What Is Chemical Resurfacing?
A chemical peel is a procedure in which an applied chemical solution removes the top layers of skin. They are used to treat wrinkles, discolored skin and scars and are performed alone or combined with other cosmetic procedures. There are 3 types of peels ranging from light to deep. Deeper chemical peels offer more-dramatic results but also take longer to recover from.
How Does Chemical Resurfacing Work?
All chemical resurfacing treatments work essentially the same way. The outer layers of damaged skin are stripped away and new cells form during the healing process. These new skin cells provide smoother, tighter, and younger-looking skin. With a light or medium peel, you may need to undergo the procedure more than once to get the desired results.
Types Of Peels
- Light:Â A superficial chemical peel removes the outer layer of skin (epidermis). It treats fine wrinkles, acne, uneven skin tone and dryness. You might have a light peel every two to five weeks.
- Medium: A medium peel removes cells from the epidermis and portions of the upper middle layer of skin (dermis). It treats wrinkles, acne scars and uneven skin tone.
- Deep:Â A deep chemical peel removes skin cells even deeper. Your doctor may recommend this for deeper wrinkles, scars or precancerous growths.
What Can I Expect With My Treatment?
First, your practitioner will clean your skin, then they will apply the peel solution to remove layers of dead and damaged skin which encourages the growth of new, healthy skin cells. This procedure takes less than 20 minutes with minimal downtime, making it ideal for patients who cannot take much time off from work. Patients can usually achieve their desired results after a short series of peels performed, in anywhere from one to four week intervals. Pinkness and peeling for a few days after the peel is normal, but you can conceal these side effects with moisturizer and makeup. Results differ depending on the strength of the chemical peel, and its best to avoid scratching or touching the new skin. Finally, it is important to listen to your provider take the proper precautions after a peel such as using moisturizer and SPF.
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