Do Harsh Chemical Peels Really Improve Your Skin?

Everyone needs to have a good understanding of what a chemical peel is first before deciding if it is right for them; a chemical peel otherwise known as chemexfoliation or derma-peel is a procedure, which utilizes a chemical solution to improve the appearance and texture of one's skin.

Chemical peels can be used to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, reduce scarring appearance, treat acne, and reduce the appearance of age spots, freckles, melasma, and even skin tone coloration. It is also used to improve the overall texture and color of skin. Skin conditions that chemical peels cannot help are deep creases, deep wrinkles, and sagging skin; also, a peel cannot help you if your skin needs the basic ongoing maintenance that should be done regularly.

A chemical peel is administered by applying a chemical solution such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid (phenol) on to the facial skin. The chemical solution then begins to blister the contacted skin surface. Once the level of blistering is achieved, the blister will peel off. Depending upon the harshness of the chemical peel administered will determine the depth layer of skin that eventually peels off as well as the recovery time. For harsher chemical peels, recovery can take several weeks and facial skin will more than likely require bandaging for several days and there is more pain involved in recovery. Many times several days in a doctor's facility are necessary to prevent infections. After recovery, the patient will be left with fresh regenerated skin, which has always been under the removed layer.

Chemical peels are not for everyone and people with darker complexions should avoid harsh chemical peels. A candidate for a chemical peel is an individual with a fair complexion.

Depending on the skin condition being treated, will determine how beneficial a chemical peel would be for an individual. Harsh chemical peels are more invasive than a mild or medium chemical peel and does come with more risks. Possible side effects of harsh chemical peels are burns, swelling, serious flaking, scarring, and permanent changes in the color of the skin.

Glycolic peels may be safer because they are milder and only cause mild redness and stinging that last only a few hours rather than days of pain requiring prescription pain medication to ease. Chemical peels using azelaic or kojic acid are less invasive yet highly effective; they also have the advantage of being 100% natural and organic. These peels can be combined with hand-applied microdermabrasion systems to give a complete treatment over a 6-8 week period without any down time. They also have an advantage being used for continued maintenance of your skin even on a long-term basis. Harsh chemical peels are tolerated by your skin on a very infrequent basis, many doctors will only perform the procedure one time on any single patient.

Microdermabrasion and chemical peeling are similar that both their goals are the resurfacing and exfoliation of the skin. The difference is chemical peels can be more invasive affecting more layers of resurfacing. Microdermabrasion works great for smaller acne scars, fine lines, mild to moderate wrinkles, enlarged pores, and sunspots where chemical peels are more effective for deeper wrinkles and scars that are more prominent. Combining it with a azelaic/kojic natural acid peel results in the most effective, least invasive, long-term answer for healthy skin.

A harsh chemical peel should be a last resort for your skin care options. If considering a harsh chemical peel make sure you do your research, know all of your options, and weigh the risks as well as cost and recovery time. If you still choose to go with a harsh chemical peel, make sure you go to a reputable plastic surgeon or dermatologist, normally these professionals will also have in-house recovery spaces for your stay.

Richard Moran is a Business Consultant in Florida. He writes on various subjects and frequently contributes to http://www.paphos-skincare.com which addresses issues of how you may improve your daily skincare at home and through your spa visits. He can be reached at http://www.langohr-foundation.de in Ft Lauderdale, FL.

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