Chemical Peel For Body
Chemical Exfoliation For Smoother, Brighter Back
Chemical peel is not just a exfoliation treatment for the face. It is essentially a skin resurfacing treatment can also be used to treat other parts of the body that may be plagued with dull skin or acne.
It is perhaps one of the most traditional and oldest skin resurfacing treatments. As the name suggests, it is a cosmetic treatment that involves careful exfoliation of the superficial skin layer using a specially prepared acid. The acid removes a thin layer of damaged skin cells across the treated area. Over the next few days, your skin will begin to heal and new skin will grow and replace the skin that was removed. This convenient, fuss-free treatment remains a favorite among doctors and patients because it is a very safe treatment with very little side effects.
Types of Chemical Peels
In general, there are 3 different types of chemical peels you can find at any aesthetic clinic. These are:
SUPERFICIAL PEELS These are very mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) to gently exfoliate the top layer of the skin. It only penetrates the outermost layer of the skin, causing mild redness which should subside within 1-2 days. Another example of a superficial peel is salicylic acid. Such superficial acids are best used for treating mild conditions such as superficial pigmentation, early photo-ageing, mild acne and fine lines. As it is a mild treatment, your doctor may require you to repeat this treatment a few times for longer-lasting results.
MEDIUM PEELS Medium peels are used to reach the superficial and middle layer of the skin. Some examples of medium peels are Jessner solution and TCA 35-50%. These peels are often done in a single session because of the depth of the penetration. Medium peels are capable of causing significant damage to the skin. With the damage to the top and middle layers, you can expect some collagen stimulation during the recovery period. This means that medium peels are best used to treat moderate ageing, superficial acne scars, epidermal growth and deeper pigments.
DEEP PEELS The most aggressive of all chemical peels, deep peels can potentially burn patients if carried out by inexperienced doctors. Deep peels are used to fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged skin cells. Examples of deep peels are phenolic acids and stronger TCA such as TCA 50% or higher. Deep peels are usually used to treat severe skin ageing and deep wrinkles. These peels often dissolve the superficial layer of the skin to encourage new skin growth. You can also expect significant collagen remodelling when deep chemical peel treatment is administered.
Where can chemical peel be applied?
Other than the face, chemical peel can be used on areas such as scalp, back, arms and even legs. As long as the skin is plagued with acne, pigmentation or dull skin, it can be treated with a chemical peel. One of the most common areas that chemical peel treatment is performed on is the back. Just like the face, your back is can be clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells. These may build up over time, causing your back to suffer from acne breakout. If not well managed, these acne may form post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and cause dark marks and scars to form on your back. Furthermore, the back is often neglected because we don’t see it and it is a difficult area to reach for most of us.
What are the risks and side effects of a chemical peel?
Most common side effects such as skin redness, sensitivity, dryness, inflammation and slight swelling are temporary. After undergoing a chemical peel treatment, you should moisturise your skin regularly and stay out of the sun until it fully recovers.
Benefits
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Lighten of darkened skin and scars -
Achieve brighter, more even skin tone
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Visible reduction of pigmentation
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Visible improvement in overall skin texture
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Effectively reduces acne and acne scars
