Chemical peels use products such as alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs), fruit acids and L-Retinol to rejuvenate the skin – the active ingredients remove the dead outer layers of the skin.
Chemical peel improve problems caused by sun damage and aging such as pigmentation problems and fine lines and wrinkles, and other skin conditions such as acne.
Chemical peels have other benefits which include more effective penetration of active topical agents, such as vitamins A & C, moisturizers and sunblocks.
The effect of a chemical peels is like a mild sunburn, with some redness and peeling for a day or two*.
Initially a series of three treatments spaced four weeks apart will rejuvenate the skin*.
A maintenance program which includes occasional peels and the application of an appropriate skin care program will sustain the desired results*.
*Note results may vary from person to person
The Peel Process
Once the peel is applied, it starts penetrating into the skin. Firstly, the peel “melts” the glue holding the plaques of dead skin cells of the uppermost layer together, thus removing the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Depending on the patient’s needs, a peel that is either strong enough or left on for a sufficiently long time to continue to penetrate through the various layers of skin, finally reaching the keratinocyte layer, which are the active growing cells of the skin.
Healthy keratinocytes are much more resistant to the peel than keratinocytes which are abnormal. As a result the unhealthy cells are destroyed while the healthy skin cells survive. These healthy cells grow and make the new skin much healthier.
The peel then penetrates deep down into the dermis, the deepest layer of the skin, where it stimulates formation of new collagen.