Facial skin peels are a popular process that people use to even out skin tone or reduce age spots and improve the appearance of their skin. Put simply, if someone has a facial skin peel, a solution is applied to the face which removes dead skin cells and stimulates the growth of new ones.
Chemical peels aim to stimulate skin cell renewal by inducing fibroblasts (the most common type of cell found in connective tissue) to produce new fibres of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid while also activating enzymes to get rid of old skin. Basically, the peel creates a kind of surface shock so that the upper skin releases inflammatory skin chemicals which triggers blood to rush to the capillaries and also stimulate deeper skin remodelling.
There are three different types of facial skin peels.
The most intense are called deep peels which, as the name suggests, affect the deeper layers of skin. These tend to be once-only solutions as they have a long-lasting effect. Deep chemical peels are used to reduce acne and pigment spots, and reduce signs of aging as, like medium peels, they smooth and improve the texture of the skin.
Medium peels, which can be repeated every 6 -12 months, affect the upper and middle layers of skin, but for medium peels the solution is only left on for a few minutes. It may result in a stinging sensation and redness that can last for a few days. Afterwards, skin tends to be smoother with an improved texture, so this is a popular choice to reduce acne scars and pigment spots.
Superficial peels remove skin cells from the top layer of the skin. As with medium peels, the solution is only left on for a few minutes and the skin just tends to feel a bit tight afterwards. Regular treatments maintain the effect.
Generally, deep and medium peels are popular for pigment treatment, smoker’s skin and uneven texture and wrinkles. Superficial peels are usually used to improve skin tone, brighten complexions and treat fine lines.
Whichever skin peel treatment you think may be right for you, as with all aesthetic procedures, make sure that your chosen practitioner is fully qualified to perform the treatment and is committed to putting client needs and safety first.