Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that’s specifically designed to improve the appearance of skin that’s started to show the signs of aging or that’s suffering from certain blemishes, such as acne. Undertaking chemical peel treatment can help to improve facial tone and texture, stimulate collagen and skin growth, and remove dead skin cells.
Glycolic Acid Peels
Derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid is a type of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA’s) that’s very commonly used for chemical peels due to the acid’s superior ability to stimulate collagen and skin growth. Depending on the strength of the chemical peel required, the concentration of glycolic acid used in the peel will vary, but even with a lower concentration, the results of a glycolic acid peel can be exceptional.
The smaller particle size of glycolic acid, when compared to other AHA peels, allows for a deeper skin penetration. The result of a glycolic peel is smoother skin that feels much softer to the touch. Due to the deeper penetration of the acid, treatment with this type of chemical peel is normally recommended once every 2-3 weeks.
Mandelic Acid Peels
Mandelic acid is another type of AHA chemical peel. This type of acid is created from bitter almond extract and has a number of important benefits for patients who suffer from skin pigmentation and premature aging due to UV exposure. Despite being an AHA peel, mandelic acid peels are very different to glycolic acid peels as the particle size is significantly larger.
A mandelic peel is a very gentle peel, so it’s often used for patients who have never had a peel procedure before. It’s also a good choice for dark skin tones and skin that is prone to acne. When used in conjunction with lactic acid, a mandelic peel will help to improve the signs of premature aging, lentigines and melasma.
Salicylic Acid Peels
Salicylic acid is a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that’s derived from the willow tree, and can be found in numerous foods, such as cucumbers, radishes and fennel. The BHA peel works in a similar way to its AHA counterparts but it’s particularly well suited to patients that have acne-prone skin or very oily skin.
Chemical peels with salicylic acid can achieve great results, as the penetration is generally much deeper than with AHA peels; despite the good penetration, the treatment is very gentle. Salicylic chemical peels have numerous great benefits, including the ability to clean pores, treat acne problems, can decrease the appearance of lines and wrinkles.