Levels of a Chemical Peel
- Mild: Also known as a superficial peel, this procedure removes the outermost layer of skin and can be completed in under an hour, making it a convenient option that can easily fit into your schedule. A mild chemical solution such as alpha-hydroxy acid will be used to address coarse skin and minor discoloration. Repeated procedures can be completed every two to five weeks as necessary.
- Medium: For more moderate skin conditions such as age spots, freckles, acne scars, and fine lines and wrinkles, a stronger chemical solution will be used. Our surgeon will apply glycolic or trichloroacetic acid to remove the outer layer of skin and the upper part of your middle layer of skin. This procedure can be repeated every three weeks until the desired results are attained.
- Deep: During this procedure, our provider will apply phenol or trichloroacetic acid to treat moderate to severe skin damage and deep wrinkles. Chemical peels at this level must only be completed once but will penetrate the middle to deep layers of the skin to dramatically improve its appearance. Deep chemical peels may not be suitable for patients with darker skin tones.
Chemical peels can be performed on all parts of the body: face, neck, chest, back, arms, and legs. You may require more than one peel to achieve your required results. The body’s natural daily process is to regenerate skin cells and flake off the older, dead cells. This process is just sped up by a chemical peel. With all chemical peels, a topical solution is applied to the top layer of the skin to loosen and remove the dead and damaged skin, thereby uncovering the newer, fresher skin underneath. In addition, chemical peels catalyze the generation of collagen in deeper layers of the skin, otherwise known as the dermis.