The Different Types of Facial Skin Peels

Over time, daily life tends to have a serious impact on facial skin. For many, the answer is a facial skin peel. Alas, there are many different types of facial skin peels.

The Different Types of Skin Peels

A skin peel is a chemical process whereby a layer of damaged skin is removed from the face by chemical reaction and replaced by a newer, healthier layer. The chemical peel process works by applying a solution to the skin that chemically kills the outermost, damaged layer of the epidermis. This layer of dead skin then sloughs off the facial area over a prescribed time revealing healthier skin below. There are a number of different chemical peels that can be used to get the result.

Croton oil peels are the most aggressive peels used by most medical professionals. These peels are very potent and can be used for the removal of wrinkles, skin blotches and so on. In fact, these peels are so aggressive they have been reported to actually remove cancerous legions in the skin. The downside is the peel can cause massive lightening of your skin. They also can be painful and the peeling process is very dramatic. Make sure you fully consult with a medical professional before making this choice.

Trichloracetic Acid peels, better known as TCA, are a popular chemical peel for a particular reason. TCA peels tend to work without causing any discoloration when the new layer of skin is revealed. The process works by applying the acid solution to your face for a proscribed period of time determined by your medical professional. Sedation may be required. The peel sets and then is removed. Over the next three to 10 days, the outer layer of skin will die off and peel away to reveal healthier skin. It is important that you understand that the process is dramatic. Your facial skin will look horrible until it peels off, so you will need to take a week off from work and stay out the public eye.

The simples and most basic of peels is the AHA peel. A type of hydroxy acid, this peel is will give your skin a tune up, but does not treat the underlying issues that caused the skin problems. It is purely cosmetic, but will produce healthier looking skin on a temporary basis. The advantage of the peel is there is no need for anesthesia and you can get back to life immediately.

Determining whether you need a skin peel is something you should do in consultation with a dermatologist. Peels can improve your skin, but you need to understand both the process and the reasonable results you can expect. Not all peels do the same thing.

Ricardo de Silva is with Plastic Surgeon Practices - a directory of plastic surgeons. Visit us to read more plastic surgery articles.