General description

A chemical peel is a procedure during which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers. The skin that grows back is smoother. If you're getting a light or moderate peel, you may need to undergo the procedure more than once to get the desired results.

Chemical peels are used to treat wrinkles, skin color changes, and scars, usually on the face. It can be performed alone or in combination with other aesthetic procedures. And it can be done at different depths, from superficial to deep. The deep chemical peel gives more impressive results but the recovery is slower.

Why is it done?

Chemical peel is a skin rejuvenation procedure. Depending on the problems you want to solve through the procedure, you will choose one of three types of depths for the chemical peel:

• Gentle chemical exfoliation. A mild (superficial) chemical peel removes the outer layer of skin (epidermis). It is used to treat fine wrinkles, acne, uneven skin tone, and dryness. You can do a light chemical peel every two to five weeks.
• Medium chemical peel. A medium chemical peel removes skin cells from the epidermis and portions of the upper middle layer of skin (dermis). It is used to treat wrinkles, acne scars, and uneven skin tone. You may need to repeat the procedure to achieve or maintain the desired result.
• Deep chemical peel. A deep chemical peel removes skin cells even deeper. Your doctor might recommend one for deeper wrinkles, scars, or precancerous growths. You will not need to repeat the procedure to get the full effect.