What is Chemical Peeling?
Chemical peeling is a way of rejuvenating facial skin by applying a chemical that essentially destroys the top layers of the skin. When the skin heals, it does so by reforming collagen that is thicker, better vascularized, and more youthful. The most common chemical used for peeling is trichloroacetic acid or TCA.
There are other chemicals such as the phenol and fruit acids.
What is chemical peel used for?
It is most effective in treating sun- damaged skin. It effectively eliminates or reduces age spots and skin discoloration. It also helps to reduce fine wrinkles as well as improving skin texture. Chemical peeling is very effective in recapturing the healthy, glowing texture seen in youthful skin.
What are the advantages of opting for Chemical peeling?
Chemical peeling is particularly useful within the armamentarium of rejuvenation because it is very effective, does not need general anaesthesia, and is relatively low cost. Obviously, you need to make sure that whoever is performing this procedure has the proper credentials and is well trained, because too deep of a burn can result in serious scarring.
What should I know about the procedure?
Normally, the entire face is peeled at once. This includes the eyelids, forehead, and areas of the neck. The procedure is performed in the outpatient suite under topical anaesthesia if need be. After the peel, the skin of your face becomes leathery and appears burned until the skin peels off uncovering the new skin below. This takes about 7 to 10 days.
What is the Aftercare following the procedure ?
After your skin has peeled, your face is pink for 1 to 2 months depending on the depth of the peel. It is important that you stay out of the sun for at least 6 months. Exposure to sun may cause hyper-pigmentation and/or irritation of the face.
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