Chemical peels are dermatological procedures that consist in the application of chemical substances in the skin in order to achieve a detachment of one or several of its layers and thus obtain its cellular renewal, revitalization and rejuvenation. They deal with photo-aging (aging caused by the sun), wrinkles and lines of expression, dry, rough and devitalized skin, hyperpigmentation, melasma and spots on the skin, acne and acne scars. They are performed mainly on the face, hands and neck area.

Chemical peels can be superficial, medium and deep, depending on the depth of penetration and the level where skin layers are detached.

Superficial peels are performed in several sessions that do not require anesthesia or the patient’s disability. They produce redness, irritation or mild peeling for 3 to 5 days, an effect that can be camouflaged with makeup. They work to get a detachment of the most superficial skin layers and the result after sessions is a great improvement in the dryness, roughness and aged appearance of the skin, very fine wrinkles and some type of spots. They aid to evening out the skin tone and improve acne and very superficial acne scars. The skin becomes clearer, nice and soft and improves pigmentation defects.

The medium and deep peels release much deeper layers of the skin. With them you can treat spots, wrinkles, deeper acne scars and pre malignant lesions. They produce a marked irritation and generate synthesis of new collagen, so that very good results are also obtained in the treatment of flaccidity. They can also correct freckles, melasma and some othe hyperpigmentation disorders. They usually require local anesthesia. They usually have an average disability of 7 days, but the excellent results and the rejuvenation obtained make it worthwhile.

Chemical peels should ideally be performed by an expert dermatologist who has full knowledgement concerning different skin type’s behavior, related to the effect caused on the skin by diversity of last generation ingredients used for peels. Some of them include glycolic acid, retinoic acid, azelaic acid, mandelic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, kojic acid, resorcinol, phenolic derivatives, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and arginine.