Understanding Acid Peels

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated May 15, 2020)

You've probably heard the term "chemical peel" before, but you might not know what it means. It might even sound kind of scary! Once you know what chemical (or acid) peels are, then you'll be able to make an educated decision on whether or not acid peels are right for you. Chemical peels have their pros and cons, and you need to approach them with a certain degree of caution and knowledge.

Chemical peels, in definition, are simple to understand. It's essentially the removal of the top layer of skin through chemical means, leaving the new layer of skin smoother and with fewer wrinkles. It's a regenerative idea, and one that can work, but can also harm your skin. There is a variety of chemical peels, which include alpha and beta hydroxy acid peels, Jessner's peels, and trichloroacetic acid peels.

Alpha hydroxy peels use naturally occurring carboxylic acids like glycolic acid. This peel is the mildest of the chemical peels, effecting fewer and less deep fine wrinkles, treatment of dryness, acne, and uneven pigmentation. Something unique about alpha hydroxy peels is that they can be combined with your regular cleanser. Beta hydroxy peels are becoming more common, starting to replace the alpha peels as the most often used. Beta peels work better with controlling oils and removing more dead skin cells.

Jessner's peels combine salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol to break intracellular bridges between keratinocytes. Trichlotoacetic acid peels are a more intermediate level of chemical peel and are considered to be a deeper type of peel, peeling all the way into the reticular dermis. This is one that should be used with caution and reserve because of its generally abrasive nature and potential for causing significant scarring if not used correctly. These peels work on smoothing fine wrinkles, removing superficial blemishes, correcting skin pigmentation, and they work best on darker skinned patients. Points to keep in mind about trichloroacetic acid peels are that they may require a pre-treatment, may require repeated treatments for full effectiveness mandate the stringent use of sunscreen, will take several days to recover, and the risk of scarring.

So, now you know the basics behind acid peels, you can better decide if that's what you want to do. If you need another, more specialized opinion, you should see a dermatologist. Work with your dermatologist to decide whether acid peels will be healthy for you and your skin, and always use caution when doing any kind of procedure like this one.

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

MORE FROM CHARLOTTE

Solutions for Leather Cleaning

Leather can be a great material to have in your home, and works especially great on furniture. You may, however, need to ...

Discover More

Great Looking Hair in Very Humid Weather

Humidity doesn't usually bode well for hair and you often end up with hair that doesn't look ideal. Learn how to deal ...

Discover More

Investing in Bonds

Investing in itself is somewhat daunting and before you go into this field you need to know some of the basics. Bonds are ...

Discover More
More Beauty Tips

Unclogging Facial Pores

Clogged pores are a result of over active glands producing oil combined with make up and interaction with the ...

Discover More

Looking Younger

As you age, you may want to retain some of your youthful look and sometimes it's hard to know how to do that. Follow ...

Discover More

Makeup Tips for the Prom

Prom is one of the highlights of high school and you want to look perfect. You may have the dress, the shoes, and the ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 3 + 2?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)