the treatment. These effects can be controlled to a great extent with the help of medicines and proper skin care. The treatment is highly effective on skin discoloration, acne problem, wrinkles, age spots, etc. However, if you want to use chemical peel for acne scars then let me tell you that it is effective only on superficial scars and cannot eliminate deep scars. Also, do not expect that it will reduce large skin pores or tighten up sagging skin.

A chemical peel cost varies according to its type. The cost of a light chemical peel treatment is the lowest and is around $150. You can get an over the counter mild chemical peel for home treatment at $30. A medium chemical peel will cost you about $1000 for one session. A deep chemical peeling is most expensive and it could be as high as $6000.