Does Chemical Peel Make Any Difference to Your Skin?

A chemical peel is actually a cosmetic procedure that involves some skin-friendly chemicals for making it smoother, clearer, and brighter. Certainly, this procedure differs from over-the-counter available cosmetic serums, gels, or ointments. The right-fit peel helps your skin rejuvenate via quick turnover of its cells so that you can achieve desirable results. 

All aforesaid claims are true and proven. These peels are actually miraculous when it comes to treating discoloured skin, scars, superficial dullness, and pigmentation on the surface. The experienced skin specialists combine them with other non-invasive cosmetic treatments to offer dramatic results. 

Recently, the expenditure on these cosmetic surgeries including the botox, dermal fillers, & chemical peel in Coolangatta has increased in Australia, especially. By spending $1 billion on cosmetic surgery, Australia is way ahead of the US that spends 40% lesser than the US per capita. 

What difference do various chemical peels bring to your skin? 

This is actually an amazing skin–resurfacing procedure. These peels address various skin conditions with their effective penetration to different levels of depth. 

Let’s get through the roundup of three different treatments. 

Light chemical peel

It actively treats superficial conditions of the outer layer of the skin, i.e. epidermis. You can see softening of fine wrinkles, eliminating acne, uneven skin tone, and dryness. Being consistent with a light peel treatment every two to five weeks means a better and finer surface. 

Medium chemical peel

This medium chemical peel helps in rejuvenating skin cells by quickening the cell turnover from the epidermis and the upper part of your middle layer (dermis). With its fabulous effect, folds, lines, acne scars, and uneven skin tone would no more be a concern for you. These results can make you look younger and beautiful for a longer period if you repeat them. 

Deep chemical peel

This peel penetrates a bit deeper into your surface and removes stubborn dead cells. For deeper wrinkles, scars, & precancerous growth removal, it’s an elixir. The best thing is that you need not visit over and over for having a softer and radiant texture.

Here, patients should know that it is of no use if they want improvement in their deep scars and sagging.  

Is There Any Risk Associated? 

Certainly, this cosmetic treatment revives your tone and texture. But, it’s not a surety that it won’t cause any pain or side effects. Here are a few commonly witnessed side effects: 

• Redness, scabbing, and swelling in accordance with the peel used.
• Scarring is rarely seen on the lower part of the face, which can be eliminated with antibiotics and steroid medications.
• Discolouration or changes in your skin color, which can turn it darker than normal (hyperpigmentation because of superficial peel) or lighter than normal (hypopigmentation because of a deep peel). 
• Infection, as a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection can flare up the herpes virus.
• Heart, kidney, or liver damage is seen in rare cases of a deep chemical peel, which includes peeling with carbolic acid (phenol). It can hurt heart muscles and lead to an irregular heartbeat. Even, kidneys and liver may be damaged because of their strong impact. However, experienced doctors use it at the interval of 10-20 minutes.

It’s Not Ideal in These Cases

This treatment is not the best fit for all. Consult with a skin specialist before this procedure. The experienced aesthetician disallows: 

• Who had been on the oral acne medication called isotretinoin (Myorisan, Claravis, others) in the last six months
• Who have a family history of keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue)
• Pregnant ladies
• Who are prone to frequent or severe cold sores

What Difference Do You Expect?

Before the procedure

It’s usually a lunchtime procedure, which requires a clean surface to proceed. For protecting your hair and eyes, they are covered using an ointment, gauze, tape, & glasses. 

Being a painless treatment, you don’t need any painkiller in case of a mild peel. Medium and deep peels might require sedatives and numbing cream for a comforting experience.  

During the procedure

At the time of a light chemical peel procedure, 

• The surface is sanitized. Then, a chemical solution typically containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid is applied using a brush, cotton ball, gauze, or sponge. The skin turns lighter as it shows its effect.
• It feels like being stung as it is applied on the surface. 
• The numbing solution is applied to prepare the surface for the chemical peel treatment.

At the time of a medium chemical peel procedure:

• A solution having trichloroacetic acid and sometimes together with glycolic acid is applied using a cotton-tipped applicator or gauze. Its application also lightens the tone of the treated area.  
• For soothing the deep sensation, cool compresses are applied. Using a hand-held fan to cool down that area is a common practice. It requires no neutralizing solution. 
• It feels like burning for nearly 20 minutes.

At the time of a deep chemical peel procedure:

• An intravenous (IV) fluid is given and simultaneously, your heart beat rate is closely monitored.
• Carbolic acid is applied using a cotton-tipped applicator, which causes lighter skin colour in that area.
• consistent exposure to phenol can be dangerous. So, the doctor continues at the interval of about 15-minutes. The entire facial procedure wraps up in about 90 minutes.

After the procedure

Each peeling leaves a different experience. So, it’s necessary to consult with a certified doctor who has years of experience in cosmetic treatments. They prohibit sun exposure. Also, the patient should follow a proper cleansing, lubricating, and protective ointment regime. It’s better not to pick, rub, or scratch that area. Moreover, your treated skin achieves normal tone over months.  

Also read: Summer Skincare Routine: Dermatologist Proven Tips And Tricks

Here are a few things that you should take into account.

What Happens After a Lighter Peel?

It’s normal to have redness, dryness, and mild irritation post a light chemical peel. However, these signs are less pronounced. Apply sunscreen or ointment that the doctor suggests. Soothe your skin with petroleum jelly. You may put on some makeup if you want the next day. 

The skin returns to normal a week after this procedure with lighter or darker than normal skin. 

What Happens After a Medium Chemical Peel?

Certainly, the treated skin looks reddish and swollen. You feel a piercing sensation, which can be addressed using a protective ointment or petroleum jelly. After a week, you may continue to use cosmetics. 

However, the redness will be there. Use ice packs for a cooling sensation. If the pain is unbearable, you may take pain-relieving medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, others). If it persists, schedule a check-up for quick relief. 

As the inflammation reduces, you see a crust formation of a darker shade and brown blotches. Within two weeks, your skin heals. But, the redness may take a few months to fade away. 

What Happens After a Deep Chemical Peel?

The redness and swelling will be severe. It feels like burning all over the treated area and the inflammation may not allow your eyelids to open completely. 

The treated surface is dressed as it’s surgically treated. For overcoming pain, you may take prescribed medicine. Apply ointment many times a day as per prescription for about two weeks. 

Within 14 days, the healing will be over. But, the reddish surface may take a few months to turn normal. It may appear darker or lighter than the skin tone you normally have. But, it won’t tan. 

The doctor recommends you stay in the shade until you completely heal. Strictly follow the follow-up visits soon after the treatment to get the best advice. 

As the skin recovers, you may use concealer or any cosmetic with sunscreen for the daytime. 

Results

Remember that the improvement may be dramatically amazing. But, it won’t last forever. Over time, the gravity, aging, and sun can damage your surface as they usually do. 

Also Read: Skin Treatments for Younger and Flawless Looks

Summary

Chemical peels make a difference to your skin. It turns darker or lighter in tone, and also looks smoother, firmer, and better. The scars fade away. Some breakouts get off and even, the pigmentation shows signs of improvement. But, the doctor can suggest which light, medium, and deep chemical peels are the best fit for your skin condition.