Everyone goes through the aging process. But for many, the face, neck, and hands show age and damage more than elsewhere on the body. Some people want to reduce the signs of aging or are self-conscious about scarring but aren’t sure that surgical options are right for them. A chemical peel can reveal brighter, younger-looking skin in as little as a day.

Chemical peels have been around since the 1800s but grew popular in the late 1990s. They are growing in popularity again because it is a less invasive way to achieve fantastic, fresh-skin results.

Types of Chemical Peels

There are three chemical peel types:
 

• Lunchtime Peels

  • the least intense, and recovery time for the skin is one to seven days. A clinician applies a mild acid that only penetrates the top layer of the skin
     

• The Medium Peel

  • penetrates the top and middle layers of skin. Patients who get a medium peel have a longer recovery time and must follow a care regimen to protect the fresh, new skin
     

• The Deep Peel

  • the most intense. It removes the greatest amount of damaged cells. Deep peels need the longest recovery time
    
     

Fewer Wrinkles

Even a light peel will improve skin texture, but medium and deep peels will also banish fine lines and even moderate wrinkles. It can take years for wrinkles to appear. Regular makeup can’t disguise them. But a medium or deep peel will give skin an updated, more youthful appearance.

More Even Skin Tone

Over time sun damage can cause freckles or larger, darker spots to appear on the face. It is rare for people to totally avoid sunburn in their youth, and most do not regularly apply sunscreen every single day. The result is that as the skin ages, large dark spots can appear on the face and the hands. Chemical peels for many people balance and even out skin tone. Freckles and spots diminish or disappear completely.

Minimize Scars

One of the most common causes of scarring on the face is acne. In many patients, not only do they have textured and visible scarring, but the scarred skin is often darker than the surrounding skin. For acne scars, deep peels are ideal. These deepest peels use trichloroacetic or phenol acid and encourage the skin to refresh and even rebuild collagen. This improves its elasticity.

Improve Texture

Even the mildest in-office or lunchtime peel will improve the texture of the skin. Although medium or deep peels are necessary to treat more serious scarring and wrinkling, all chemical peels will leave the skin feeling smoother and more supple once healed. Chemical peels restore fresh texture to the face, neck, and hands. Hands can show a person’s age as quickly as a face.

A bonus that chemical peels offer is that they can remove precancerous growths called actinic keratosis.

There Is a chemical peel option for you. Chemical peels are not just for patients dedicated to self-care; they are also a great way for hesitant patients to try out a procedure in-office. The experienced and certified professionals at Weston Center for Plastic Surgery in Weston, Florida, can walk you through all your chemical peel options. Give us a call at (954) 507-4540 to schedule your self-care visit today.