Most people have heard of chemical peels for the skin but may not realize how far the method has developed. Some estheticians say it may be one of the best ways to improve the skin. Chemical peels have been used since ancient times to improve the skin in many ways.
Chemical peels are non-invasive and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. This can allow newer and brighter skin to grow. Chemical peels have come a long way and now are not only used to improve wrinkles and blemishes but also to treat other conditions such as acne, melasma, and darkening of the skin or hyperpigmentation.
Christina Kasnoff, Founder and Director of The Skin Clinic in San Francisco California told us, “Modern chemical peels aren’t just used for cosmetic purposes. Medical estheticians and dermatologists use skin peels for several purposes ranging from reducing acne to delaying the onset of skin cancer. Mild chemical peels are often used to treat acne, since they help to keep pores clean. For sun damage and hyperpigmentation problems like melasma, medium depth peels are often more effective. Medium-depth and deep peels are also used to treat severe acne.”
Skin peels remove the outer layers of the skin which can help repair some of the damage done over time by sun exposure and aging. This essentially speeds up the natural process of exfoliation allowing newer “younger” skin to be exposed.
The biggest advantage that most people like about this method is that it can help people look younger. People use chemical peels for many reasons but looking younger is probably the number one reason. Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and evening out skin tone can significantly change the look of a person’s skin. Medium depth peels are the most likely choice for those who want to look younger by smoothing out the skin and evening out skin tone. In some cases deeper peels can be used to help with scars and deeper wrinkles. The results can be significant and last for years.
The time it takes for the process varies depending on the type of peel. Milder Alpha Hydroxy peels work quickly and may last about a month. But maintenance peels can be done on a monthly basis. One common concern people have with this method is how much downtime will be involved.
Those using peels report various levels of pain and redness usually based on the type of peel done. Milder peels generally have very little or no downtime whereas medium depth peels can cause excessive pinkness of the skin which may not fade away until the skin is done healing.
Christina said, “Recovery should occur and new skin should appear within one to three weeks from light- and medium-depth peels, though it may take as long as three months before the pinkness completely fades following a very deep peel. The results can last several months or years, depending on the acids used to perform the peel.”
Christina Kasnoff can be reached at: http://www.kasnoffskinclinic.com/.