Chemical peels are one of the top three most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedures and provide a very effective way to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, eliminate acne, and resolve hyperpigmentation. However, they require a great deal of skill and experience on the part of the practitioner who performs the procedure, and they are capable of producing poor results when used by unqualified or careless hands.
Chemical peels come in three primary categories, depending on how deep they penetrate the skin’s surface – mild, moderate, and deep. All chemical peels are based on acidic or caustic compounds of varying strengths, applied under highly controlled conditions. Generally speaking, mild and moderate peels are the safest, while deep peels carry the potential for more unwanted side-effects and require correspondingly greater care and oversight in their application.
Here’s a summary of the various problems that chemical peels can address, as well as applications for which they are not best suited.
Wrinkles and Fine Lines Reduction
Mild chemical peels are used to stimulate the replacement of the outer skin layer and can result in the lessening (or elimination) of fine lines and wrinkles. They can also help improve general skin tone and texture.
Treating Acne-Prone Skin
Salicylic acid-based mild peels are an effective and safe way to treat acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation and are effective for treating oily skin, as well as rosacea. Chemical peels are also useful as a way to treat mild acne scars, once the acne infection has been cleared up. Scar treatment requires a more aggressive chemical peel than acne treatment does.
Treating Discolored or Sun-Damaged Skin
Chemical peels can help to even out irregular skin tone resulting from sun damage.
Having covered the areas where chemical peels can help, here’s a list of situations in which they should not be used, or used only after careful consideration:
Reducing Visibility of Blood Vessels
Chemical peels will not help address visible blood vessels or capillaries.
Reducing Raised Scar Tissue
Chemical peels cannot help to reduce the visibility of any raised keloid scar tissue.
Tighten Sagging Skin
Another area where chemical peels cannot help – they won’t help to tighten up any loose or sagging skin. They can, however, help to address rough skin texture, as well as to reduce pigmentation imbalances, so they’ll certainly help to improve the look of your skin.
Your Laser Skin Care
Your Laser Skin Care can provide you with the expert advice that is needed before deciding on any treatment using chemical peels. We have extensive experience using chemical peels, as well as many other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals, including how best to combine different procedures when appropriate. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
