Risks and Benefits of Chemical Peels

For women and men plagued by facial blemishes, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation and acne chemical peels can provide some of the simplest as well as effective forms of treatment to restore that radiant youthful glow. They are some of the oldest forms of cosmetic procedures performed around world as they were performed even by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Chemical peels are very popular today because they offer almost immediate results and are routinely performed as outpatient procedures. Here are some of the benefits and risks associated with chemical peels.

Blotches on the skin can make the complexion dull. These will not usually clear up by themselves. Chemical peels have the ability to penetrate deep enough to reach the layer of darkened skin and remove it. This will help in evening out the skin tone. Chemical peels can also be used to improve skin damaged by the sun. The sun is the main cause of wrinkles and fine lines and even though a good skin care regimen can reduce the effect of the sun it is impossible to avoid sun damage of the skin altogether. The sun damaged layer can be removed with a chemical peel so that the smooth and fresh layer is exposed. The mild Alphahydroxy acids (AHA) chemical peels are used for this purpose.

Poor dietary habits, lack of rest and changing seasons can make the complexion, dull, ruddy and darker. The Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel which is a medium depth chemical peel can be used to lighten the skin and improve skin pigmentation. These peels are also used to remove facial lines and eliminate flaws in the skin including birthmarks. For those suffering from acne, treatment with chemical peels can be very valuable. Mild chemical peels such as glycolic acid peels and AHAs can be used to clear up the inflammation and the acne scars as well.

The deep phenol chemical peels can be used to remove deeper lines on the skin, to remove birthmarks, eliminate precancerous growths, control acne, remove acne scars and improve blemishes. Only a single treatment is necessary. Chemical peels have also been used to remove age spots and improve skin texture. The fresh layer of skin that is revealed is more youthful and smoother. One of the important benefits of chemical peel treatment is that they mostly require one or two treatments and you will start to see the results within a few days. The recovery time is also very little as compared to many other cosmetic procedures. The treatment also takes 15 to 20 minutes and one hour in the doctor’s office is usually enough for one treatment.

However, chemical peels are not without their share of side effects and risks. The common side effects of chemical peels are redness, stinging sensation and peeling of skin. The sensation of stinging and burning is due to skin contact with the chemicals. However in most cases these sensations are temporary and bearable. The redness will depend on the strength of the chemical solution to be used in the procedure. The milder AHA peels may not cause any redness in many cases but the deep phenol peels can cause redness that will last up to 4 months.

Skin irritation and crusting are also normal occurrences when using chemical peels. The doctor will give instructions for dealing effectively with them. Peeling and flaking of the skin are also temporary but normal occurrences after chemical peel treatment. The doctor will give instructions for post treatment care to deal with these. In rare cases undesirable changes in skin color can occur. These can be due to hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation. In most cases this condition is temporary. In rare cases scarring, infection, outbreaks of cold sores have also been observed. To avoid the risks make sure to get the procedure done with an experienced and reputed cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist and follow all instructions completely.