 Light Chemical Peel
Are You an Ideal Candidate for Light Chemical Peel Treatment?
If you are under the age of forty then you might want to consider getting a light chemical peel. If you are not familiar with what a chemical peel is, it is the application of a chemical solution that slightly injures the face thereby encouraging the growth of new skin cells. Plastic surgeons refer to this as a “controlled injury” that speeds circulation to the face and smoothes its appearance. A light chemical peel is a safe and healthy way to greatly improve the appearance of sun-damaged, scarred and lightly wrinkled skin.
Different Types of Facial Chemical Peels
Basically, there are two types of chemical facial peels, the light chemical peels and the deep chemical peels. Cosmeticians and plastic surgeons have a way of diagnosing which peel is best for your skin. They use a skin category chart that consists of four types of skin that is based on age, depth of wrinkles and the pigmentation in your skin. Whether or not a chemical peel is determined to be light or heavy might also depend on how long the solution is left on the skin and how much is applied to the skin.
Heavy chemical peels which consist of heavy duty chemicals such as acetone and phenol are usually only recommended for older or heavily damaged skin. Light chemical peels on the other hand can be used by almost anybody to try and turn back the hands of time. Before and after light chemical peels there is very little to worry about. Light chemical side effects are also not that traumatic. Besides, the cost of light chemical face peels is relatively affordable.
Types of Light Chemical Face Peels
Light chemical peels fall into two categories: the AHA and the TCA peels. Generally the safest, most superficial peels are those based on the alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) such as glycolic, lactic or fruit acid. A TCA peel, which consists of trichloracetic acid is a somewhat stronger peel that consists of vinegar and chemicals. If left on the face a long time, the TCA peel might also be classified as a medium to heavy facial peel. TCA is also more effective for use on dark skin.
Almost anybody can have an AHA peel and suffer no side effects. No sedation or pain relievers are needed. You might feel a mild tingling or stinging sensation as the solution is applied or a few minutes after the solution is left on the face. There is absolutely no recovery time and you can resume normal activities right after the treatment.
Many people see immediate results after a single AHA peel but if you are a difficult case, you may need further AHA treatments to really make your skin look younger and seem to glow. If you are under the age of forty it is not recommended that you go for a heavy chemical peel as that can damage your skin rather than erase wrinkles. You are better off to stick with repeated treatments of AHA. Some cosmeticians even recommend mixing part of the light AHA facial peel treatment with daily cosmetic treatments such as facial washes and night creams.
TCA is also considered to be a light peel although depending on the concentration of the solution and the amount of time it is left on the face it can achieve some of the effects of a heavy facial peel. Some individuals with deeply wrinkled or heavily pigmented faces opt for a TCA peel because the recovery time is shorter than with a deep (phenol) peel.
A TCA peel may also require a week or so of pre-treatment with an AHA or Retin-A cream. This helps clear the slate with regards to the skin by clearing away any dead surface skin cells and helps the TCA peel to be more efficient once it is applied.
As a TCA peel is chemically based some people experience rashes or very red skin afterwards. A deeper TCA peel may result in skin that looks burned which may encourage some patients to remain indoors after treatment for two or three days. A mild pain reliever such as Tylenol, Advil or Aspirin might be recommended to deal with any pain.
Light Facial Chemical Peel - Aftercare
After getting any kind of skin peel it is highly recommended that you stay out of the sun for a few weeks and that if you do go outdoors, apply plenty of sun block. This is because both fruit based and chemical based peels temporarily distort the structure of the facial pores resulting in a patchy or uneven tan.
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