Using chemicals peels to treat the skin may sound a bit worrying.  However, contrary to many beliefs, chemical peeling does not thin out the skin and are used by over 30,000 aesthetic dermatology specialists worldwide. Optimal results can be achieved in just 20 minutes making this an ideal lunch-time treatment as there is no downtime.

What is a Chemical Peel?

A chemical solution is applied to the skin to accelerate the skin’s natural exfoliation in a controlled way, so that new skin can grow in its place.

What are Peels for?

Chemical peels can be applied to the face, neck, décolleté, hands and other body parts.  They are used to address three key skin indications:

Acne-prone skin

To improve the look and feel of oily skin

To improve the appearance of mild scars

Premature skin aging

To reduce fine lines under the eyes

To improve the appearance of wrinkles caused by sun damage ad premature skin ageing.

Pigment spots and melasma

To reduce the visibility of age spots

To diminish the appearance of dark patches and melasma.

What does a chemical peel do to the skin?

To understand how chemical peels work, you need to understand about skin.

On a cellular level, we understand that the skin has a natural turnover / renewal cycle which slows with age. This leads to the skin’s appearance looking dull, collagen levels becoming depleted, and the epidermis flat and thinner.

This lack of renewal then gives way to the dermis beneath becoming more susceptible to UV exposure, deep lines, pigmentation & photodamage, and injury. The epidermis will also have textural changes, mutations such as pre-malignant and malignant lesions, the skin will be noticeably less dense with dryness and vascular changes.

In a skin clinic, the scope mainly pertains to the epidermis and dermis, although tissue fillers and botulinum toxin injections will work in the other areas of the skin & muscle.   The signs of aging within the dermis and on the epidermis and due to the skin's structural elements in these areas, which we can treat.

There are many different treatments that can be done but the safest, and most widely used is chemical peels.

Contra-indications

A chemical peel may not be done if you have:

Recently used isotretinoin (a drug used to treat acne)

Had a recent facial surgery or facial radiation therapy

An active herpes infection affecting the area to be treated

Known allergies to certain medicine

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding

If you are unsure, you should discuss any concerns with your doctor before your peel session. 

TYPES OF PEELS

Superficial peels are the mildest type of chemical peel and can be used on all skin types.  These professional treatments usually contain mild acids AHA and BHA, most particularly glycolic acid.

Medium peels penetrate the skin more deeply than superficial peels and cause a visible skin desquamation. TCA and sometimes Phenol are the main peeling agents used in medium peels.